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To loop a prerecorded video on YouTube Live from a Windows mini PC, use OBS Studio: add the video as a Media Source, enable Loop, connect OBS to YouTube with your stream URL and key, then keep Windows awake and the upload connection stable. Start OBS first, check the Live Control Room preview, and click Go live only when the preview looks and sounds right.
Before you set up the loop
- Check live-stream eligibility. YouTube requires a verified channel with no live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. If this is your first live stream, activation can take up to 24 hours, so enable it before your planned broadcast. YouTube’s live-streaming setup guidance explains eligibility and activation.
- Choose a realistic output. The official guidance does not specify a universal mini PC CPU, memory, or GPU minimum. Start with a resolution and frame rate the computer can sustain, then test under continuous load. OBS notes that 60 fps can demand considerably more from a system than 30 fps. OBS streaming guidance
- Check your upload connection. Your available outbound bandwidth must support the stream’s total bitrate. YouTube recommends leaving 20% headroom; shared networks can reduce bandwidth available to your stream. YouTube’s live encoder settings and bandwidth tips
Set up OBS to repeat one video
- Install and open OBS Studio, then create or select a scene for the broadcast.
- In the Sources panel, select + and choose Media Source. Give it a name if prompted.
- Choose the local video file. OBS Media Source supports common formats including MP4, TS, MOV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. Turn on Loop, then confirm the source settings.
- Watch the OBS preview to confirm the file plays and restarts when it reaches the end. Check that the intended audio is present and that no other source is obscuring the video.
For a sequence of files rather than one repeating file, add a VLC Video source and enable Loop Playlist. VLC must be installed. If you use 64-bit OBS, the OBS documentation specifies 64-bit VLC. See OBS Media Sources documentation.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, select Create > Go Live. In Live Control Room, open the Stream tab and create a stream or choose one already set up. The YouTube workflow is described in YouTube’s encoder setup instructions.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key from YouTube. Treat the key like a password: do not publish or share it. If it is exposed, reset it in YouTube Studio before using it again.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream. Select YouTube if it is available in the service list, or choose the option to enter a custom server and provide YouTube’s stream URL and key. Apply the settings.
- Select Start Streaming in OBS. Wait for the incoming stream and preview to appear in Live Control Room. Check video, audio, and stream health; then select Go live in YouTube.
Choose stream settings and keep the mini PC running
Resolution, frame rate, and sustained load
There is no single appropriate resolution or frame rate for every mini PC. Higher frame rates can be more demanding, and a machine that handles a short test may struggle during a long session. Choose an output your system can maintain, then run a representative test before relying on it. OBS recommends testing ahead of time, particularly when considering 60 fps. Avoid assuming a particular mini PC model will work without checking its sustained performance.
Bitrate and network stability
Set the stream bitrate to a level your upload connection can sustain, with YouTube’s recommended 20% bandwidth headroom. The available upload capacity can vary when other devices or users share the connection. YouTube warns that a broken connection can interrupt a stream, so test the actual network you plan to use and watch stream health during the broadcast.
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Windows sleep settings
On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts. Set the sleep timeout so the mini PC will not sleep during the planned stream. You can set the screen timeout separately; turning off the display does not need to end the session if the computer itself remains awake. See Microsoft’s Windows power settings guidance.
Preflight and monitor the broadcast
- Play a representative stretch of the video in OBS and confirm the loop restarts as expected.
- Check the audio level and listen for the beginning and end of the file, where loop transitions are most apparent.
- Confirm OBS is sending to the intended YouTube stream and that Live Control Room shows a usable preview before you click Go live.
- Run a test stream before a public broadcast so you can learn the workflow and identify performance or connection problems.
- During the stream, monitor YouTube’s stream health and the actual audio and video output. A successful preview before launch does not guarantee the computer or connection will remain stable for the entire session.
YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. Its cited guidance does not establish the same archive outcome for streams longer than 12 hours. If keeping a VOD matters, plan around that limit rather than assuming a longer loop will be fully saved. YouTube encoder setup and archive guidance.
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Common problems and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| You cannot start a live stream | The channel is not eligible, or first-time activation is still pending. | Verify the channel, check for live-streaming restrictions, and allow up to 24 hours for first activation. |
| The video ends instead of repeating | The Media Source loop option is off, or the wrong source is playing. | Open the Media Source properties, enable Loop, and watch the preview through the file’s end. |
| The playlist stops after one pass | Playlist looping is not enabled or VLC is missing or mismatched. | Enable Loop Playlist; install VLC and match its architecture to OBS, including 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS. |
| YouTube does not show an incoming preview | OBS may not be sending, or the server URL or stream key may be incorrect. | Check OBS stream settings against the current values in YouTube Studio, start streaming in OBS, and wait for the Live Control Room preview. |
| The stream disconnects or its health degrades | The upload connection may be unstable or lack headroom; the mini PC may also be under sustained load. | Check YouTube stream health, reduce the output demands if needed, confirm upload capacity with headroom, and test again on the intended network. |
| The stream stops when unattended | Windows may have entered sleep. | Review the Windows sleep timeout and set it to keep the computer awake for the session. |
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Quick Recap
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