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For one repeating video, add an OBS Media Source, select the local file, and turn on Loop. For several videos, use VLC Video and keep Loop Playlist enabled; VLC must be installed, and 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. These settings control playback, not recovery from a Windows, OBS, power, or network failure.
Choose the right OBS source
| What you want to play | OBS source | Key setting |
|---|---|---|
| One local video repeated continuously | Media Source | Enable Loop; it is off by default. |
| Several local videos in a sequence or shuffled | VLC Video | Enable or retain Loop Playlist; it is on by default. |
OBS’s Media Sources guide documents Media Source formats including .mp4, .ts, .mov, .flv, .mkv, .avi, .gif and .webm for video, and .mp3, .aac, .ogg and .wav for audio. Confirm your specific file plays correctly before scheduling a long broadcast.
Set up one looping file with Media Source
- In OBS, open the scene you intend to stream. In the Sources dock, select + and choose Media Source.
- Name the source, then select OK. In its properties, select Local File and browse to the video on the Windows 11 computer.
- Turn on Loop. OBS documents this option as off by default; it restarts playback when the file ends.
- Decide how scene visibility should affect playback. Restart playback when source becomes active is on by default: when the source is in the current scene and visible, it restarts the file. Leave it on if returning to the scene should begin at the start; turn it off if resuming the existing position is preferable.
- Leave Speed at 100% for normal playback. OBS documents a range from 1% (0.01×) to 200% (2×). Use hardware decoding when available is off by default and can use a suitable GPU decoder for supported files; this is a decoding option, separate from the stream encoder.
- Show nothing when playback ends is on by default, preventing the last frame from remaining visible after playback ends. With Loop enabled, the file should repeat instead of remaining at its end. Close file when inactive is off by default; enabling it unloads the file while the source is hidden or off-scene to free memory, but OBS warns it may take a short time to appear again.
- Check that the source is visible and correctly framed in the scene. OBS lists YUV Color Range as Partial by default; do not change it without a reason to match your content and workflow.
Set up a playlist with VLC Video
- Install VLC before creating the source. VLC Video uses VLC libraries for extended media support and appears as an available source only when VLC is installed. If OBS is 64-bit, install 64-bit VLC.
- In the scene being streamed, select + in the Sources dock and choose VLC Video. Add the playlist items in the order you want them played.
- Leave Loop Playlist on to repeat the list; OBS documents it as on by default. Leave Shuffle off for a fixed sequence, or enable it if you want randomized playback.
- Review Visibility Behaviour. Its documented default is Stop when not visible, restart when visible. If scene changes hide the source, this can interrupt the current playback and restart it when shown again.
- The documented default Network caching value is 400 ms, and Audio Track defaults to 1; subtitles are disabled by default. The OBS guide does not specify one cache value that is right for every source or connection.
- Verify the playlist advances, loops, and produces the audio you expect in the actual scene.
Configure OBS output for YouTube Live
The media source determines what OBS plays. The encoder and stream settings determine what OBS sends to YouTube. YouTube’s live encoder settings list RTMP/RTMPS with H.264, H.265 (HEVC), or AV1, frame rates up to 60 fps, constant bitrate (CBR), and a recommended keyframe interval of two seconds, with a maximum of four seconds. YouTube recommends RTMPS.
Pick bitrate for the chosen codec and frame rate
For H.264, YouTube’s current recommendations include these targets. They are platform recommendations, not measurements of what a particular PC or connection can sustain.
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| Output | YouTube-recommended H.264 bitrate |
|---|---|
| 720p30 | 4 Mbps |
| 720p60 | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | 17 Mbps |
| 1440p30 | 21 Mbps |
| 1440p60 | 34 Mbps |
| 4K30 | 42 Mbps |
| 4K60 | 50 Mbps |
Do not carry an H.264 figure over to AV1 or H.265: YouTube’s table has separate recommendations for each codec, resolution, and frame rate. Match OBS to the codec and output format you select, use CBR, and set the keyframe interval to two seconds (never above four). YouTube also lists AAC or MP3 audio for RTMP/RTMPS; AAC is required for 5.1 surround. Its advanced recommendations include square pixels, progressive scan, Rec. 709 for SDR, and 44.1 kHz stereo audio.
Connect the stream key securely
In YouTube Live Control Room, use the encoder setup to obtain the stream URL and key, then enter them in OBS’s stream configuration. YouTube says it can usually detect encoder resolution and frame rate automatically; custom stream keys allow manual resolution settings. Treat the key like a password: anyone with access to it may be able to send a stream to your channel. You can also set YouTube options such as latency and DVR; YouTube cautions that lower latency may increase playback buffering.
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Preflight a 24/7 broadcast
- Test playback in OBS. Confirm the file repeats or the playlist advances, the correct source is visible in the live scene, and the intended audio is present.
- Match output settings. Check codec, resolution, frame rate, CBR bitrate, and keyframe interval against YouTube’s current guidance.
- Check upload capacity. YouTube recommends 20% upload-bandwidth headroom above the stream bitrate and warns that network disruption can break a stream. Account for other traffic using the connection as well.
- Run a realistic test. YouTube advises testing before going live; use content with motion and audio similar to the intended broadcast. Check the Live Control Room preview, stream health and messages, and confirm the event is accessible from the channel and watch pages.
- Check the computer under load. OBS lists Windows 11 as supported, but meeting compatible requirements alone does not guarantee streaming capability. CPU load varies with encoder, resolution, frame rate, and scene complexity.
OBS’s Loop and Loop Playlist controls repeat media; they do not establish a complete unattended restart policy. The official source guidance does not define recovery from a power loss, Windows update, OBS crash, file error, or network failure. Those outcomes depend on the PC and its configuration and should be tested separately.
Troubleshoot common playback and stream problems
- The video stops after one play: In Media Source properties, check Loop. It is off by default.
- The playlist stops after its last item: Check Loop Playlist in VLC Video. It is on by default, so also confirm that the source and playlist are configured as intended.
- VLC Video is missing from the source menu: Install VLC. With 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC.
- Playback restarts after a scene change: Review Media Source’s Restart playback when source becomes active or VLC Video’s Visibility Behaviour. Their documented defaults restart playback when the source becomes visible.
- The source takes a moment to reappear: If Close file when inactive is enabled, OBS unloads the file while it is inactive and warns that it may take a short time to show again.
- YouTube reports unstable stream health or the broadcast disconnects: Check that upload capacity exceeds the total stream bitrate with YouTube’s recommended 20% headroom, review stream health messages, and test the network. A looping source cannot correct a network interruption.
- The picture or stream struggles despite correct source settings: A compatible Windows 11 installation does not by itself ensure a stable encode. Check encoder workload, resolution, frame rate, and scene complexity, then test with the chosen settings.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Copyright and YouTube policy checks
Before looping a recording or playlist publicly, confirm that you have the rights needed to stream its video and audio. A file playing successfully in OBS does not establish permission to broadcast it. Review YouTube’s current copyright and live-stream requirements for the content and use your own licensed or otherwise authorized material. Repeating a video also does not by itself establish that a channel meets YouTube’s monetization policies; eligibility and policy decisions are separate from OBS playback settings.
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