To loop a prerecorded video on YouTube Live with OBS, add it to your broadcast scene as a Media Source, select the file, and enable Loop in the source properties. OBS repeats the file in its outgoing stream; YouTube receives the encoded scene. For a rotating set of videos, use OBS’s VLC Video source and enable Loop Playlist instead.
Set up a single video to repeat in OBS
- Select the broadcast scene. In OBS, choose the scene you want YouTube viewers to see. Scenes contain the sources that make up the output. See the OBS Sources Guide.
- Add a Media Source. In the Sources dock, click the add button and choose Media Source. Give it a recognizable name if prompted.
- Choose the video file. In the Media Source properties, select the local recording. OBS documents support for formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM.
- Enable Loop. Turn on Loop in the properties. OBS documents this option as restarting the file when playback completes, and its default is Off—so check the box rather than assuming it is active.
- Set behavior when the source is hidden. If you switch scenes or hide the source, decide whether playback should restart when it becomes visible again. Enable Restart playback when source becomes active if you want it to start over on activation. Close file when inactive unloads the file while hidden and may cause a short delay when it is shown again.
OBS documents restarting playback at the end of a file, but does not promise a gapless audio or visual transition. Check the loop in the OBS preview before streaming. For the documented options and supported formats, see OBS Media Sources.
Choose between one file and a playlist
| What you want to play | OBS source | What to configure |
|---|---|---|
| One local video, repeated | Media Source | Select the file and enable Loop. VLC installation is not documented as a requirement. |
| Several local videos, one after another and repeating | VLC Video | Add the files to the playlist and enable Loop Playlist. This source requires VLC; with 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC. |
The VLC Video source also offers shuffle and visibility behavior settings. Use it when you need a playlist; it is not required just to repeat one file. OBS documents both source types and their controls in Media Sources.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Confirm channel eligibility first. YouTube says a channel must be eligible to stream; its general live-streaming guidance specifies channel verification and no live-streaming restrictions in the prior 90 days. Check the current status in YouTube Studio. First-time live-stream enablement may take up to 24 hours, according to YouTube’s encoder setup 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. Follow YouTube’s current encoder setup screen.
- Copy the connection details into OBS. In the YouTube stream setup, copy the stream URL and stream key. In OBS, open the stream settings and enter those details. Keep the key private: anyone with access to it may be able to send content to that stream.
- Start the encoder and check the preview. Start streaming from OBS, then confirm that the intended scene appears in the Live Control Room preview. Check that the video is looping and that the audio is correct before taking the event live using the available YouTube controls.
- Monitor the live output. Watch the stream’s picture and sound and confirm that the event is accessible through the relevant channel or watch page. YouTube’s live streaming tips recommend checking the preview and monitoring stream quality.
- End the broadcast in order. End the event on YouTube, then stop sending content from the encoder. YouTube’s live-streaming tips advise stopping the encoder after the event has stopped on YouTube.
YouTube Studio and OBS labels can change. If a control has moved, follow the current screens in the apps rather than relying on an outdated menu location. For YouTube’s encoder connection flow, see Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
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Before you go live: practical checks
- Verify that the selected OBS scene contains the intended video source and that the source is visible.
- Confirm the correct file or playlist is selected and the relevant loop control is enabled.
- Play the video in OBS and check its picture and audio, including the point where the file restarts.
- Confirm the YouTube Live Control Room preview shows the right scene before starting the public event.
- Check YouTube Studio for channel eligibility and any restrictions before scheduling around a first stream; enablement may take up to 24 hours for a first-time setup.
- Use video and audio you have the rights to stream. Looping a file does not grant permission to broadcast it, and this setup guide does not determine whether a particular recording qualifies under YouTube’s copyright or monetization rules.
Troubleshoot common loop and connection problems
The video plays once and stops
Open the Media Source properties and confirm Loop is enabled. OBS documents Loop as Off by default, so a source can play normally without repeating.
The playlist will not load
For a VLC Video source, check that VLC is installed. If OBS is 64-bit, OBS specifies 64-bit VLC. If you only need one file to repeat, switch to Media Source and use its Loop option instead.
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The video restarts after a scene change
Check the source’s activation settings. Restart playback when source becomes active can cause the file to start over when the source becomes visible again. If you need it to continue instead, adjust that behavior and test a scene switch in OBS before going live.
The source appears late when you return to its scene
If Close file when inactive is enabled, OBS unloads the media while the source is hidden. OBS notes that this can create a short delay when it becomes visible again. Disable the setting if that reload delay is undesirable, then test the scene transition.
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YouTube does not show a preview
Confirm OBS is sending to the intended YouTube stream and that the stream URL and key were copied into its stream settings. Check the current Live Control Room status and channel eligibility. If live streaming was just enabled for the first time, YouTube says activation may take up to 24 hours.
The preview appears, but the event is not live
Seeing a preview is a verification step, not necessarily the same as starting the event for viewers. After checking picture and audio, use the current Live Control Room controls to take the configured stream live.
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With OBS, the computer running the encoder must stay on and connected while it sends the stream. StreamNeo is a cloud service for keeping an uploaded video or playlist live on YouTube: upload the recording, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It plays uploaded videos rather than broadcasting a camera feed.
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