To rotate prerecorded videos in a continuous YouTube live stream, put them in an OBS playlist and send the output to YouTube Live. In OBS, use a VLC Video source, add your files, and enable Loop Playlist. The playlist handles playback; OBS is the encoder that broadcasts it.
What you need for a rotating 24/7 stream
A YouTube playlist is not itself a live broadcast. You need prerecorded video files, playback software that can repeat them, an encoder such as OBS, and a YouTube Live stream to receive the encoder’s output. A local OBS setup gives you control over the queue, but the computer and internet connection must remain available for the stream to continue.
- A YouTube channel eligible to stream live, with live streaming enabled.
- Video files you have the right to broadcast.
- OBS and its VLC Video source for a multi-file playlist.
- A reliable upload connection with capacity beyond the stream’s bitrate.
YouTube says channel verification and no recent live-streaming restrictions are prerequisites. Enabling live streaming for the first time may take up to 24 hours. See YouTube’s live streaming tips for computers.
Build and loop the playlist in OBS
- Open OBS and select the scene that should carry the broadcast.
- In Sources, select + and add a VLC Video source. Name it clearly, such as “24/7 playlist.”
- Open the source’s properties and add the video files you want to rotate. Arrange them in the order you want them to play.
- Enable Loop Playlist. OBS restarts the source after it reaches the end of the media-file list.
- Leave Shuffle Playlist off for a fixed sequence. Turn it on if you want the order randomized.
- Apply the settings and confirm that the source is visible in the active scene and that both video and audio play.
These controls are documented in the OBS Project Media Sources guide (published January 11, 2022). OBS documents that a media source normally stops when it is not visible and restarts when it becomes visible. If you switch scenes or hide the source, playback can therefore stop or restart. Keep the playlist source visible in the scene being broadcast, and check its behavior before relying on scene changes.
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One file or multiple files?
For one repeating file, use OBS’s Media Source and enable its separate Loop control. For a queue of several files, use VLC Video and Loop Playlist. The controls are not interchangeable.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, open Create and choose Go live to reach the Live Control Room. Create a stream or schedule one.
- In the stream’s settings, copy YouTube’s stream URL and stream key.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream. Select YouTube as the service and enter the server URL and stream key using the connection details YouTube provides. Interface labels can vary by OBS version or connection method.
- Keep the stream key private. It is the credential YouTube uses to identify where the encoder should send the feed and accept it.
- Start streaming in OBS. In YouTube’s Live Control Room, wait for the incoming preview and check the picture and sound before selecting Go live, if your stream setup requires that separate step.
Follow YouTube’s current instructions for creating and connecting an encoder stream: Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
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Set the stream up to stay healthy
Upload capacity and monitoring
YouTube recommends upload bandwidth with 20% headroom above the total stream bitrate. For example, if your configured stream bitrate is 6 Mbps, aim for at least 7.2 Mbps of available upload capacity during the broadcast. Other people or devices using the connection can reduce what is available, so test under realistic conditions. YouTube also recommends testing the encoder and monitoring the stream while it runs: YouTube streaming tips.
Encoder connection and keyframes
YouTube recommends RTMPS for the encoder connection. Its general encoder guidance recommends a 2-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed 4 seconds. Follow the current resolution- and frame-rate-specific recommendations on YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions page. Do not assume that increasing bitrate alone will improve a stream if the connection cannot sustain it.
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Test before leaving it unattended
- Watch the YouTube preview and check that the expected files play in the right order.
- Listen for audio, including transitions between files; check that it is neither missing nor unexpectedly loud.
- Confirm the playlist returns to the beginning after its final item.
- Check stream health and network capacity, then keep monitoring for interruptions or playback problems.
A loop setting does not guarantee an uninterrupted broadcast. Playback, OBS, the computer, and the network all need to keep working.
Plan around YouTube’s archive limit
Continuous live viewing and a complete replay are different needs. YouTube says streams under 12 hours can be automatically archived, while a stream longer than 12 hours may not be captured at all. If you need a dependable replay, plan shorter live sessions or arrange a separate recording workflow rather than relying on one 24-hour broadcast to produce a full archive. See YouTube’s archive live streams guidance.
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Copyright and channel considerations
Having a video in a playlist does not establish that you have permission to rebroadcast it. Use your own work or content for which you have the necessary rights, including rights to music and other material embedded in the videos. These setup steps do not determine whether a particular upload complies with YouTube’s copyright or monetization policies; check the rules that apply to your content and channel.
Troubleshooting a playlist stream
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The list plays once and stops. | Loop Playlist is off, or the source is not a VLC Video playlist. | Open the VLC Video source properties and enable Loop Playlist. For a single file, use Media Source’s separate Loop setting. |
| The stream goes blank or a clip restarts after changing scenes. | The playlist source became hidden; OBS’s documented visibility behavior can stop and restart playback. | Keep the source visible in the active broadcast scene and test any scene transitions. |
| YouTube receives no video. | OBS may not be sending, or the stream URL or key may be wrong. | Check OBS’s stream connection settings against the current YouTube Live Control Room details, start the encoder, and look for an incoming preview. |
| Video or audio stutters. | The upload connection may lack capacity or be under load. | Check stream health and available upload bandwidth; YouTube recommends 20% headroom above total stream bitrate. Test again under typical network use. |
| The expected full-day replay is missing. | A stream longer than 12 hours may not be captured as an archive. | Use shorter sessions if a YouTube archive is important, or maintain a separate recording workflow. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you do not want a home computer and connection to be responsible for continuous playback, StreamNeo is a cloud option for looping uploaded videos on YouTube. Upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It keeps the stream running from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home; it automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. Your upload streams as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot, with 10 GB storage per slot pooled across active slots. The first day is free with no card, one free day per account. Monthly service is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for uploaded videos and streams to YouTube only. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start your free day.
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