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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesTo loop a gaming video archive on a 24/7 YouTube livestream, send a looping video source from OBS Studio to YouTube through an encoder stream. You can loop one local file with OBS Media Source or rotate through several files with its VLC Video source. Test the stream before going public, confirm you have rights to everything it plays, and keep a local recording: YouTube says streams longer than 12 hours may not be captured as a replay.
Before you start
Check that your channel can livestream before preparing the archive. YouTube’s general live-streaming guidance says the channel must be verified, must not have had a live-streaming restriction in the previous 90 days, and the streamer must be at least 16 years old. See YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance for current requirements.
- A verified YouTube channel with live streaming available.
- OBS Studio and the gaming video file or files you want to play.
- A stable internet connection and a computer capable of playing the archive while encoding and sending the stream.
- The rights needed for the gameplay recording, game audio, music, overlays, and other material included in the broadcast.
You do not need a capture card to stream a video archive: the source is already a file. A separate external drive is optional, but can help preserve a local recording; choose its capacity according to the recording duration and output settings.
Create a YouTube encoder stream
- Open YouTube Studio and go to the live-streaming area. Choose the encoder workflow and create or manage a stream for the broadcast.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for the stream. In OBS, you can select YouTube as the service where available, or enter YouTube’s stream URL and key in the streaming settings. YouTube’s encoder setup guidance covers the platform workflow.
- Treat the stream key like a password. Anyone who has it may be able to send a broadcast to your channel. Do not publish it, show it on stream, or include it in screenshots. If it is exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube Studio and update OBS with the new key.
YouTube recommends RTMPS for ingest and publishes supported codecs and bitrate guidance in its live encoder settings. Use YouTube’s current recommendations for the resolution and frame rate you choose; then make sure your computer and upload connection can sustain them. A higher bitrate requires more upload capacity and is not automatically better if it causes dropped frames or disconnects.
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Choose how OBS plays the archive
Use Media Source for a single file. Use the VLC Video source when you want OBS to move through a playlist of archive files. OBS documents both options in its Media Sources guide.
| Need | OBS Media Source | OBS VLC Video source |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | One local archive file | A playlist of archive files |
| Repeat behavior | Enable Loop to restart the file when playback ends | Enable Loop Playlist to restart the playlist after its items finish |
| Extra dependency | None stated for Media Source | VLC must be installed for this source to appear |
Loop one video file
- In OBS, create or select a scene for the broadcast.
- Under Sources, add a Media Source and select the local video file.
- Enable Loop in the source properties so playback restarts when the file ends.
- Check the preview and listen to the audio. Confirm that the file starts, plays to its end, and begins again as intended.
Loop a playlist of files
- Install VLC if it is not already installed; OBS requires it for the VLC Video source to appear.
- Add a VLC Video source to the scene and build the playlist from the archive files you want to rotate through.
- Enable Loop Playlist in the source properties.
- Check the playlist order and confirm in the preview that playback advances from one item to the next and returns to the beginning.
A playlist is useful for rotating different sessions or segments, but each file still needs to be available to the computer running OBS. Keep the source files in a location that will remain accessible throughout the broadcast.
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Configure, test, and launch
- In OBS, configure YouTube as the streaming service or enter the stream URL and key copied from YouTube Studio. Choose the video resolution and frame rate your system and connection can sustain, using YouTube’s current encoder guidance as the starting point.
- Start a short test stream and inspect the preview in YouTube’s Live Control Room. Check that video is moving, the audio is audible and correctly balanced, and the intended scene and source are visible.
- Watch for instability before a public launch. If the stream drops frames or disconnects, reduce the output demand or address the computer or network bottleneck, then test again.
- When the test is satisfactory, start the broadcast and continue monitoring audio and video. OBS recommends a brief test before a first real broadcast; YouTube also advises ongoing monitoring and checking that local archive files are intact. See YouTube’s livestream archive guidance.
Preserve the broadcast recording
YouTube says it can automatically archive streams shorter than 12 hours. A stream exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all, so do not treat YouTube’s replay as the sole copy of a continuous broadcast. Enable local recording in OBS while streaming and plan how you will check, store, and retain those files. A long recording needs enough disk capacity for its duration and output settings; the reviewed guidance does not prescribe a particular drive size or model.
For an always-on channel, decide in advance how recordings will be preserved and what happens when storage fills. Check that the local files are playable rather than assuming that a recording completed successfully. YouTube’s archive guidance recommends a local backup; it does not guarantee that a very long live replay will be retained.
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Check game and music rights
You are responsible for having the rights needed for the content in a livestream, including applicable music rights, and for following YouTube’s Community Guidelines. Before broadcasting, check the game publisher’s streaming policy and the rights status of music, licensed tracks, overlays, and any third-party material in your recordings. A game’s permission to stream gameplay does not by itself establish permission to rebroadcast every track or asset in a particular recording. The applicable permissions depend on the game and the material; the general platform guidance does not decide the rights for a specific archive. See YouTube’s Terms of Service.
Troubleshoot common problems
- The channel cannot start a livestream: Check channel verification, the minimum age requirement, and whether a live-streaming restriction applies within the previous 90 days. Review YouTube’s eligibility guidance before changing OBS settings.
- The stream does not appear in YouTube Studio: Recheck that OBS is using the correct YouTube stream URL and key. If the key was exposed or changed, reset it in Studio and update OBS.
- The video stops at the end instead of repeating: For a single file, open the Media Source properties and enable Loop. For multiple files, confirm that the source is VLC Video and Loop Playlist is enabled.
- The VLC source is missing: Install VLC, then reopen or refresh OBS as needed so it can detect the dependency.
- The stream is choppy or disconnects: Compare the selected output settings with YouTube’s current recommendations and the capacity of your computer and upload connection. Reduce resolution, frame rate, or bitrate as needed, then run another test and monitor the Live Control Room preview.
- The YouTube replay is missing or incomplete: Do not rely on an automatic replay for broadcasts longer than 12 hours. Use OBS local recording and verify the resulting files.
- The picture works but music or other material raises a rights issue: Review the rights for that specific game, recording, and third-party content before continuing. Changing encoder settings does not resolve a rights problem.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Can I loop several gaming videos in OBS instead of one long file?
Yes. Use the VLC Video source with a playlist and enable Loop Playlist; VLC must be installed for that source to appear.
Do I need a capture card to stream a gaming video archive?
No. The archive is a video file that OBS can play as a source, so a capture card is not needed for this workflow.
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Can I use YouTube’s automatic replay as my only copy of a 24/7 stream?
No. YouTube warns that streams longer than 12 hours may not be captured at all; keep and verify a local recording.
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