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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →For a prerecorded video on a computer you control, OBS is the most direct documented way to loop it on YouTube Live: add it as a Media Source and turn on Loop. Restream’s hosted Upload & Stream feature is the better fit when you want to upload and schedule playback without leaving your computer running, but it is paid and has loop and duration limits. datarhei Restreamer is a separate, self-hosted product; its cited YouTube guide explains how to publish a stream, not how to loop one.
First, distinguish Restream from Restreamer
“Restreamer” can mean datarhei Restreamer, a self-hosted streaming-server product. Restream is a different service, and its Upload & Stream feature handles uploaded prerecorded events. Their names are similar, but the documented workflows are not interchangeable.
| Option | What the cited documentation covers | Looping | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| OBS Studio | Play local media in a scene and send the encoder output to YouTube. | Media Source repeats a file when Loop is enabled. VLC Video is a separate playlist source with its own Loop Playlist option. | Local playback and scene control when you can keep the computer, encoder and network running. |
| datarhei Restreamer | Configure a publication service, enter a valid YouTube streaming ID, save and start. | The cited YouTube guide does not document a loop control. That omission does not establish that looping is impossible. | A self-hosted streaming-server and publication workflow; confirm the source and playback behavior in current documentation. |
| Restream Upload & Stream | Upload a video or use a recording, then schedule it as a prerecorded event. Restream says playback can continue while you are away from your computer. | Paid feature: up to 10 plays and a maximum resulting stream duration of 40 hours. Playlists do not automatically loop; the documented workaround is duplicating entries, up to 40 videos. | Hosted upload, scheduling and playback when you do not want to leave a local encoder computer running. |
| StreamNeo | Upload a recording, add your YouTube stream key once and go live; the service loops uploaded video from the cloud. | Designed for always-on looping and playlists. | A YouTube-only cloud option when you want playback to continue without your computer running; any quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with the first day free. |
Restream’s loop limits are from its Help Center article dated March 11, 2026; Upload & Stream details are from an article dated July 25, 2026. Check current plan eligibility, limits and storage before building a workflow around that service. The datarhei YouTube guide was last updated approximately 2023, so treat its steps as a dated reference.
Choose by who must keep the stream running
Choose OBS for local control
OBS is a practical choice if the video is on your computer, you want to manage scenes locally, and you can keep the computer, OBS and a stable internet connection available for the whole broadcast. Its Media Source has a direct file-loop setting.
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Choose Restream Upload & Stream for hosted scheduling
Restream’s hosted workflow is aimed at uploaded or recorded video that you schedule as a prerecorded event. It avoids relying on your local encoder computer during playback, but the documented loop count, maximum duration and playlist behavior may not suit a continuous channel.
Use datarhei Restreamer only after confirming the playback requirement
The cited datarhei guide documents publishing to YouTube, not looping prerecorded media. If looping is essential, confirm the current product’s source and repeat behavior before choosing it; do not infer a feature or limitation from the guide’s silence.
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Choose StreamNeo for cloud-based continuous playback
StreamNeo is a YouTube-only cloud service for looping uploaded recordings and playlists, rather than going live from a camera. It keeps the stream running with your computer off and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream.
How to loop one prerecorded video with OBS
- Confirm YouTube Live access. First-time livestream access can take up to 24 hours to enable. YouTube also requires channel verification and no livestream restrictions in the preceding 90 days. Check YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance before planning an event.
- Create or select a scene in OBS. Use the scene where you want the video to appear. Add a Media Source and select the prerecorded file.
- Enable looping in the source properties. Turn on Loop; OBS documents the setting as off by default. OBS lists supported video formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF and WebM, but format inclusion alone does not guarantee every file will play correctly on every computer. Test the exact file and setup before relying on it. See OBS Media Sources.
- Connect OBS to YouTube. In YouTube Live Control Room, create or select the stream and enter the YouTube stream URL and stream key in the encoder’s stream settings. Treat the key as a credential: do not publish it or share it. YouTube says an encoder creates a watch page when it starts; check the encoder setup instructions for the current workflow.
- Preview before going live. Confirm the video and audio in YouTube Live Control Room, then start streaming from OBS. YouTube recommends testing and monitoring the stream rather than assuming the encoder or network will remain uninterrupted.
How OBS playlist looping differs
OBS’s Media Source is for an individual file. For a playlist, use the distinct VLC Video source, which requires VLC to be installed. Add the playlist there and enable Loop Playlist in that source’s settings. VLC playlist looping is not the same setting as Media Source’s Loop; verify the playlist order and playback in a test stream.
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What the two Restream workflows document
datarhei Restreamer: publish a YouTube stream
- In Restreamer, select Publication Service and choose the publication service.
- Enter a valid YouTube streaming ID, then save.
- Start the stream and check that the connected YouTube Live bitrate appears in the Restreamer window.
The datarhei YouTube guide advises ending the stream on YouTube first after an event: interrupting it in Restreamer may prevent YouTube from saving the live stream to the DVR archive. The guide does not describe a loop control, so verify looping separately if that is the reason you are considering this product.
Restream Upload & Stream: upload and schedule a prerecorded event
Restream describes uploading a video or using a recording, then scheduling it as a prerecorded event. Its loop feature can play a video up to 10 times, with a maximum resulting stream duration of 40 hours. The feature is paid, so verify its current availability for your account before setting up a broadcast. According to Restream’s help article, playlists do not loop automatically; its workaround is to duplicate entries, up to 40 videos.
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See Restream’s current help pages for Upload & Stream and looping a prerecorded stream.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.YouTube requirements, network reliability and content rules
Plan for stream setup and archive behavior
YouTube says livestreams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That is a platform condition, not a promise that either encoder or hosted service will keep a stream uninterrupted. Review YouTube’s encoder guidance for the current stream URL and key workflow.
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Leave bandwidth headroom and monitor the event
YouTube recommends upload-bandwidth headroom of 20% in its streaming tips. It also warns that network disruption can break a stream, and recommends testing, previewing and monitoring. A wired connection is an option if available, but the cited guidance does not prescribe a particular cable category.
Check rights and monetization separately
Looping a recording does not itself make it eligible for monetization or automatically violate YouTube policy. YouTube’s channel monetization policies, updated July 15, 2025, say highly repetitive or mass-produced content with little creative, educational or other value may be ineligible. Separately, you need the necessary rights to the video and audio; a looping setting does not grant them.
Troubleshooting common loop-stream problems
- The OBS video stops at the end. Open the Media Source properties and enable Loop; its documented default is Off.
- A playlist does not repeat in OBS. Check that you added a VLC Video source rather than a Media Source, that VLC is installed, and that Loop Playlist is enabled.
- YouTube does not accept the encoder connection. Recheck the stream URL and key in the encoder, confirm Live access is enabled, and make sure the channel meets YouTube’s eligibility conditions.
- The broadcast disconnects or becomes unstable. Test the connection, leave YouTube’s recommended 20% upload headroom, and preview and monitor the stream. Neither local nor hosted playback guarantees uninterrupted delivery.
- A Restream playlist stops instead of repeating. Restream says playlists do not automatically loop. Its documented workaround is to duplicate entries, up to 40 videos; confirm current limits and account eligibility.
- A datarhei Restreamer setup publishes but does not loop. The cited YouTube guide documents publication, not a loop setting. Check current documentation for the specific source and playback controls you need.
Or let it run in the cloud
For an always-on YouTube stream, StreamNeo takes three steps: upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; uploaded video streams as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot. If YouTube drops the stream, StreamNeo automatically recovers. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month.
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