You can run a prerecorded video as a YouTube livestream overnight with OBS Studio: add the video as a looping Media Source, connect OBS to a scheduled YouTube stream, and keep Windows from sleeping. Before leaving the PC unattended, test the full setup—including the YouTube preview, audio, upload capacity, and stream health. A spare PC is not guaranteed to sustain every resolution or stay connected all night, so use settings the actual computer and internet connection can handle.
Before you start: check channel and PC readiness
Confirm YouTube live access
Your channel must be verified and must not have had live-streaming restrictions in the past 90 days. First-time live-stream activation can take up to 24 hours, so enable it well before the night you plan to stream. YouTube’s encoder setup guide explains the requirements: YouTube encoder streaming.
Check what the spare PC can handle
OBS Studio lists Windows 10 or Windows 11 and a DirectX 10.1-compatible GPU among its basic Windows requirements. Meeting those requirements does not guarantee that the PC can stream your chosen resolution, frame rate, encoder, and scene. OBS notes: “Having a compatible system does not guarantee that it is capable of streaming or recording using OBS Studio.” Test the exact configuration you intend to use. See OBS Studio system requirements.
Prepare the video and rights
Have the video file available locally and make sure you are entitled to stream its audio and video. YouTube says streams must comply with its Community Guidelines; its encoder guidance also warns against using trailer content that infringes others’ rights. That trailer-specific warning is not a complete copyright analysis for every type of content. Review YouTube’s copyright guidance for live streams.
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Schedule a YouTube stream and get its key
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Open YouTube Studio and go to Live Control Room. Use the Manage tab to schedule the broadcast, or create the stream there when you are ready to test.
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In the stream’s encoder settings, copy the stream URL and stream key. In OBS, open Settings > Stream, choose YouTube as the service, and enter the URL and key if OBS does not populate the server automatically.
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Treat the stream key like a password: do not publish it or share it. If it is exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube Studio before broadcasting.
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Keep the Live Control Room event open for the preview and stream-health checks later. YouTube’s encoder instructions cover connecting an encoder and starting a stream: YouTube encoder streaming.
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Add a looping prerecorded video in OBS
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Open OBS Studio and select the scene you want to use. In the Sources panel, click + and choose Media Source.
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Name the source, then select the local video file. Enable Loop in the Media Source properties so playback starts again when it reaches the end.
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Check the preview to confirm the video is framed correctly. In the Audio Mixer, verify that the source’s audio meter moves during playback and that the intended audio is not muted.
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If you need several files to play as a playlist, OBS also offers a VLC Video source with a playlist and Loop Playlist option. VLC must be installed for that source to work. For a single file, the built-in Media Source is the simpler choice.
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OBS documents the Media Source and VLC Video options here: OBS media sources.
Set stream quality to match the connection
Use measured upload capacity, not a guess
Choose a resolution, frame rate, and bitrate that your connection can sustain for the whole broadcast. YouTube recommends leaving about 20% of available upload bandwidth as headroom above the total streaming bitrate. If your measured upload speed varies, choose a lower-bitrate profile rather than using the connection’s best-case result. YouTube warns: “A disruption on your connectivity could mean a broken stream.” See YouTube’s recommended encoder settings and bandwidth guidance.
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Use YouTube’s settings table as a starting point
YouTube’s settings table lists 2 Mbps as the recommended video bitrate for 720p at 30 fps, with 6 Mbps as the range maximum. This is a reference for that particular resolution and frame rate, not a universal bitrate for every stream. Check YouTube’s current table and test the actual network before settling on a profile: YouTube encoder settings.
In OBS, open Settings > Output to set the streaming encoder and bitrate, and Settings > Video to set the base and output resolution and frame rate. The right values depend on the PC’s encoder capacity and the available upload bandwidth; the official sources do not establish a single best profile for an unspecified spare computer.
Keep Windows awake, then test before the overnight run
Prevent sleep without keeping the display on
On Windows 11, open Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts. Set the sleep timeout long enough that the PC will remain awake for the planned stream. The display timeout is separate, so you can let the screen turn off while the computer stays on. Windows power settings can vary by device and power mode; confirm the applied timeout before leaving. See Microsoft’s Windows sleep and power guidance.
Run a complete rehearsal
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Start OBS streaming and wait for the video preview in YouTube Live Control Room. Use unlisted visibility for a practice stream if you do not want the test publicly discoverable.
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Check that the picture moves, the audio is audible, and the stream-health panel does not show a problem. YouTube recommends monitoring audio, video, and stream health during a broadcast.
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Test the expected duration and bitrate on the same connection you plan to use overnight. A short test can expose setup errors, but it cannot guarantee that a longer run will not be interrupted.
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YouTube recommends setting up the encoder two hours ahead of an event and being ready 15 minutes before its scheduled start. Treat those as preparation recommendations, not a guarantee of uninterrupted service. See YouTube streaming tips.
End the stream and handle the archive
YouTube says all streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. If a complete archive matters, do not assume a stream longer than 12 hours will be fully saved. When the event has ended in YouTube, stop streaming from OBS as well. YouTube’s encoder guide states: “All streams under 12 hours will be automatically archived.” See YouTube encoder streaming.
Troubleshooting an overnight setup
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YouTube does not show an incoming preview: Check that OBS is streaming to the scheduled event’s stream URL and that the correct stream key is entered in Settings > Stream. Confirm the channel has live access and that first-time activation has completed.
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The video stops at the end instead of repeating: Open the Media Source properties and enable Loop. If using VLC Video for a playlist, enable Loop Playlist and confirm VLC is installed.
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The PC stops broadcasting after a while: Check Windows sleep and hibernate timeouts. The screen may turn off independently, but the computer itself must remain awake for OBS to keep sending the stream.
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The stream buffers or reports poor health: Reduce the streaming bitrate or output resolution, then test again. YouTube recommends about 20% upload-bandwidth headroom; an unstable or interrupted connection can still break the stream.
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OBS struggles to encode or the picture is unreliable: Try a less demanding resolution or frame rate and test again on the spare PC. OBS’s baseline system requirements do not promise that a particular machine can sustain a specific stream profile.
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The video plays but viewers cannot hear it: Check the Media Source’s audio meter in OBS, the Audio Mixer mute state, and the Live Control Room preview. Test audio before leaving the computer unattended.
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