You can turn recorded coding and study videos into a 24/7 YouTube live stream with OBS Studio: loop one local video with a Media Source, or load several videos into a VLC Video source and enable Loop Playlist. YouTube receives OBS’s encoded output; keeping it live still depends on the computer, media files, power and upload connection staying available, plus a plan to monitor and recover from failures.
Choose how your recordings will play
OBS Studio provides two documented options for cycling through local recordings. Use a single looping file for a long compilation; use a playlist when you want to rotate individual videos or update the lineup more easily.
| Playback method | Set it up in OBS | Best suited to | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| One video | Add a Media Source and turn on its Loop option. | A long, prepared compilation. | The file restarts after playback ends. Check the transition and audio with your actual file. |
| Several videos | Add a VLC Video source, select the local files as a playlist and enable Loop Playlist. | A rotating collection that you may want to update file by file. | VLC must be installed for this OBS source. Test transitions and audio behavior; the controls do not guarantee gapless playback. |
These controls determine what OBS plays. OBS encodes the scene and sends it to YouTube; YouTube does not loop the original files on your behalf. See the OBS Media Sources guide.
Check the channel and content before configuring OBS
Confirm live-stream eligibility
YouTube’s current setup guidance says a channel must be verified, have no live-streaming restriction in the previous 90 days, and the streamer must be at least 16. Check the channel’s status and current requirements before scheduling a broadcast; eligibility can change. See YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance.
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Clear rights for every element
Confirm you have the rights needed for every recording, music track, sound effect, overlay and other included material. YouTube’s terms make the provider responsible for obtaining the necessary rights, including applicable music rights. A video being available online, or owning a recording of it, does not by itself establish that you may broadcast it. Review YouTube’s terms.
Plan for original value and monetization policy
Monetization is not automatic. YouTube’s channel monetization policies apply to live streams, and the policy clarification dated July 15, 2025 renamed “repetitious content” as “inauthentic content” and clarified that repetitive or mass-produced content is ineligible. Looping alone does not establish that a channel is ineligible; YouTube evaluates the channel under its current policy. Make the stream meaningfully original rather than relying on the same minimally changed material repeated indefinitely. See YouTube channel monetization policies.
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Build and test the OBS scene
- Prepare the media. Keep the selected video files on the computer that will run OBS, and verify that each file plays with the expected picture and audio. If using a playlist, install VLC before adding the VLC Video source.
- Create a scene. In OBS, add a scene, then add a Media Source for one video or a VLC Video source for a playlist. Set the relevant Loop or Loop Playlist option. Arrange and test any overlays and audio sources as part of the scene.
- Run the OBS configuration wizard. Follow the OBS Quick Start Guide to configure the program, then review the sources and audio in the preview. A preview that looks right does not prove the full stream is stable, so make a short private or otherwise suitable test before launch.
- Choose output settings for your actual files and connection. There is no universal resolution or bitrate established for every computer, recording and upload connection. Check YouTube’s current streaming tips and match the output to the media and available outbound bandwidth. Leave bandwidth headroom rather than using the connection’s full capacity, and confirm the OBS output does not overload the computer.
- Check the whole loop. Watch a file ending and restart, or a playlist transition; listen for missing, doubled or abruptly cut audio. Let the test run long enough to check that playback continues and the computer remains responsive.
Connect OBS to YouTube and start the event
- Create or schedule an encoder stream. In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or schedule a stream using the encoder workflow. YouTube’s encoder setup guide describes the process.
- Copy the stream URL and key into OBS. YouTube supplies a stream URL and stream key. Enter them in OBS’s streaming settings. The key is a credential that allows YouTube to accept the encoder feed; keep it private and do not show it in the stream or share it publicly. YouTube also exposes settings such as DVR and auto-start or auto-stop, but their availability and configuration should be checked in your account. See YouTube’s live stream settings guide.
- Start the encoder and inspect YouTube’s preview. Start streaming from OBS, then wait for the feed to appear in Live Control Room. Check picture, sound, stream health and the watch page before making the event public. YouTube recommends checking access from the watch page and mobile as well as monitoring audio and video.
- End the broadcast deliberately. When the event is over, stop sending the encoder feed from OBS and confirm the event has ended in Live Control Room. Do not assume a stream will end or archive exactly as you expect solely because playback has looped.
Plan for archives, interruptions and recovery
A 24-hour event is not the same as a guaranteed 24-hour replay
YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That does not promise that one stream lasting 24 hours or more will be archived in full. If replay availability matters, decide how you will make recordings available separately and check the current settings and archive behavior in YouTube Studio. See YouTube’s encoder stream guide.
Keep the local system and connection available
A local OBS broadcast relies on the computer, source files, power and upload connection remaining available. YouTube warns that a network disruption can break a stream and recommends enough outbound bandwidth with headroom; it also recommends monitoring the broadcast. Set an operator schedule or alerting process to check the live output and respond if the encoder or event stops. No configuration here guarantees uninterrupted operation or automatic recovery.
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Understand live copyright matching
YouTube scans live streams for third-party content, including other broadcasts. A match can replace the stream with a placeholder, interrupt it, or terminate it if the issue continues. If you have a license for material that is being matched, YouTube advises asking the rights owner to add your channel to its Content ID allowlist; having a license alone may not prevent interruption. See YouTube’s copyright guidance for live streams.
Use an outage plan that fits the failure
- Playback stops or jumps: Check the OBS source’s loop setting, the playlist paths and whether the files remain accessible. Test the actual transitions before restarting the event.
- YouTube does not receive a feed: Check that OBS is streaming, the correct stream URL and key are configured, and the event is open in Live Control Room. Treat the key as a secret; replace it if exposed.
- Video or audio is unstable: Check OBS’s output and the computer’s load, then check available upload bandwidth and leave more headroom. YouTube’s guidance recommends monitoring the feed rather than assuming that a successful start means it will remain healthy.
- The event ends after a network or power failure: Restore the connection or power, inspect the encoder and YouTube event state, then restart the encoder or create a new event as appropriate. Verify the watch page after recovery; do not promise viewers a seamless resume.
- A copyright interruption occurs: Identify the matched material and resolve the rights issue. If the material is licensed, contact the rights owner about Content ID allowlisting before trying again.
A UPS for the computer and network equipment is an optional way to address brief power interruptions, but it will not fix an internet outage, software failure or encoder problem. The required backup runtime depends on the equipment load and the outage you want to cover.
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Frequently asked questions
Can OBS play a playlist on repeat?
Yes. Add a VLC Video source, select the local files in a playlist and enable Loop Playlist. VLC must be installed for this source type.
Will YouTube automatically archive a 24/7 live stream?
YouTube’s guidance covers automatic archiving for streams under 12 hours; it does not establish that a single stream exceeding that duration will be archived in full.
Does looping prerecorded study content guarantee monetization?
No. Monetization depends on eligibility and YouTube’s review under its current channel monetization policies; repetitive or mass-produced content is ineligible under the inauthentic-content policy.
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