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To loop a prerecorded video on YouTube Live from Windows 11, add it to an OBS scene as a local Media Source, turn on Loop in that source’s properties, then connect OBS to a YouTube stream and check the preview before going live. The loop setting repeats the file in OBS; it does not make YouTube repeat a regular uploaded video for viewers.
Before you start: check YouTube livestream access
Your YouTube channel must be verified and must not have live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. First-time livestream activation can take up to 24 hours, so enable it ahead of the time you plan to stream. See YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility and setup guidance.
- Install and open OBS on your Windows 11 PC.
- Have a video file stored locally that you have the right to broadcast.
- Make sure your internet upload connection can sustain the stream. YouTube recommends leaving 20% upload-bandwidth headroom; this is a recommendation, not a guarantee of stability. See YouTube’s live-streaming tips.
Loop one video in OBS
- Create or select a scene. In OBS, use the Scenes panel to choose an existing scene or create one for the broadcast.
- Add a Media Source. In the Sources panel, select +, then Media Source. Give it a recognizable name and confirm.
- Choose the local file. In the source properties, enable the local-file option if it is not already selected, then browse to your video.
- Enable Loop. Check Loop in the Media Source properties, then select OK. OBS documents that Loop is off by default and repeats the file after playback completes. The setting is documented in OBS Project’s Media Sources guide, dated January 11, 2022.
- Check the scene. Confirm the picture fits the canvas and that the source is visible. Play the scene and listen to the audio; test the actual file rather than assuming every video will transition seamlessly at its end.
OBS Media Source supports common video formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, and WebM, among others. Its separate Show nothing when playback ends property controls what appears after a file ends. Loop should prevent the ordinary end-of-file state, but it does not establish a gap-free transition for every file or computer.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. Create a livestream or choose a stream you have already set up. YouTube’s encoder setup guide explains the workflow.
- Connect the encoder. In OBS, select YouTube as the streaming service if available, or enter the stream URL and stream key shown in YouTube Studio. Follow the displayed settings for the selected connection method.
- Protect the stream key. Treat it like a password: YouTube describes it as the credential that allows an encoder to send a feed to the stream. Do not share it publicly.
- Use the recommended connection settings. Choose RTMPS where available. YouTube’s encoder recommendations specify CBR and a recommended two-second keyframe interval; follow the current YouTube and OBS options for the resolution and bitrate you select. Refer to YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions rather than guessing a bitrate for every connection.
- Start and inspect the feed. Start streaming in OBS. Wait for the image and audio to appear in Live Control Room, inspect them, then start the event there when prompted. Keep an eye on stream health and playback throughout.
Loop a playlist instead of one file
For multiple local videos, OBS offers a separate VLC Video source with a Loop Playlist option. VLC must be installed for this source to appear in OBS. Add the source, build the playlist, enable Loop Playlist, and test the sequence before connecting it to YouTube. For a single repeating file, the regular Media Source’s Loop setting is the simpler route.
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Copyright, policy, and archiving limits
Only stream video and audio you have permission to broadcast, and follow YouTube’s copyright and platform rules. Repeating a file does not create a copyright or policy exemption. The sources cited here do not establish special rules that make reused content automatically permissible or monetizable; assess rights and YouTube’s applicable policies for your specific material.
YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. Do not assume that a longer continuous stream will be archived automatically or that an archive is permanent. If you need a recording, plan a separate recording or backup approach and verify it before relying on the livestream archive.
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Troubleshooting a looping YouTube livestream
- The video stops at the end: Open the Media Source properties and check Loop. Confirm you edited the active source in the scene that is actually streaming.
- The source goes blank: Check whether Show nothing when playback ends is enabled, verify the selected file, and test playback in OBS. Loop should repeat a valid source, but test your file for end-of-clip gaps or other playback issues.
- The playlist source is missing: The VLC Video source requires VLC to be installed. Install VLC, reopen OBS if needed, and check the Sources panel again.
- YouTube does not receive a feed: Confirm the stream URL and key match the selected stream in Live Control Room, and make sure the key has not been replaced. Start OBS streaming and wait for the preview before starting the YouTube event.
- The preview appears unstable or the stream health is poor: Check OBS’s output settings and your upload connection. YouTube recommends 20% bandwidth headroom; reducing output demands may help when the available connection cannot sustain the chosen settings.
- You cannot go live yet: Check channel verification and whether the channel has a live-streaming restriction from the previous 90 days. First-time activation may take up to 24 hours.
- The archive is missing after a long broadcast: YouTube’s stated automatic-archive guidance applies to streams under 12 hours; a longer event may not be archived automatically.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is a YouTube channel that keeps a prerecorded video or playlist running around the clock, StreamNeo is an alternative to leaving OBS running on a Windows PC. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded video from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. It streams the upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot; it can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly: $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo or start the free first day.
To stop an OBS-powered broadcast, follow the stop or end controls shown in OBS and YouTube Studio. YouTube’s encoder workflow is described in its live-stream setup guidance.
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