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To loop multiple prerecorded videos on YouTube Live, install OBS Studio and VLC, add the files to an OBS VLC Video Source, enable playlist looping, then connect OBS to a YouTube encoder stream and test the preview before going live. The videos play in the order listed unless you turn on shuffle.
What you need before you start
- OBS Studio and VLC installed on the same computer. OBS’s VLC Video Source depends on VLC libraries, so the source may not be available if VLC is missing. In the documented 64-bit case, OBS says to install 64-bit VLC with 64-bit OBS. OBS: Media Sources
- The video files you want to play, available locally or at a network location OBS can access.
- A YouTube channel eligible to livestream, plus a reliable upload connection suited to your selected stream quality.
OBS’s media-source documentation is dated January 11, 2022, so interface labels may vary by software version. YouTube’s linked encoder guidance is its official documentation; check it for current settings before a broadcast.
Build and configure the rotating playlist in OBS
- Create or select a scene. In OBS, choose a scene for the broadcast. You can use an existing scene or create one specifically for the playlist.
- Add the VLC source. In the Sources panel, select + and choose VLC Video Source. If it is missing, confirm VLC is installed and that its architecture matches OBS.
- Name the source and add files. Add the video files to the source’s playlist in the order you want them to play. Use the playlist controls to arrange the sequence before broadcasting.
- Set repeat and order. Turn on Loop Playlist to restart the playlist after the final item. OBS documents this setting as on by default. Shuffle Playlist is off by default; leave it off for the listed order or enable it for randomized playback.
- Review visibility behavior. OBS’s default is to stop playback when the source is hidden and restart it when visible. If you switch scenes, decide whether that is what you want; the VLC source also offers options to continue or pause when hidden.
- Check audio and caching if needed. The source’s documented defaults are Audio Track 1 and 400 ms network caching. If a video has multiple audio tracks, select the intended one. If media is network-hosted and playback stutters, adjust caching and test again.
Play through a representative part of the playlist in OBS. Check that the picture fits the canvas, the intended audio track is audible, and transitions between files behave as expected.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. Create or select an encoder stream and retrieve the stream URL and stream key from YouTube’s stream setup.
- Enter the connection details in OBS. Open Settings → Stream, choose the YouTube service or enter the server details as directed by the current YouTube setup, then provide the stream key. YouTube describes the key as the credential/address information the encoder uses to send its feed. Keep it private; reset it if it is exposed. YouTube Help: Create a live stream with an encoder YouTube Help: Manage your live stream settings
- Choose a compatible output. In OBS’s output and video settings, select a resolution and frame rate your computer and upload connection can sustain. Set bitrate using YouTube’s current resolution-specific recommendations, rather than relying on one bitrate for every format or connection.
- Use a supported encoder configuration. YouTube currently lists H.264, H.265 (HEVC), or AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS video, CBR bitrate encoding, frame rates up to 60 fps, and AAC or MP3 audio under RTMP/RTMPS. Its recommended keyframe interval is 2 seconds and should not exceed 4 seconds. YouTube recommends RTMPS, a secure extension to RTMP. YouTube Help: Encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions
- Use HLS only when the requirements call for it. YouTube describes HLS as higher latency because it sends video in segments. Consider it when the codec or HDR requirements make it appropriate; for a typical OBS setup, follow YouTube’s RTMPS guidance.
Test the stream, then go live
- Start streaming from OBS while your playlist is playing.
- In YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room, wait for the encoder preview. Confirm both picture and sound, and check that the preview shows the intended content rather than a blank scene or an unintended desktop capture.
- For a scheduled event, click Go Live in the Live Control Room only after the preview is correct.
- Monitor YouTube’s stream health during the broadcast. Test in advance with the actual playlist, including its motion and audio, rather than validating only a still frame. YouTube recommends testing before the stream. YouTube Help: Encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions
If this is the channel’s first livestream, allow time for activation: YouTube says first-time live-stream activation can take up to 24 hours. Its live-stream tips also state that the channel must be verified and must not have live-streaming restrictions in the preceding 90 days. YouTube Help: Get started with live streaming
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Troubleshoot common problems
- VLC Video Source is missing: Install VLC, then restart OBS. If using 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC as specified in OBS’s documentation.
- The playlist plays once and stops: Open the VLC source properties and confirm Loop Playlist is on.
- Videos play in an unexpected order: Review the playlist order and turn off Shuffle Playlist if you want a fixed sequence.
- Playback stops after changing scenes: The source may be stopping when hidden, which is the documented default. Change its visibility behavior to continue or pause as appropriate, then test the scene switch.
- There is no sound or the wrong sound: Check the source’s Audio Track selection; OBS documents Track 1 as the default. Also confirm the file itself contains the expected audio.
- YouTube does not receive the stream: Recheck the stream URL and key in OBS, confirm the key has not been reset, and verify that the encoder is connected in the Live Control Room. Treat the key as a secret and reset it if compromised.
- The preview is unstable or YouTube reports stream health problems: Test a lower resolution, frame rate, or bitrate that your upload connection can sustain. Compare the chosen bitrate with YouTube’s current resolution-specific table and verify CBR and keyframe settings.
- The channel cannot start a livestream: Check channel verification, recent live-stream restrictions, and whether first-time activation is still pending.
Copyright and YouTube channel rules to check
Using OBS to loop a playlist does not grant permission to broadcast the files. Before streaming, make sure you have the rights or permissions needed for every video and audio track, and review YouTube’s applicable copyright and livestream policies. A technically successful stream does not by itself establish that the material is authorized or eligible for monetization. Use the copyright safety checklist as a practical preflight aid.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a prerecorded playlist to keep running without leaving the streaming computer on, StreamNeo runs a YouTube stream from uploaded videos in the cloud:
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