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To loop a prerecorded video on YouTube Live from a Windows PC, add it to OBS Studio as a Media Source, enable Loop, connect OBS to a YouTube stream with its server URL and stream key, and configure Windows to keep the PC awake. Test the stream before relying on it: a PC-based broadcast can still stop if Windows sleeps, the power or internet connection fails, or the encoder encounters a problem.
Before you start: check the channel and the video
- Your YouTube channel must be verified and must not have live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. YouTube’s encoder live-streaming guidance covers channel readiness and setup.
- Use a video you have the right to stream. Whether a particular video or track is cleared for rebroadcast depends on its rights and the rules that apply to it; check the relevant permissions and YouTube policies.
- Install OBS Studio and have the video file available locally. OBS Media Source supports formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM, according to its Media Sources documentation (dated 2022-01-11).
Set up the loop in OBS Studio
- Open OBS and select the scene that should carry the broadcast. Add a source with + in the Sources panel, then choose Media Source. Create a new source or select an existing one.
- In the Media Source properties, select the local video file. Enable Loop. OBS documents that Loop is off by default and repeats the file after playback completes.
- Check the preview and audio mixer. Confirm that the picture fits the canvas as intended, the source is not muted, and the audio plays at a suitable level. If the video has no audio, make sure the intended audio source is present in the scene.
- Play through enough of the source to confirm the file works, then verify that playback restarts at the end. A loop repeats the same recording; it does not create a new live camera feed.
Create the YouTube Live event and connect OBS
- In YouTube Studio, open Go Live and create or schedule a stream. Choose Public, Private, or Unlisted according to who should be able to watch. A scheduled stream can appear as an upcoming event, where viewers may be able to request a reminder.
- Open the event’s Live Control Room and copy its stream URL and stream key. In OBS, open Settings > Stream, select YouTube as the service, and enter or connect the server URL and key as the interface requests. YouTube explains that stream keys direct the encoder’s feed and should be protected like credentials in Manage live stream settings.
- Keep the key private. Anyone who obtains it may be able to send a feed to your stream. If you think it has been exposed, reset it in YouTube’s live-stream settings and update OBS with the replacement.
- Set the output resolution, frame rate, and encoder in OBS, then start the stream and check the YouTube preview before making the event public or sharing it. YouTube’s encoder settings guidance recommends using a quality that fits the available connection and testing first.
Choose output settings that your connection can sustain
There is no single best bitrate for every PC or internet connection. Use a stable wired or otherwise reliable connection where possible, and leave upload headroom rather than setting OBS to consume the connection’s full measured upload capacity. If the connection cannot sustain the chosen bitrate, viewers may see buffering or YouTube may report poor stream health.
| Setting or output | YouTube guidance | What to do in OBS |
|---|---|---|
| H.264, 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps recommended by YouTube; the accessed page does not display a publication date. | Use this as a starting recommendation, not a guarantee. Confirm stable upload capacity and stream health. |
| H.264, 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps recommended by YouTube; the accessed page does not display a publication date. | Consider this lower-bandwidth option if your connection or encoder struggles at a higher output. |
| Rate control | CBR recommended by YouTube; the accessed page does not display a publication date. | Choose CBR in the encoder’s rate-control setting. |
| Keyframe interval | 2 seconds recommended; do not exceed 4 seconds. YouTube’s accessed page does not display a publication date. | Set the encoder keyframe interval to 2 seconds. |
| Connection to YouTube | YouTube recommends RTMPS for an encrypted connection. | Use the RTMPS server URL supplied for the event when available. |
These are YouTube’s encoder recommendations, not a promise that a particular computer, encoder, or internet plan will deliver a stable stream. YouTube’s recommended bitrate varies with codec, resolution, and frame rate; consult its current encoder settings page for the output mode you intend to use.
Keep Windows awake while OBS is streaming
Change the plugged-in sleep timeout
- Open Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen and sleep.
- Under the plugged-in options, set the sleep timeout so the PC does not go to sleep during the broadcast. The display timeout can remain shorter: the monitor turning off is different from the PC sleeping.
- If you are using a laptop, check what closing the lid does. A lid-close action that puts the computer to sleep will interrupt the encoder.
Windows options differ by version, device capability, and manufacturer power utilities. If the labels or available choices differ, look for the plugged-in sleep and lid-close settings in the device’s power controls. Microsoft’s power and sleep settings guidance explains the distinction between screen and sleep behavior.
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Optional: use Microsoft PowerToys Awake
PowerToys Awake can keep a signed-in Windows device awake for a chosen duration or indefinitely while Awake is enabled. It does not work at the lock screen. If the computer must remain awake while locked, Microsoft advises configuring the power plan directly. Awake is a convenience option, not a substitute for checking the underlying power settings. See Microsoft’s PowerToys Awake documentation.
Test, monitor, and end the stream safely
- Before a long broadcast, run a representative test with the same video, audio, resolution, and bitrate you plan to use. Check the YouTube preview and stream health, and listen for audio problems.
- Check the watch page on the devices your viewers are likely to use. If you rely on a local archive, verify the archive behavior after a test stream.
- During the broadcast, monitor OBS and YouTube’s stream health. Watch for dropped frames, connection warnings, missing audio, or a frozen preview.
- When finished, end the stream in YouTube and stop the encoder in OBS. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; that archive behavior is not a guarantee of uninterrupted uptime.
Troubleshooting a YouTube Live loop from Windows
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| The video stops at the end instead of repeating. | Loop is disabled on the Media Source. | Open the source properties in OBS and enable Loop; test that playback returns to the beginning. |
| The stream ends after the display goes dark or the laptop lid closes. | The PC slept or the lid action triggered sleep. | Adjust the plugged-in sleep timeout and lid-close behavior in Windows power settings. The display can turn off without putting the PC to sleep. |
| YouTube shows no incoming video. | The stream key or server URL may be incorrect, or the encoder may not be sending. | Confirm OBS is connected to the correct event and that the key and server URL match the Live Control Room. Reset an exposed key and replace it in OBS. |
| Viewers see buffering or YouTube reports poor stream health. | The sustained upload rate may be insufficient or unstable for the chosen output. | Lower the resolution, frame rate, or bitrate; use YouTube’s recommendations as a starting point and test again under representative conditions. |
| The picture appears but there is no sound. | The media source or intended audio source may be muted, missing, or routed incorrectly. | Check the OBS audio mixer and source properties, then listen to a test stream. |
| The stream stops unexpectedly. | Power, internet, Windows, or encoder interruptions can stop a PC-based broadcast. | Check Windows sleep and update settings, network stability, and OBS status. This PC method does not promise automatic recovery from a failure. |
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