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To show viewers which video is currently playing in a YouTube Live loop, add a title overlay to the video scene and update it when playback advances. In OBS, you can display text from a file or show a web page as a browser source. The overlay is separate from the livestream’s YouTube watch-page title, which you edit in YouTube Studio.
Choose which title you want viewers to see
A now-playing label is text composited into the video feed. It can change as the loop moves from one video to the next. The livestream title is broadcast metadata shown on the YouTube watch page; changing the overlay does not, by itself, change that metadata. YouTube documents stream metadata as an editable setting, not something automatically tied to the video playing inside the stream. YouTube’s live stream settings are separate from the on-screen graphic.
Also distinguish a livestream from looping content while watching YouTube. YouTube’s loop instructions explain how a viewer can repeat a video or playlist; that does not create an encoder-based live stream of the playlist. YouTube’s looping instructions cover the viewer workflow.
Display a title in OBS
- Add the title to the scene. In OBS, select the scene carrying your video, add a text source, and position it above the video in the source stack. Choose a readable font, size, and contrast so the label remains legible over the footage.
- Use a text file for a simple manual update. Configure the text source to read from a local text file. Put the current video’s title in that file; when playback advances, replace the contents with the next title. OBS documents text sources that can read from a file in its Sources Guide.
- Use a browser source for a designed graphic. Add a browser source to show a web page containing the title and any other details you want in the overlay. The page can be styled or connected to an integration, but automatic updates depend on how it learns which item is playing. OBS documents browser sources in the Sources Guide.
- Configure the playlist separately from the overlay. If you play the playlist through OBS’s VLC video source, OBS supports playlists and looping; VLC must be installed. The playlist feature alone does not synchronize the active item’s title with a text overlay. See OBS’s Media Sources guide.
- Check the result in the production preview. Confirm the label matches the current video, is readable, and changes at the intended transition before starting the broadcast. YouTube recommends testing the encoder stream and checking the preview and stream quality before an event in its encoder streaming guidance.
Pick an update method
| Method | How it works | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Manual text file | OBS reads the title from a file that an operator edits as playback advances. | Simple to set up, but someone must keep the title in sync. OBS Sources Guide |
| Browser overlay | OBS displays a web page that renders the title and can be styled or driven by an integration. | Flexible, but automatic changes require a dependable source of current-item data. OBS Sources Guide |
| Custom integration | A script or service reads the active playback item and updates the overlay. | Can reduce manual edits, but its reliability depends on the player and integration. The OBS documentation describes source types, not a universal playlist-title signal. OBS Media Sources |
What to know before automating it
The player determines whether automation is possible. An OBS media source, VLC playlist, browser player, or separate playback computer may expose different information about the currently playing item. Verify that the specific player and integration provide a dependable current-title value, then test the result across transitions and after a restart.
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YouTube’s Live Streaming API documents broadcast metadata, but that does not establish that the API can identify the current video inside a separate player. Do not assume that updating overlay text will update the YouTube watch-page title; treat them as separate controls unless you have tested an integration that updates both. See the API’s LiveBroadcasts documentation.
Test transitions and recovery cases
- Check that each title changes at the correct point, including when the playlist wraps to its first video.
- Try a long title, a missing title, and any characters or languages used in your video names. Make sure the graphic remains readable and does not obscure important content.
- Restart the player and OBS, then confirm the displayed title matches the item that actually resumes.
- Watch the encoder preview before going live. If the title is wrong there, viewers will receive the wrong overlay too.
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StreamNeo streams uploaded videos to YouTube; it is not a camera-based live production tool. See StreamNeo or start the free first day.
Quick Recap
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