OBS Studio is the best free fit for looping prerecorded video on YouTube Live: use a Media Source to repeat one file, or a VLC Video source to loop a playlist. It is free and open source, but it runs on your computer, so continuous streaming depends on that computer, its power, and its internet connection staying available.
Choose OBS for a single video or a playlist
OBS Studio is free, open-source streaming and recording software. Its Media Source can play a local video file and loop it; its VLC Video source can play and loop a playlist. The choice is mainly about what you want to repeat and whether VLC is installed.
| What you want to play | OBS source | Loop setting | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| One video file repeatedly | Media Source | Loop | A local video file in a supported format |
| A sequence of video files repeatedly | VLC Video | Loop Playlist | VLC installed; 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS |
OBS lists common Media Source formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. Check the OBS Media Sources documentation for supported formats and source controls: OBS Media Sources.
Set up OBS to loop one prerecorded video
- Prepare the file. Keep the video on the computer that will run OBS and confirm it plays locally. Avoid moving or renaming it after adding the source, since OBS needs to find the file.
- Add a Media Source. In OBS, use the Sources panel’s + button and choose Media Source. Create a new source, then select the local file.
- Enable looping. In the Media Source properties, turn on Loop. OBS describes this setting as making the file play again after playback completes.
- Check the scene. Confirm the video is visible in the OBS preview and that the audio meters respond if the file has sound. Adjust the source in the canvas if it does not fill the intended frame.
- Keep the scene active. Do not remove or disable the source while the stream is running. Test playback through the end of the file if practical, so you know it restarts as expected.
Set up OBS to loop a playlist
- Install VLC. The OBS VLC Video source depends on VLC. Match the bitness: 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- Add VLC Video. In OBS, select + in Sources and choose VLC Video. If it is unavailable, verify VLC is installed and that its architecture matches OBS.
- Build the playlist. Add the local video files in the order you want them played. Check the list for missing files and confirm each item plays.
- Enable Loop Playlist. Turn on the playlist loop option so playback restarts when OBS reaches the end of the media list.
- Check sequencing and audio. Review the playlist order and preview transitions between files. The evidence here establishes playlist looping, not a particular shuffle behavior; do not rely on shuffle unless the controls in your installed version explicitly provide it.
OBS documents the VLC dependency and the separate Loop Playlist control alongside its Media Source options: OBS Media Sources.
#1 Best Overall
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Connect OBS to a YouTube Live stream
- Check channel eligibility. YouTube says the channel must be verified and must not have had live-streaming restrictions in the past 90 days; streamers must be at least 16. Confirm the current requirements in YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance.
- Create or select a stream in YouTube Studio. Open the Live Control Room and create a stream or choose the one you intend to use. YouTube’s encoder guidance explains the setup: Stream using an encoder.
- Copy the stream URL and key. In the stream settings, copy the server URL and stream key. Treat the key like a password: anyone with it may be able to send video to your channel. Do not publish it or include it in screenshots.
- Enter the connection details in OBS. Open Settings → Stream, choose YouTube as the service, then use the connection method shown for your account. If OBS asks for a stream key, paste the key from YouTube Studio; if it offers account connection, follow the on-screen steps.
- Start a preview before going public. Start streaming from OBS and check the YouTube Live Control Room preview. Verify the picture, sound, and stream accessibility before starting or sharing the live broadcast.
- Monitor the broadcast. YouTube recommends testing the setup and continuously monitoring audio and video quality. A loop setting repeats the media; it does not monitor the computer, connection, or stream for you. See YouTube’s live-streaming tips.
YouTube describes an encoder as software that converts video into a digital format for delivery to YouTube Live. OBS is the local encoder in this setup; the prerecorded file is its media input.
Rights, channel rules, and replay archives
Use content you have permission to broadcast
YouTube’s live-stream terms require the provider to have the rights needed for the live content, including music licensing rights. The content must also comply with YouTube’s Community Guidelines. A video being available online or playable in OBS does not establish permission to rebroadcast it. Use material you are authorized to stream and archive, and review YouTube’s livestream terms and conditions before going live.
Rank #2
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Plan around the 12-hour archive limit
YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours can be automatically archived. It warns that streams longer than 12 hours may not be captured at all. If you need a complete replay, keep the broadcast below that threshold and maintain a separate local recording as a backup. The archive guidance is on YouTube’s live-stream archive page.
Do not treat looping as a guarantee of continuous uptime
OBS can repeat a file or playlist, but that does not guarantee an unattended 24/7 stream. A local setup still relies on the computer, power, operating system, OBS, and network connection. Test it and plan how you will notice and recover from interruptions.
Rank #3
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Common problems and fixes
- The video stops at the end: Reopen the source properties and enable Loop for a Media Source or Loop Playlist for VLC Video. These are distinct settings.
- VLC Video is missing or will not load: Install VLC and make sure its architecture matches OBS; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- A playlist item is blank or skipped: Check that its file still exists at the saved path and plays locally, then remove and re-add it if the path changed.
- YouTube shows no incoming video: Confirm the selected YouTube stream, stream URL, and key match the intended Live Control Room event. Re-enter the current key if needed, then check the preview.
- Video appears but audio does not: Check that the source includes audio, OBS meters move during playback, and the YouTube preview is receiving sound.
- The stream ends after the computer sleeps or disconnects: The local setup requires the computer and its network connection to remain available. Prevent sleep for the planned broadcast and monitor the connection; OBS’s loop setting cannot recover a powered-off or disconnected computer.
- The replay is incomplete or absent: If the stream ran beyond 12 hours, YouTube may not capture it. Keep streams under 12 hours when a full archive matters and record locally as a backup.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you do not want a computer or home connection to remain on, StreamNeo is the first alternative to consider: it keeps a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos in the cloud, at any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot, with the first day free.
- Upload a recording or build a playlist.
- Add your YouTube stream key once.
- Go live; StreamNeo loops the video from the cloud.
Nothing has to stay on at home. Every slot streams the upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price rather than quality tiers; StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo pricing, then start the free first day.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #4
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