To play several local videos in sequence on YouTube Live, add them to an OBS VLC Video source, enable Loop Playlist, and keep that source visible in your broadcast scene. VLC Video handles the repeating playlist; OBS still has to run on a computer and send the live feed to YouTube.
Before you set up the playlist
- Confirm YouTube live access. YouTube requires a verified channel with no live-streaming restrictions in the preceding 90 days; the minimum age to live stream is 16. First-time activation may take up to 24 hours. Check YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility requirements before planning a broadcast.
- Install VLC. OBS’s VLC Video source depends on VLC being installed. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC. Without the VLC libraries, VLC Video may not be available as a source. See the OBS Media Sources documentation.
- Gather your video files. The clips must be accessible to the computer running OBS. OBS documents common video formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. Keep files at their current locations while the playlist is in use.
Build and loop a multi-video playlist in OBS
- Open the broadcast scene. In OBS, select the scene that will supply the picture for your YouTube stream.
- Add a VLC Video source. In the Sources dock, click the plus button and choose VLC Video. Give it a recognizable name if prompted, then open its properties. OBS distinguishes this playlist-capable source from the standard Media Source, which is intended for an individual file. See the OBS Sources Guide.
- Add files in the order you want. In the VLC Video properties, add the local clips to the playlist. Arrange them in playback order if you want a fixed sequence.
- Set repeat and shuffle behavior. Enable Loop Playlist to start the list again after its final item. Leave Shuffle Playlist off for the listed order; turn it on if you want OBS to randomize the file order. These settings do different jobs. OBS documents Loop Playlist as on by default and Shuffle Playlist as off by default, but check the controls rather than relying on defaults.
- Check visibility behavior. OBS documents VLC Video as stopping when it is not visible and restarting when it becomes visible. Keep the source visible in the scene used for the broadcast, or deliberately adjust its visibility behavior in the source properties. The eye icon in Sources hides or shows a source, so avoid toggling it accidentally during the stream.
- Fit the video to the canvas. Confirm the source appears in the preview and is framed as intended. If the video is cropped or off-screen, adjust its transform in the preview before going live.
For a single repeating file instead of a playlist, use OBS’s standard Media Source and its Loop property. VLC Video is the appropriate choice when the source needs to move through multiple items.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, open Create → Go Live and create or select the intended stream. YouTube’s encoder setup instructions describe the stream setup and preview process.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for that broadcast in YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room.
- In OBS, open the stream settings and enter the YouTube server URL and stream key in their corresponding fields. Check that the selected stream in YouTube Studio is the same broadcast whose key you entered.
- Start streaming from OBS. If the broadcast is scheduled, wait for the encoder preview to appear in Live Control Room, check it, then choose Go live there when ready.
Do a short private or unlisted test before a public broadcast. Check that the playlist source is visible, audio is present, clips advance as expected, and the correct scheduled broadcast is selected.
What the OBS loop does—and what it does not
Loop Playlist repeats media; it does not host or transmit the stream. OBS must remain open on a running computer, with power and an internet connection, to encode and send the feed. If OBS, the computer, power, or the connection stops, the playlist setting cannot keep YouTube receiving video.
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Or let it run in the cloud
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Troubleshooting the playlist and stream
VLC Video is missing from the Sources menu
Install VLC and restart OBS. If OBS is 64-bit, use 64-bit VLC so OBS can access the required VLC libraries.
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The playlist does not restart at the end
Open the VLC Video source properties and verify Loop Playlist is enabled. Confirm the clips are actually in that source’s playlist rather than separate sources in the scene.
Clips play in an unexpected order
Check whether Shuffle Playlist is enabled. Turn it off to preserve the order shown in the playlist.
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The video stops or restarts when changing scenes
Check whether the source is hidden in the active scene. VLC Video’s documented default is to stop when not visible and restart when visible. Keep it visible or adjust the source’s visibility behavior intentionally.
YouTube does not show the feed
Verify that live streaming is enabled for the channel, the stream URL and key are from the selected broadcast, and OBS is actively streaming. For a scheduled broadcast, wait for the preview in Live Control Room and select Go live.
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There is picture but no audio, or the wrong audio is heard
Check the audio meters in OBS while the playlist plays and confirm that the VLC Video source is not muted. Test each clip; OBS lists common audio formats such as MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV, but a file’s presence in the playlist alone does not confirm its sound is working in the scene.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Copyright and YouTube channel considerations
Using OBS to loop a file does not grant permission to broadcast it. Use videos and audio you own or are authorized to stream, and review applicable copyright rules before going live. A repeating playlist also does not guarantee that a channel or broadcast complies with YouTube’s policies; assess the content and channel against YouTube’s current requirements.
Quick Recap
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