To loop an MP4 from a USB drive on YouTube Live, add it to an OBS scene as a Media Source, enable Loop, then connect OBS to a YouTube encoder stream with its server URL and stream key. Keep the USB drive connected and mounted throughout the broadcast. If you use a scheduled stream, start the encoder, check the preview in YouTube Live Control Room, and select Go live.
Check that your channel can livestream
YouTube’s current eligibility guidance says your channel must be verified, must not have had live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days, and the person livestreaming must be at least 16. Check YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility requirements before preparing the event; restrictions or interface details can change.
Set up the MP4 in OBS
- Connect the USB drive and confirm that the MP4 is available in your computer’s file browser. Leave the drive connected for the whole stream.
- Open OBS and create or select the scene you want to broadcast.
- In the Sources panel, select + and choose Media Source. Create a new source or select an existing one.
- In the source properties, select the local-file option, browse to the MP4 on the USB drive, and select it.
- Turn on Loop. It is off by default; with it enabled, OBS repeats the file after playback finishes.
- Confirm that the video appears in the OBS preview and that audio meters respond if the MP4 has audio. Use the scene preview to check framing and sound before going live.
OBS lists MP4 as a supported format for Media Source. Its documented Loop property repeats the selected file when playback completes. See the OBS Media Sources reference for the source options.
Use VLC Video for a playlist of MP4s
If you want several files to play in sequence rather than repeat one MP4, add a VLC Video source and populate its playlist. VLC must be installed for this source type to appear; if you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC. OBS documents Loop Playlist as enabled by default for this source. For one file, the built-in Media Source is simpler and does not require VLC.
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Create the YouTube stream and connect OBS
- In YouTube Studio, choose Create > Go Live to open Live Control Room. Create a stream or schedule one.
- Copy the stream’s server URL and stream key from YouTube’s encoder setup.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream, select YouTube as the service if available, and enter the server and stream key. If you use a custom server configuration, use the URL and key provided for this stream.
- Keep the stream key private. Anyone who obtains it may be able to send a broadcast to your stream.
- Apply the settings and start a test or the planned broadcast from OBS. Confirm that YouTube Live Control Room receives the signal and displays the expected video and audio.
- For a scheduled stream, wait for the preview in Live Control Room, then select Go live there. Starting the encoder in OBS sends the feed; it does not by itself publish a scheduled event.
See YouTube’s instructions for creating a live stream with an encoder and managing live-stream settings. YouTube recommends setting up at least two hours before an event and starting the encoder at least 15 minutes before it begins, allowing time to check the preview and resolve problems.
Choose encoder settings YouTube can receive
YouTube’s encoder guidance recommends RTMPS, constant bitrate (CBR), and a two-second keyframe frequency, with a maximum interval of four seconds. It lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS. Select a bitrate from YouTube’s current table for your codec, resolution, and frame rate rather than treating one bitrate as right for every stream.
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Use a bitrate your upload connection can sustain. YouTube recommends keeping 20% upload-bandwidth headroom; other people or devices sharing the connection can reduce the capacity available to OBS. Review YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions for the current values, then check stream health in Live Control Room. YouTube’s encoder settings guidance and streaming tips cover the relevant setup; use the current settings table for your chosen format.
Test the USB playback and protect the broadcast
- Keep the file available: the MP4 is a local media input. Do not unplug the drive or change its mounted path while OBS is using it. Removal or a changed path can make the selected file unavailable; OBS does not document a guaranteed recovery behavior for that situation.
- Test the whole playback chain: use the same USB drive, port, computer, power settings, scene, and video you intend to use. If continuity matters, test for the full expected duration rather than relying on a short preview.
- Check audio and picture: preview the stream in Live Control Room and keep monitoring audio and video quality during the event, as YouTube advises.
- Plan for the computer and network: the drive alone does not keep a broadcast running. The computer must remain on, OBS must stay active, and the connection must sustain the selected bitrate. Account for shared-network use and avoid sleep or power settings that interrupt the session.
- Check rights before streaming: only broadcast video and audio you have permission to use. A loop does not change the material’s copyright status or guarantee that a stream can be monetized. Review YouTube’s current copyright and monetization policies for your channel and content.
YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. For a longer broadcast, do not assume an archive will be created; see the encoder stream guidance for the current details.
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End the stream cleanly
- In YouTube Live Control Room, end the scheduled stream using its end-stream control.
- Stop sending content from OBS after ending the stream in Live Control Room.
- Confirm that the event has ended as intended and check the channel’s stream or archive status.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The MP4 does not appear in OBS | The USB drive is not mounted, the selected path is wrong, or the file is unavailable. | Reconnect the drive, confirm the file opens in the computer’s file browser, then edit the Media Source and browse to its current location. |
| The video stops after one play | Loop is off. | Open the Media Source properties and enable Loop. |
| A playlist source is missing | VLC is not installed, or its architecture does not match OBS. | Install VLC matching OBS (64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS), then reopen OBS and add a VLC Video source. |
| YouTube does not receive the OBS feed | The stream key or server URL may be wrong, or the stream may not be configured as expected. | Compare OBS’s stream settings with the values shown for the correct stream in YouTube Live Control Room. Keep the key private. |
| The preview is unstable or reports poor stream health | The chosen bitrate may exceed available upload capacity, or the connection may be affected by shared use. | Check the current YouTube bitrate guidance for your format, reduce the bitrate if necessary, preserve upload headroom, and run another test. |
| The scheduled event is not publicly live | The encoder may be sending a feed, but the scheduled event has not been started in Live Control Room. | Wait for the preview and select Go live in YouTube Live Control Room. |
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