To rotate videos in a YouTube livestream, add them to OBS Studio’s VLC Video source, set the playlist’s loop and shuffle rules, then send the OBS scene to YouTube using the stream URL and key from YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. For a fixed sequence that repeats, turn on Loop Playlist and leave Shuffle Playlist off.
What you need
- OBS Studio and VLC media player. OBS says VLC must be installed for the VLC Video source to appear. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC as well. OBS: VLC Video Source
- The video files you want to play, accessible from the computer running OBS.
- A YouTube stream set up in YouTube Studio, so you can copy its server URL and stream key from Live Control Room. YouTube Help: Create a live stream with an encoder
Add the videos to an OBS playlist
- Open OBS and select the scene that should show the videos.
- In the Sources panel, select + and choose VLC Video. If the option is missing, verify that VLC is installed and that its architecture matches OBS.
- Name the source, then add the video files to its playlist. Arrange them in the order you want if you plan to play them sequentially.
- Confirm the source is visible in the scene and that the preview displays the video. OBS’s VLC Video source supports multiple playlist items. OBS: VLC Video Source
Choose the rotation rules
In the VLC Video source’s properties, choose the behavior you want for playlist order and what happens at the end:
| Setting | What it does | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Shuffle Playlist off | Plays items in the listed sequence. | You want a predictable rotation. |
| Shuffle Playlist on | Randomizes playback order. | You want the videos played in a randomized order. |
| Loop Playlist on | Restarts the playlist after it reaches the end. OBS documents this as the default. | You want the rotation to keep repeating. |
| Loop Playlist off | Does not restart the full list after it runs out. | You want the playlist to stop rather than begin again. |
Do not confuse looping the playlist with repeating one item. VLC distinguishes repeating the current playlist item from looping at the playlist’s end. VLC User Guide: Playlist
Set behavior when the source is hidden
OBS’s Visibility Behaviour controls what happens when the VLC Video source is not visible. Its documented default is to stop playback while hidden and restart when visible; other available behavior can allow it to continue or pause. If the playlist must keep progressing through a scene change, choose the appropriate behavior in the source properties and rehearse that exact transition. The right setting depends on how your scenes are arranged. OBS: VLC Video Source
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Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or select the stream you intend to use.
- Copy the stream’s server URL and stream key from Live Control Room.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream, select the applicable YouTube connection method or enter the server URL and stream key, then apply the settings.
- Start streaming from OBS. Check the Live Control Room for the incoming encoder preview. For a scheduled stream, YouTube’s workflow may require the preview to appear before you click Go live.
- When finished, stop sending content from OBS and end the stream in Live Control Room when applicable. YouTube Help says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; check the current Live Control Room instructions because platform workflows can change. YouTube Help: Create a live stream with an encoder
The VLC playlist only plays video inside OBS; it does not publish to YouTube by itself. OBS is the encoder that sends the scene to YouTube.
Rehearse before going public
Run the playlist in a private or unlisted rehearsal before a public broadcast. Confirm the files play in the intended order, the playlist restarts if looping is enabled, and playback behaves as expected when you change scenes. Official OBS and YouTube documentation does not guarantee gapless transitions or uninterrupted playback for every file format, computer, or configuration.
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If your videos are copyrighted or reused, make sure you have the necessary rights and that the stream complies with YouTube’s policies. Playlist settings do not grant permission to broadcast a video.
Troubleshooting
VLC Video is missing from Sources
Install VLC, then restart OBS if needed. Match architectures: 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. OBS: VLC Video Source
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The videos play in an unexpected order
Turn Shuffle Playlist off and check the order of the files in the source’s playlist. With shuffle enabled, playback is randomized rather than following the listed sequence.
The playlist stops at the end
Turn Loop Playlist on to restart the full list after it runs out. If you meant to repeat only one video, that is a different behavior from looping the playlist.
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Playback stops or restarts after changing scenes
Inspect the source’s Visibility Behaviour and confirm the scene containing the VLC Video source remains part of the active output. Test the scene change in rehearsal; no single visibility setting is established as correct for every production.
A network-hosted video buffers
The VLC Video source exposes a network-caching setting; OBS lists 400 ms as its default. That is a documented default, not a universal buffering fix. Check the network and media source, and test any caching adjustment with the actual stream setup. OBS: VLC Video Source
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Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a YouTube channel that keeps uploaded videos live around the clock, StreamNeo is an alternative to running OBS on a computer at home: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. The cloud keeps the stream running without a computer or home connection staying on. Each slot streams the uploaded video as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot; it also includes automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card required.
Monthly: $9.99 per month. StreamNeo streams uploaded videos to YouTube; it does not go live from a camera. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start your free first day.
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