To keep a prerecorded playlist in the same sequence in OBS, use a VLC Video Source, arrange the files in the intended order, and leave Shuffle Playlist off. Turn on Loop Playlist only if you want playback to return to the first file after the last one. This preserves list order during playback; it does not guarantee that OBS will resume the same file at the same timestamp after a full restart.
Set up a fixed-order playlist in OBS
- Add the playlist source. In your OBS scene, add a VLC Video Source. OBS documents this source for playlists; its ordinary Media Source is for an individual file. See the OBS media sources documentation.
- Load and arrange the files. Add the media files to the VLC Video Source and check their displayed order in the source properties. The order in this list is the sequence you want OBS to play.
- Disable random playback. Leave Shuffle Playlist unchecked. OBS describes this option as controlling whether files are randomized or played in file-list order.
- Choose what happens at the end. Enable Loop Playlist if the sequence should start over after the last item. Leave it off if playback should stop at the end. Looping controls the end of the list, not recovery after OBS restarts.
- Check VLC installation. VLC Video Source requires VLC to be installed. OBS specifies that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
After setting up the source, check the sequence in the OBS preview before streaming. If your YouTube broadcast is already live, OBS is still the playlist source in this setup; YouTube is the destination, not the control that determines the local file order.
Playlist order and restart recovery are different
Shuffle off keeps files in list order while the playlist plays. It does not establish what happens to the current file or its playback position when OBS closes and reopens. The official OBS documentation describes playlist order, shuffle, and looping, but does not establish that the built-in VLC Video Source restores the exact file and timestamp after a full OBS restart. Results may depend on your OBS version and setup, so test your own scene rather than relying on an assumed resume behavior.
Options if OBS must reopen on the current file
Built-in VLC Video Source
Use it for a fixed-order playlist, but do not count on it to restore the exact playback position after a full OBS restart based on the documented behavior. Verify what your own setup does if continuity matters.
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Media Playlist Source plugin
The OBS community listing for the Media Playlist Source plugin says it saves the currently playing file so that file will play when OBS restarts. That claim is about the file, not an exact timestamp; the listing does not promise resumption at the same point in the video. It lists OBS Studio 30.0.0 as the minimum version and Windows, macOS, and Linux as supported platforms. As a community plugin, its behavior is a plugin feature claim, not a guarantee for every OBS setup.
What happens when you change the playlist during a live broadcast?
A May 2, 2023 OBS forum discussion raises the practical question of whether adding items to a VLC playlist interrupts a YouTube stream or requires relaunching OBS or YouTube. That question is not proof of one universal outcome. The cited documentation establishes how the playlist order, shuffle, and loop settings work, but does not settle every live-edit behavior. If you need to add or reorder files during a broadcast, test the exact workflow in a private or otherwise suitable test stream before depending on it live. The forum discussion is available at OBS Project forums.
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Troubleshoot order and restart behavior
- Files play in a different sequence than expected: Open the VLC Video Source properties, confirm the displayed file order, and make sure Shuffle Playlist is off.
- The list starts over after the last file: That is the expected effect of Loop Playlist. Disable it if playback should stop at the end.
- The playlist source is unavailable or does not work: Confirm VLC is installed and that its architecture matches OBS. For 64-bit OBS, OBS specifies 64-bit VLC.
- OBS reopens on a different file or position: The built-in documentation does not promise exact restart recovery. If resuming the current file matters, consider the Media Playlist Source plugin for its stated file-restoration behavior, and test whether it meets your needs; do not assume timestamp restoration.
- YouTube Live does not show the expected item: Check what OBS is showing and sending from the scene containing the playlist. The playlist sequence is managed in OBS, not by YouTube.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a YouTube channel that keeps playing uploaded videos without leaving OBS or a computer running at home, StreamNeo is a cloud alternative: upload your video or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; each slot streams uploaded media at its original quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for prerecorded uploads to YouTube, not camera-based live video. See StreamNeo or start your free first day.
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