You can make a YouTube stream loop videos stored in Google Drive, but OBS does not document a native Google Drive playlist connection. First make the video files available on the computer running OBS, then use OBS’s VLC Video source for a multi-file playlist or Media Source to repeat one file. Connect OBS to YouTube Live with the current stream URL and key, preview the feed, and keep the computer, files, OBS, and internet connection running while you stream.
What you need before you start
- A verified YouTube channel with no live-streaming restrictions during the previous 90 days. YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance describes this check.
- A computer that can run OBS Studio, the video files accessible as media files on that computer, and a stable internet connection with enough upload capacity for your chosen stream quality.
- VLC installed if you plan to use OBS’s VLC Video source. OBS says the source relies on VLC libraries and will not appear unless VLC is installed.
- Access to YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room so you can create an encoder stream and retrieve its stream URL and key.
This setup is not a cloud service: the streaming computer, source files, encoder, and network all need to remain operational. Plan to monitor the stream rather than assuming it will run uninterrupted.
Make the Google Drive videos available to OBS
OBS’s documented media sources work with files the computer can access; the OBS documentation does not describe a direct Google Drive playlist integration. Arrange the Drive videos so they are available locally to the streaming computer, then test their paths in OBS before going live. If you use Drive synchronization, do not assume OBS will automatically notice playlist edits or that a file will remain available just because it appears in Drive.
Choose and check the files in the order you want them to play. Test every item, including audio, and avoid moving or renaming files after configuring the source. If a file is missing or its path changes, the playlist may fail to play it.
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Set up a looping source in OBS
For several videos: VLC Video source
- Install VLC if it is not already installed, then open OBS.
- In the scene you will use for the broadcast, add a VLC Video source.
- Add the locally accessible video files to the source’s playlist in the intended sequence.
- Enable Loop Playlist so playback returns to the beginning after the final item.
- Check the source in the OBS preview and confirm the video and audio behave as expected.
OBS describes the VLC source as allowing a playlist of items and documents a default 400 ms network-caching setting. That is a software default, not a guarantee of playback performance; adjust only if you have a reason and test the result with your files.
For one repeating video: Media Source
- Add a Media Source to the scene and select the video file available on the computer.
- Enable the source’s Loop setting.
- Preview the source and verify that playback returns to the start when the file ends.
Use Media Source for a single file; use VLC Video when you need multiple files played in sequence. The official OBS documentation describes local media playback, not native Drive playlist playback. See OBS’s Media Sources documentation.
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Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, open the Live Control Room and create or schedule a stream for encoder software. YouTube’s interface may change, so use the current controls rather than relying on an old menu path.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for that stream.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream. Select YouTube if available, or choose the custom service option and enter YouTube’s current server URL and stream key in the corresponding fields.
- Treat the stream key like a password. It lets an encoder send a feed to the associated stream; do not share it publicly.
- Use RTMPS when supported by the encoder setup. YouTube recommends RTMPS and publishes its current encoder settings; choose settings that your connection can sustain rather than selecting quality by resolution alone. Check YouTube’s current encoder settings and recommendations.
Preview, go live, and monitor
- Start streaming from OBS and wait for the feed to appear in the Live Control Room preview.
- Check that the video is visible, the audio is present at a sensible level, and the playlist advances as intended.
- Start the broadcast in YouTube’s Live Control Room when the preview is ready.
- Confirm the live event is accessible from your channel or its watch page, then monitor the broadcast and the computer’s network and playback status.
YouTube’s encoder guidance recommends checking the preview before starting. Use the current Live Control Room instructions for stream creation and operational details.
Copyright, live restrictions, and archives
Only stream video and audio you have the rights to use in a live broadcast. YouTube says all live streams are scanned for matches to third-party content. A match may result in a placeholder, interruption, or termination. Even if you have a licence, the rights owner may need to add your channel to its Content ID allowlist for the stream to avoid interruption. Having a file in your Drive does not establish permission to broadcast it. Read YouTube’s guidance on copyright issues with live streams.
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YouTube states that streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. Do not assume a continuous broadcast lasting longer than that will produce one complete replay. If a complete archive matters, plan for broadcasts under 12 hours and verify the resulting replay in YouTube Studio. YouTube’s encoder-stream help page describes its archive rule.
Common problems and fixes
- The VLC Video source is missing: install VLC, restart OBS, then check the source list again; OBS requires VLC libraries for this source.
- A playlist item is skipped or unavailable: check that the file is accessible on the streaming computer and that its path has not changed. Test the exact files locally before broadcasting.
- The playlist stops at the end: check that Loop Playlist is enabled on the VLC Video source. For a single file, use Media Source and enable Loop.
- YouTube does not receive the OBS feed: verify that you copied the current stream URL and key for the intended event and placed them in the matching OBS fields. If needed, create or select the correct encoder stream in Live Control Room and update OBS.
- The preview is choppy or unstable: lower the encoder’s output demands to a level the connection can sustain, check that other network use is not competing for upload capacity, and validate the revised feed in the preview before starting.
- The stream is interrupted after going live: check OBS, the source-file availability, the computer, and the network. If YouTube reports a copyright match, review the rights and allowlisting requirements rather than repeatedly restarting the same material.
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