To loop one pre-recorded video in OBS, add it to your scene as a Media Source, select the file, and enable Loop in the source’s properties. Connect OBS to YouTube with the stream URL and key from YouTube Studio, test the preview, then start the broadcast. The file-level Loop setting restarts playback when it reaches the end; OBS does not promise a gapless join.
Set up a single video to repeat in OBS
- Create or select the scene. In OBS, choose the scene you intend to broadcast. Under Sources, click the add button and select Media Source.
- Choose the video file. In the Media Source properties, select the local file you want to play. OBS supports common formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, and WebM, among others. Check the preview to confirm the correct video appears.
- Enable looping. In the same properties window, turn on Loop, then confirm the change. OBS describes the option as controlling whether the file plays again once playback has completed.
- Decide how scene changes should behave. Restart playback when source becomes active is a separate option. When enabled, OBS restarts the file when the source becomes visible in the current scene. This may be useful if you want playback to begin from the start when returning to the scene; leave it off if you want playback to continue rather than restart when the source becomes active again.
- Check the picture and sound. Play the scene in OBS and verify that the intended video and audio are present. If the video has a deliberate opening or ending, remember that looping restarts the file at completion; it does not by itself create a seamless transition.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Set up an encoder stream in YouTube Studio. Create or schedule a stream and open its Live Control Room. YouTube provides the encoder stream URL and stream key there.
- Enter the connection details in OBS. Open OBS stream settings and enter the YouTube stream URL and key in their corresponding fields. Treat the stream key like a password: do not show it in screenshots or share it publicly. If it is exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube Studio before using it again.
- Start the OBS stream and inspect YouTube’s preview. For a scheduled event, start streaming from OBS and wait for the incoming preview in Live Control Room. Check the video and audio there, then select Go live when ready.
- Test and monitor. YouTube recommends testing the setup before the event and monitoring audio and video during it. Its network guidance recommends keeping upload bandwidth at least 20% above the total stream bitrate. For example, if your total outgoing stream bitrate is 5 Mbps, aim for at least 6 Mbps of available upload bandwidth.
Choose the right OBS source for your playback
For a single video, use Media Source and its file-level Loop control. If you need to repeat a playlist of files, OBS also provides a VLC Video source with a Loop Playlist option. VLC Video requires VLC to be installed; OBS notes that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
| Source | Best fit | Repeat behavior | Extra requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media Source | One local video file | Loop restarts the file at playback completion | No VLC dependency |
| VLC Video | A playlist of files | Loop Playlist repeats the playlist | VLC installed, with matching VLC and OBS architecture |
OBS documents playback restarting at the end, but does not guarantee gapless playback at the repeat point. A clean transition depends on the media and playback behavior, so preview the loop rather than assuming the end and beginning will join seamlessly.
Check YouTube eligibility and archive limits
- Channel access: YouTube requires channel verification for livestreaming, and says the channel must not have livestreaming restrictions in the preceding 90 days. First-time livestream activation can take up to 24 hours.
- Long broadcasts: YouTube says encoder streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived. Do not assume an exceptionally long continuous stream will be archived in full.
- Copyright and reused material: Use video and audio you own or are authorized to stream. A video looping in OBS does not grant permission to rebroadcast its contents. YouTube’s stream review and channel rules still apply to prerecorded material.
Troubleshoot common loop and stream problems
The video stops after one playback
Reopen the Media Source properties and verify that Loop is enabled for that source. The separate Restart playback when source becomes active option controls what happens when the source becomes visible; it does not replace the Loop setting.
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The video restarts when returning to a scene
Check whether Restart playback when source becomes active is enabled. Turn it off if you do not want the video to start from the beginning when the source becomes visible again.
YouTube does not receive the OBS stream
Confirm that OBS has the correct stream URL and current stream key from the intended YouTube Live Control Room event. Check for accidental spaces or an outdated key, and make sure livestreaming is enabled for the channel. Keep the key private.
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The YouTube preview has no picture or sound
Check the OBS scene preview and audio meters first, then inspect the incoming preview in Live Control Room before going live. Confirm that the correct Media Source is visible and that the video contains an audio track if sound is expected.
The stream buffers or loses connection
Check the available upload bandwidth against the total outgoing bitrate and leave the 20% headroom YouTube recommends. Test the connection before the broadcast and monitor the stream while it is running.
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The loop has a pause or visible jump
The documented Loop setting restarts playback but does not guarantee a gapless transition. Inspect the file’s ending and opening and preview the repeat point. OBS source documentation does not establish that every file or playback setup will join seamlessly.
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