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To schedule a prerecorded video for YouTube Live, create the upcoming broadcast in YouTube Studio, prepare an OBS scene that plays the video, then connect OBS to the event and start the encoder at the right time. Scheduling the YouTube event creates its watch page; it does not, by itself, make your computer wake up, launch OBS, or start video playback.
What scheduling does—and what it does not
YouTube Studio scheduling creates an upcoming broadcast that you can promote and share so viewers can set reminders. OBS supplies the video and audio as the encoder. These are separate parts of the workflow: the event can be scheduled while the computer and OBS remain stopped, but that does not schedule the local video file to play later.
YouTube’s documented manual flow is to start the encoder, wait for the stream preview in Live Control Room, and then click Go live. OBS’s scheduled-broadcast controls may allow YouTube to start or stop a broadcast automatically, depending on the event’s settings. They should not be mistaken for a built-in wall-clock scheduler that launches your computer, opens OBS, selects a scene, and starts a file at a future time.
1. Schedule the YouTube broadcast
- In YouTube Studio, select Create → Go Live, open Manage, and choose Schedule stream. Create a new event or reuse settings from an earlier stream. See YouTube’s guide to scheduling a live stream.
- Set the title, description, visibility, audience setting, and scheduled date and time. Check the time zone and event details before sharing the watch page.
- Decide whether you will manually click Go live after checking the preview or use the event’s available auto-start and auto-stop settings. Confirm the current settings for that specific broadcast; do not assume scheduling automatically enables them.
- Copy the event’s stream key and server URL when you are ready to configure OBS. Treat the key like a password: do not show it in screenshots or share it publicly.
2. Connect OBS to the event
- Open OBS and select Settings → Stream.
- Choose YouTube as the service and connect or enter the server URL and stream key shown in YouTube Studio. If using a custom connection, copy both values exactly into OBS’s server and key fields. YouTube documents the encoder connection in its live-stream setup instructions; OBS describes its streaming setup in the OBS overview.
- Return to the main OBS window and make sure the scene you intend to broadcast is selected. The stream sends the active scene, not every source you have added to the project.
3. Add the prerecorded video
For one video file
- In the Sources panel, select + and add a Media Source. Create a new source, give it a recognizable name, and browse to the video file.
- Check the source options for playback and looping. Enable looping if the video should repeat; leave it off if it should play once. Confirm the source is active in the scene and that its audio is not muted.
- Preview the scene and verify the video fits the canvas and the audio meters move as expected. OBS’s media source guide explains the available media-source behavior.
For a playlist of clips
OBS offers a VLC-based Video Source for playlists. VLC must be installed for this source type to appear. Add the source, select the files in playback order, and check its playlist and looping behavior before the event. Also check how the source behaves when it is hidden or the scene changes; a playlist that is not active may not behave as you expect. Details are in the OBS media source documentation.
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4. Check video output before going live
In OBS, review Settings → Video for the base canvas resolution, output resolution, and frame rate. Choose settings that suit the source material and that the computer can encode reliably. A 60 fps output can use more system resources than 30 fps, so do not select it automatically if the machine struggles. OBS’s streaming guide covers output setup and performance considerations.
Before the scheduled time, play the scene and check the actual picture and sound. Make sure the media file is accessible, the correct scene is selected, and no other source covers the video. Keep the stream key private, and make sure you have the correct event selected in YouTube Studio.
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5. Start the scheduled stream
Manual start: the clearest way to verify the broadcast
- At the event time, open the scheduled broadcast in YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room.
- In OBS, select Start Streaming.
- Wait for the encoder preview to appear in YouTube Studio and confirm it shows the intended video and audio.
- Click Go live in Live Control Room. Starting OBS sends the encoder feed; for YouTube’s documented manual workflow, the broadcast goes live after you confirm it there. Follow YouTube’s current instructions for the event.
Automatic start and stop
OBS Project’s scheduled-stream guide describes auto-start and auto-stop controls for scheduled YouTube broadcasts. Availability and behavior depend on the event’s broadcast settings and YouTube integration. Check the controls for the specific event and verify the setup before relying on it. Automation of the broadcast transition does not establish that your computer will turn on, OBS will launch, the correct scene will be active, or playback will begin at the scheduled time. The OBS guide is a community forum post, so its interface directions may not match the current version: OBS Project forum guide to scheduled-stream controls.
6. End the broadcast
When the program is finished, end the stream in YouTube Studio using End Stream, then stop the encoder in OBS. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; longer streams are outside that stated automatic-archive condition. See YouTube’s live-stream guidance.
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Common problems and fixes
- The event is scheduled but nothing starts. Scheduling creates the event, not a computer or OBS launch schedule. Start the computer and OBS yourself, or separately set up and test a reliable launch and playback method.
- OBS is streaming, but the event is not live. For the manual flow, wait for the preview in Live Control Room and click Go live. Check that OBS is connected to the correct event and stream key.
- The video is missing or frozen. Confirm the media file still exists at the selected path, the source is visible and active in the selected scene, and playback has started. If using a playlist, check that VLC is installed and that the Video Source contains the intended files.
- There is no sound. Check that the source is not muted, the intended audio is present in OBS’s mixer, and its meters move during playback. Verify the preview before starting the public broadcast.
- The stream stutters or OBS struggles. Review output resolution and frame rate in Settings → Video. Reduce demands if needed; 60 fps can tax the system more than 30 fps.
- The playlist does not advance or repeat as expected. Check the playlist order, loop setting, and source visibility behavior. Test the complete sequence in OBS before the scheduled time.
- The broadcast stops after a disconnect. Check the connection and the event’s current auto-start/auto-stop behavior. Do not assume the scheduled event or OBS setting guarantees recovery from every interruption.
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