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To loop several videos in OBS on YouTube Live, install VLC, add a VLC Video Source to your scene, add your media items to its playlist, enable Loop Playlist, and connect OBS to YouTube with the stream URL and key from Live Control Room. Keep Shuffle Playlist off for the listed order. OBS’s documented workflow is to add items within the source; its guidance does not explain importing an existing .m3u or similar playlist file directly.
Choose the right OBS source
| Source | Best for | Playlist behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Media Source | One local media file | Can loop a single file; it is not the documented playlist source. |
| VLC Video Source | Several media files played as a playlist | Provides playlist controls including Loop Playlist and Shuffle Playlist; requires VLC to be installed. |
OBS describes VLC Video Source as allowing multiple media files to be played in a scene and organized as a playlist, unlike Media Source, which is for individual media. See the OBS Media Sources documentation and Sources Guide.
Set up the playlist in OBS
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Install VLC with matching architecture
Install VLC before opening or restarting OBS. OBS requires VLC for VLC Video Source to appear. If your OBS installation is 64-bit, use 64-bit VLC; mismatched application bitness can make the source unavailable.
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Add VLC Video Source to a scene
In OBS, select the scene you intend to stream. In the Sources panel, click + and choose VLC Video Source. Name the source if useful, then add the video files to its playlist. The documented setup is to add items to the source playlist, not to import an existing playlist document.
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Set order and looping
Enable Loop Playlist so playback returns to the beginning after the final item. Leave Shuffle Playlist disabled when you want the items to play in their listed order. Enable shuffle only if randomized order is intended.
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Check visibility behavior
OBS documents the default visibility behavior as “Stop when not visible, restart when visible.” If you switch scenes and the VLC source becomes hidden, playback may stop and restart when shown again. Choose the source’s visibility behavior to suit your scene design, then test transitions before relying on it during a broadcast.
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Preview the scene and check audio
Confirm the video fits the canvas, the intended playlist item is visible, and audio is present at a sensible level. VLC Video Source lists a 400 ms network-caching default; this is a source property, not a guarantee against playback interruptions.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
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Check channel eligibility
YouTube says a channel must be verified and have no live-streaming restrictions in the preceding 90 days to live stream. Review YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance if streaming is unavailable on your channel.
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Create or select a stream in Live Control Room
In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create a stream or select the event you plan to use. Copy the server URL and stream key shown there.
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Enter the server URL and key in OBS
In OBS, open Settings > Stream, choose YouTube as the service if available, and enter the key from Live Control Room. If configuring a custom server, use YouTube’s server URL and the corresponding stream key. Treat the key as a password: anyone who has it may be able to send video to your stream.
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YouTube’s encoder instructions say to enter the YouTube Live server URL and stream key into the encoder. Follow YouTube’s encoder setup steps for the current Live Control Room flow.
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Start the encoder, then verify the preview
Click Start Streaming in OBS. Wait for the incoming feed to appear in Live Control Room and inspect its audio and video before starting the public broadcast. YouTube advises testing beforehand and monitoring the stream during the event; see its streaming tips.
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End the stream cleanly
End the event in YouTube Live Control Room and stop sending from OBS. Check the event has ended in YouTube rather than assuming that stopping one side has closed the other.
Can OBS open an existing M3U playlist file?
The OBS guidance cited here describes adding media items to the VLC Video Source playlist, but does not document importing an existing .m3u, .pls, or similar playlist document, nor list supported playlist-file extensions. If you already have such a file, do not assume OBS can load it directly based on these instructions; add the media items individually in the source’s playlist instead.
Keep the stream stable
- Leave upload capacity available. YouTube recommends upload bandwidth above the total stream bitrate, with 20% headroom. This is platform guidance, not a measured guarantee of uninterrupted service.
- Test before the event. Check the Live Control Room preview, video, and audio before making the broadcast public.
- Test scene changes. A hidden source may stop and restart under the default visibility behavior, so verify any scene switches that could hide the playlist.
- Use media you have the rights to stream. A looping playlist does not grant permission to broadcast its contents. Review YouTube’s policies and rights for the videos and audio you use; this setup guide does not determine whether particular material is authorized.
Troubleshooting
- VLC Video Source is missing: Install VLC and reopen OBS. Confirm that 64-bit OBS is paired with 64-bit VLC.
- The playlist stops after the last item: Open the VLC Video Source properties and enable Loop Playlist.
- Items play in an unexpected order: Disable Shuffle Playlist to use the listed order.
- Playback stops or restarts when changing scenes: Check the source’s visibility behavior. The documented default stops when hidden and restarts when visible; test the chosen behavior across your scenes.
- YouTube does not show an incoming feed: Check that OBS is sending, and verify the server URL and stream key against the selected stream in Live Control Room. A wrong or stale key can prevent the intended event from receiving the encoder feed.
- The preview appears but the public stream has not started: The encoder feed preview and starting the broadcast are separate steps; start the event in Live Control Room after checking the preview.
- Video or audio stutters: Test playback locally and inspect OBS and Live Control Room. Check that upload capacity exceeds the total stream bitrate with YouTube’s recommended 20% headroom; the 400 ms caching default is not a universal fix.
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