To resume a YouTube radio playlist after a restart, restore the local playlist source in OBS and reconnect the encoder to YouTube—two separate recovery steps. OBS’s built-in VLC Video source supports playlists and looping, but its documentation does not promise to remember the current item after OBS closes. The community Media Playlist Source plugin says it can save the current file for an OBS restart; it does not promise to restore the exact playback timestamp.
First identify what restarted
A source becoming visible again, OBS restarting, and the computer rebooting are different events. OBS documents a visibility setting for media playback, while the plugin describes restoring the current file when OBS restarts. Neither fact establishes complete recovery after a computer reboot: the host must start, OBS must launch, the playlist source must recover, and the encoder must reconnect separately.
Choose how OBS should handle the playlist
| Option | What it supports | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| OBS built-in VLC Video source | VLC-backed playlists, loop and shuffle controls, and visibility behavior. VLC must be installed. OBS media source documentation (dated 2022-01-11). | The documentation does not promise that the current item is restored after a full OBS restart. |
| Community Media Playlist Source plugin | The plugin resource says it saves the currently playing file so it can play when OBS restarts. It offers a choice between playing the current file or the first file when the source restarts. Plugin resource (created 2023-08-08). | It is not built into OBS. Verify compatibility with your OBS version and operating system, and test it. The description does not promise restoration of the exact timestamp within the file. |
| YouTube Live Control Room | Stream key and server setup, scheduled streams, and broadcast auto-start and auto-stop settings. YouTube live stream settings. | These settings do not document persistence of an OBS playlist item or playback position. |
Set up or check the built-in VLC playlist
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In OBS, add or select a VLC Video source and open its properties. Install VLC if it is not already installed; the OBS source depends on it.
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Review the playlist entries and their order. The documented defaults are Loop Playlist on and Shuffle Playlist off. Looping restarts the playlist when it reaches the end; it is not a setting for remembering the current item after OBS closes.
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Check the source’s visibility behavior. The documented default is Stop when not visible, restart when visible. If the radio scene may be hidden while playback should continue, change the behavior to suit that need. This visibility choice does not provide restart persistence.
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Save the scene collection and test what happens when the source is hidden and shown, then separately test a full OBS restart. Do not infer full-restart recovery from a successful visibility test.
Use the plugin if you need the current file remembered
The Media Playlist Source resource describes saving the currently playing file for playback after OBS restarts. It also describes a source-restart choice between the current file and the first file. The resource listing gives a minimum OBS version of 30.0.0 and notes limitations; because this is a community plugin, check its current listing and compatibility for your system before installing or relying on it.
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Install the plugin only after confirming it supports your OBS version and operating system.
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Configure its playlist and choose whether a source restart should begin with the current file or the first file, according to the behavior you want.
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Test with a noncritical broadcast: note the current file, restart OBS, and check which file plays. The described feature is current-file recovery; do not assume it resumes at the exact second where playback stopped.
Reconnect OBS to YouTube separately
Your encoder connection and local playlist position are distinct. YouTube’s encoder guide explains using the YouTube server URL and stream key in the encoder, and covers creating or scheduling a stream and starting it. A stream key connects OBS to YouTube; it does not store the playlist position.
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In YouTube Live Control Room, open the relevant stream setup and confirm the intended stream and encoder connection details. YouTube’s guide is Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
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In OBS, confirm that the correct YouTube server URL and stream key are configured. Treat the key as sensitive: anyone with access to it may be able to send a feed to your channel.
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Check the YouTube broadcast settings for auto-start and auto-stop. These govern broadcast behavior, not which local file OBS plays. YouTube’s settings page says Reuse settings copies those selections along with other settings.
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After a restart, verify both sides: check that OBS is sending the intended media and check Live Control Room for the expected stream or broadcast state. Depending on the stream setup, sending an encoder feed may not itself complete the separate Go live action.
Troubleshoot the common restart failures
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The playlist starts from the beginning after OBS restarts: the built-in VLC source’s documented controls do not promise current-item persistence. Evaluate the community plugin, verify compatibility, and test its current-file behavior.
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Playback restarts when you switch scenes: inspect the VLC source visibility behavior. Its documented default is to stop when hidden and restart when visible.
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The playlist source is missing or will not play: check that VLC is installed and that the playlist files remain available at the paths configured in OBS.
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OBS is sending video, but YouTube is not live: confirm the server URL and stream key, then check Live Control Room’s broadcast state and whether a separate Go live action is required.
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YouTube is live, but the wrong song or file is playing: troubleshoot the OBS playlist source, not the YouTube stream key or auto-start setting. An encoder reconnect alone does not prove the intended file or playback position was restored.
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The computer rebooted and nothing resumed: recovery also requires the host to start and OBS to launch. The cited source descriptions do not establish an end-to-end unattended reboot setup, so test operating-system startup, OBS launch, playlist recovery, and YouTube reconnection as separate stages.
Keep the radio stream within YouTube’s rules
A technically continuous stream is not automatically permitted content. Use music and other recordings you have the rights to stream, and check YouTube’s current copyright requirements before broadcasting. Reused or repetitive content can also affect channel monetization eligibility; looping a playlist does not make its contents original or grant permission to use them. For a practical preflight, use the copyright safety checklist.
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