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To loop videos from a folder on YouTube Live, install VLC in the same architecture as OBS, add a VLC Video Source to your scene, add the files to its playlist, and enable Loop Playlist. Connect OBS to YouTube with the stream URL and key from Live Control Room, then check the preview and stream health before and during your broadcast.
What you need before you start
- OBS Studio and VLC installed on the computer that will run the stream.
- Local video files you have the right to broadcast.
- A YouTube channel with live streaming enabled, plus the stream URL and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room.
- A wired or otherwise stable internet connection with enough upload capacity for your chosen output settings.
OBS’s VLC Video Source requires VLC to be installed. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC as well; OBS documents this requirement in its Media Sources guide.
Add a VLC Video Source playlist in OBS
- Open the scene. In OBS, select the scene where the video should appear. In the Sources panel, choose + and select VLC Video Source. Give the source a recognizable name.
- Add the video files. In the source properties, add the local files you want in the playlist. Check the displayed list and ordering before saving. The playlist is a list maintained by the source; do not assume it automatically discovers new files later added to the folder.
- Enable looping. Turn on Loop Playlist. OBS restarts the playlist after it reaches the end. Leave Shuffle Playlist off for the listed order, or switch it on if you want files played in randomized order.
- Set hidden-source behavior. Choose the source’s visibility behavior to suit your scene changes. Depending on the selected option, playback may stop and restart, pause and resume, or continue while the source is hidden. OBS documents stop-while-hidden/restart-when-visible as the default behavior. Test a scene transition to confirm the playlist behaves as you expect.
- Fit the video to the canvas. Select the source in the preview and use OBS’s transform controls to resize, position, or crop it. Check the composition at the output resolution, including any overlays or other sources.
- Check audio and tracks. Play the source in OBS and confirm the intended audio is present and at a suitable level. VLC Video Source exposes audio-track and subtitle controls; the documented defaults are audio track 1 and subtitles off, which matter if a file contains multiple tracks or subtitles.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Create or select a stream. In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or select the stream you intend to use. YouTube’s encoder workflow is described in its guide to creating a live stream with an encoder.
- Copy the connection details. Copy the server URL and stream key provided for that stream. Keep the key private: anyone who has it may be able to send a stream to your channel.
- Enter them in OBS. Open OBS stream settings, choose the YouTube connection method available in your OBS version, and enter or authorize the connection using YouTube’s server URL and stream key. Verify that the selected stream and key match.
- Choose output settings you can sustain. YouTube’s encoder guidance recommends CBR and a two-second keyframe interval, and says not to exceed four seconds. Its bitrate recommendations depend on codec, resolution, and frame rate; use the current YouTube encoder settings and bitrate guidance rather than treating one bitrate as universal. Your real upload capacity must sustain the chosen settings.
- Start a test and inspect the preview. Start the OBS encoder and confirm Live Control Room receives the picture and audio. YouTube recommends testing before the stream; check representative motion and sound, then monitor stream health while live.
VLC Video Source or Media Source?
| OBS source | Best fit | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| VLC Video Source | A playlist of multiple local files | Requires VLC installed; provides playlist loop and shuffle controls. |
| Media Source | Repeating one local video file | Has its own Loop setting and is documented for Windows, macOS, and Linux; OBS does not state the VLC installation requirement for this source. |
For one file, OBS’s built-in Media Source is usually the simpler choice. For a sequence of files, use VLC Video Source. OBS describes the latter as supporting a playlist of items in its Media Sources documentation.
Keep the playlist separate from YouTube’s transport
The VLC playlist is the list of local media files OBS plays. It is not YouTube’s HLS transport playlist. For the ordinary desktop OBS workflow, connect the encoder using the server URL and stream key and follow YouTube’s current encoder settings guidance. YouTube’s HLS setup is a separate protocol path with its own segment and rolling-playlist requirements; those settings do not control which local files VLC Video Source plays. See YouTube’s HLS stream setup guidance only if you are deliberately configuring HLS.
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Elebase USB to USB C Adapter for iPhone 18 Pro Max,USBC Car Charger Adapter
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
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Troubleshoot common problems
- VLC Video Source is missing: Install VLC, then restart OBS. If OBS is 64-bit, make sure VLC is 64-bit too.
- The playlist stops at the last file: Open the VLC Video Source properties and enable Loop Playlist.
- Files play in the wrong order: Turn off Shuffle Playlist and review the order shown in the source’s playlist.
- Playback stops or restarts when changing scenes: Change the source’s visibility behavior to the option that matches your intended pause, resume, or continue behavior, then test the transition.
- YouTube does not receive the stream: Check the server URL and stream key in OBS, confirm the correct stream is selected in Live Control Room, and look for an incoming preview before considering the stream ready.
- The stream stutters or drops frames: Check OBS and YouTube’s stream-health messages and test your actual upload capacity. Reduce output resolution, frame rate, or bitrate to a stable setting supported by YouTube rather than copying a value without regard to codec and output format.
- The picture works but audio does not: Check the source’s audio track, OBS mixer levels, and whether the video file contains an audio track. If the file has multiple tracks, try the intended track in the source properties.
Copyright and YouTube channel considerations
Looping a file does not grant permission to broadcast its video, music, or other included material. Use content you created or are authorized to stream, and check the applicable rights for every item in the playlist. A technically successful stream is not a guarantee of monetization or channel-policy eligibility; review YouTube’s current rules for the content and channel before relying on a loop for a recurring broadcast.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or let it run in the cloud
The OBS method keeps the stream dependent on the computer running OBS and the local files. StreamNeo is a YouTube-only cloud service for keeping a channel live from uploaded videos: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it plays uploaded videos rather than broadcasting a camera. Any quality up to 4K 60fps streams as uploaded at one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly: $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo or its plans, then start your free first day.
Quick Recap
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
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