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To stream a sequence of prerecorded local videos through OBS, add the built-in VLC Video source to a scene, put the files in its playlist, and connect OBS to a YouTube live event with that event’s stream key. Install VLC first; it must match OBS’s architecture. For a single repeating video, use OBS’s Media Source instead.
An OBS playlist is a list of local media files—not a playlist webpage on YouTube. The playlist handles playback; YouTube Live Control Room creates and manages the broadcast.
Before you begin
- Have the video files on the computer running OBS, and decide their playback order.
- Install VLC. OBS’s VLC Video source does not appear without it; if you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC. See the OBS Media Sources guide.
- Make sure your channel can livestream. YouTube says a verified channel must have no live-streaming restrictions in the past 90 days; the person livestreaming must be at least 16. Check the channel’s current status in Studio using YouTube’s live-stream eligibility guidance.
- If this is your first time enabling live streaming, allow up to 24 hours for activation, as YouTube notes in its encoder setup instructions.
Choose the right OBS source
| Need | OBS source | How it behaves |
|---|---|---|
| Play one video file | Media Source | Plays an individual media item. Enable Loop to repeat it after playback ends. |
| Play multiple files in sequence | VLC Video | Provides a playlist with loop, shuffle, visibility, audio-track, and subtitle controls. VLC must be installed and match OBS’s architecture. |
OBS documents common supported media types including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. Test each file locally before relying on it in a broadcast. Details for both sources are in the OBS documentation.
Build and configure the playlist in OBS
- Add the source. In the OBS scene you will use, go to the Sources dock, click +, and choose VLC Video. If it is missing, install VLC and make sure its 32-bit or 64-bit architecture matches OBS.
- Add files in playback order. Open the VLC Video source properties and add the local videos in the sequence you want. Keep the files accessible from the OBS computer.
- Set shuffle and looping. Leave shuffle off for a predictable sequence; turn it on only if randomized playback is intended. Enable Loop Playlist to start again after the final item. OBS documents loop on and shuffle off as the source defaults.
- Choose visibility behavior. OBS documents the default as stopping playback when the source is not visible and restarting it when visible. If you switch scenes, check this setting against the behavior you want; a source that becomes hidden may not continue playing.
- Fit the scene. Select the source in the preview and resize or position it. Arrange overlays and titles deliberately: sources higher in the Sources list appear above those below them and can cover them. See the OBS Sources Guide.
Create the YouTube live event and connect OBS
- Create or schedule the broadcast. In YouTube Studio, open Create → Go Live and use Live Control Room to create a stream or schedule one. Follow YouTube’s encoder workflow.
- Set OBS’s stream connection. In OBS stream settings, select YouTube if available. Otherwise, copy the server/stream URL shown by YouTube into OBS’s server field. Copy the event’s stream key into the key field. YouTube explains these settings in Manage live stream settings.
- Protect the stream key. YouTube describes the key as the stream’s password and address. Do not show it in screenshots or publish it in instructions. If it is exposed, use YouTube’s reset flow to replace it.
- Start the encoder and inspect the preview. Start streaming from OBS and wait for the feed to appear in Live Control Room. For a scheduled event, YouTube instructs you to click Go live after the preview appears.
- Test before relying on the broadcast. Confirm picture, audio, file transitions, playlist end/loop behavior, and scene visibility. YouTube recommends preparing the encoder ahead of an event and testing the stream; monitor quality while it is live using its streaming tips.
- End deliberately. When finished, click End Stream in Live Control Room and stop sending content from OBS.
What the playlist does—and does not—automate
VLC Video automates playback of local files inside OBS. It does not create the YouTube event, provide a stream key, or ensure an uninterrupted internet connection or unattended uptime. The playlist and the YouTube encoder connection are separate parts of the setup.
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The cited OBS and YouTube setup guidance does not establish universal computer-performance requirements for decoding your particular files while encoding a stream. A local playback check, a private or unlisted test, and ongoing monitoring are prudent; do not assume every computer can run every file and output reliably.
Optional alternative: Media Playlist Source plugin
OBS’s built-in VLC Video source is the documented route for a playlist. The Media Playlist Source forum listing describes an optional plugin with playlist editing while a video plays, restart behavior, file or folder selection, and shuffle. The listing gives a minimum OBS version of 30.0.0 and lists Windows, macOS, and Linux. The associated repository notes limitations such as manual folder refresh and no audio-track or subtitle selection. Because compatibility and feature details can differ across releases, verify the current plugin release before installing it.
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Common problems and fixes
- VLC Video is missing: Install VLC, then check that its architecture matches OBS—64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS.
- The order changes unexpectedly: Turn shuffle off and verify the order of files in the VLC Video properties.
- The playlist stops or restarts after a scene switch: Check the source’s behavior when not visible; OBS documents stop-when-hidden and restart-when-visible as the defaults.
- The final file plays and then the playlist ends: Enable Loop Playlist if the sequence should repeat.
- YouTube does not receive the OBS feed: Confirm the server URL and stream key against the correct Live Control Room event. If the key may have been exposed, reset it rather than continuing to use it.
- The preview is missing or the event will not go live: Check channel eligibility and first-time activation status, then wait for the encoder preview before using Go live on a scheduled event.
- Playback or stream quality is unreliable: Test the files and full transitions before the event, then monitor the live feed. The documentation does not promise that a particular computer can decode and encode every workload.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep prerecorded videos streaming to YouTube without leaving OBS and a computer running at home, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; StreamNeo loops uploaded videos in the cloud, supports any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. The monthly option is $9.99 per month.
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