For one local video file, use OBS’s Media Source and turn on Loop. For a sequence of local files, use VLC Video Source and turn on Loop Playlist. That does not mean VLC Video Source is a documented way to play a YouTube playlist URL: OBS’s playlist controls are for media items, while YouTube documents a separate embedded-player workflow.
Choose the OBS source that matches what you want to loop
| Your material | OBS source | Loop setting |
|---|---|---|
| One local audio or video file | Media Source | Loop |
| Several local files played in sequence | VLC Video Source | Loop Playlist |
| A YouTube-hosted playlist | YouTube’s embedded-player workflow is separate; OBS documentation does not establish that pasting its playlist URL into VLC Video Source works | Do not assume the local-media playlist control loops a YouTube playlist |
Loop one local file with Media Source
- In OBS, add a Media Source to the scene and choose the local file.
- Enable Loop in the source properties. It is off by default, so the file otherwise will not repeat when playback completes.
- Check the other playback options against your scene. Restart playback when source becomes active and Show nothing when playback ends are on by default.
- Preview the scene and let the file reach its end to confirm that it starts again as intended.
OBS’s Media Source uses built-in media handling and is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its documentation lists formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, WebM, MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV. Playback speed can be set from 1% (0.01x) to 200% (2x).
Loop multiple local files with VLC Video Source
- Install VLC on the same computer as OBS. VLC Video Source only appears in OBS when VLC is installed. Match architectures: OBS states that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- Add a VLC Video Source to the scene and add the local media files to its playlist in the order you want them played.
- Leave Loop Playlist enabled to repeat the list. OBS documents it as on by default. Shuffle Playlist is off by default; enable it only if you want randomized order.
- Review visibility behavior. The documented default is to stop playback when the source is not visible and restart it when visible.
- Preview the playlist through its end and confirm the next item and the playlist repeat behave as expected.
VLC Video Source uses VLC libraries for extended media support. Its documented settings also include network caching, audio track, and subtitles; network caching defaults to 400 ms. Adjust settings only when they address a specific playback or media need.
Can OBS play a YouTube playlist?
OBS’s VLC Video Source documentation describes playlists of media items; it does not establish that a standard YouTube playlist page URL can be pasted there and played as a native playlist. YouTube’s documented method is to select Share, choose Embed, and copy the HTML into website HTML. That is not the same workflow as adding local files to VLC Video Source. YouTube says its API Terms of Service and Developer Policies apply to embedded-player use: YouTube’s embed instructions.
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To share or identify a YouTube playlist, check that its URL contains “playlist,” rather than identifying only one video. Some items may still fail in an embedded player: private videos must be shared with the viewer, uploaders can disable embedding, and age-restricted videos cannot be watched on most third-party websites. See YouTube’s embed guidance and playlist sharing information.
If your aim is a YouTube livestream, the source is only one part of the setup. YouTube identifies encoder software as a livestreaming path; the channel must be verified and have no live-stream restrictions in the preceding 90 days. Set up the encoder and YouTube stream separately, and test the complete path before going live: YouTube Help.
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What the comparison does—and does not—tell you
The practical distinction is the input arrangement and its controls: Media Source repeats one file; VLC Video Source can play and repeat a list of local files and depends on VLC. The reviewed OBS documentation does not provide a comparative benchmark for CPU or GPU use, reliability, or transition smoothness, so there is no documented performance winner.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or let it run in the cloud
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Quick Recap
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