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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To loop one pre-recorded video in OBS, add it as a Media Source and enable Loop. To cycle through several videos, use a VLC Video source and enable Loop Playlist; VLC must be installed. These controls repeat playback locally in OBS. YouTube’s stream settings and OBS’s encoder settings control the outgoing broadcast, so test those separately and use a holding scene before switching to the video.
Choose the right OBS source
| What you want to play | OBS source | Repeat setting | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| One video file | Media Source | Loop | No VLC installation required |
| A sequence of files | VLC Video | Loop Playlist | VLC installed in an architecture matching OBS; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC |
OBS Media Source supports common formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, FLV, TS, and WebM. Choose the source based on whether you need one repeating file or a playlist; adding VLC is a software dependency, not a hardware requirement.
Set up a single looping video
- Create or select the scene. In OBS, choose the scene that should show the video. You can use a separate holding scene for the start of the broadcast, as described below.
- Add the file. In the Sources panel, click +, choose Media Source, and select the local video file.
- Enable Loop. This is the setting that plays the file again when playback completes. OBS Project describes it as specifying whether the file plays again once playback has completed.
- Set the other playback options intentionally. Restart playback when source becomes active restarts the file when its source is in the current scene and visible; it is separate from Loop. Show nothing when playback ends hides the source at the end. With Loop enabled, playback is intended to continue rather than end, but understand this option if you disable looping or playback stops.
- Check the result before going live. Preview the scene in OBS and confirm the file plays, its audio is appropriate, and the picture fits your canvas. A local preview confirms source playback, not YouTube ingest or public-live timing.
Loop a playlist of videos
- Install VLC in the same architecture as OBS. OBS specifically notes that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- In the scene, click + in Sources and add VLC Video.
- Add the files to the source playlist in the order you want them played.
- Enable Loop Playlist, then preview the sequence and check that the transition between files is acceptable.
Use this route when you need multiple clips in rotation. For one file, Media Source avoids the extra VLC dependency.
Start YouTube Live without losing the opening
OBS controls local source playback; YouTube controls whether the incoming stream is live or public. The local file’s Loop option does not synchronize playback to YouTube’s transition. To reduce the chance that the opening plays before viewers see the broadcast, create a holding or slate scene and use this handoff:
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#1 Best Overall
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- Start streaming from OBS with the holding scene active.
- Confirm that YouTube is receiving the feed and that the broadcast is live as intended.
- Switch to the scene containing the looping Media Source or VLC playlist.
This is a practical handoff, not a guarantee of frame-accurate synchronization with a scheduled stream’s public transition.
Configure the outgoing encoder separately
The playback source repeats the file; the encoder sends the live output. YouTube recommends RTMPS for RTMP-based streams. Its published guidance supports H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 video for RTMP/RTMPS, up to 60 fps, AAC or MP3 audio, constant bitrate (CBR), and a two-second keyframe interval; do not exceed four seconds. The guidance page is undated and was checked October 3, 2026, so treat its figures as platform recommendations rather than guaranteed presets.
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| Output target | YouTube H.264 bitrate guidance |
|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps minimum; 8 Mbps recommended |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps minimum; 14 Mbps recommended |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 6 Mbps minimum; 17 Mbps recommended |
Recommended bitrate changes with codec, resolution, and frame rate. Choose a setting your upload connection and computer can sustain rather than treating the recommended value as a promise that every network or machine will handle it.
- Keyframes: set a two-second interval; do not exceed four seconds.
- Rate control: use CBR.
- Audio: choose AAC or MP3, and verify that the file’s audio is not clipping or silent in the live output.
- Resolution and frame rate: pick the output appropriate for the source and system, then use the matching YouTube bitrate guidance.
- Stream key: YouTube’s stream key tells the encoder where to send the feed and lets YouTube accept it. Keep it private; anyone with access to it may be able to send a stream to your channel.
YouTube’s stream settings also include latency, DVR, and encoder auto-start/auto-stop controls. These affect the broadcast workflow, not the Media Source Loop checkbox. Before a real event, run a short test with representative motion and audio, then monitor YouTube stream health. OBS’s Auto-Configuration Wizard can take hardware resources and network conditions into account, but OBS cautions that meeting system requirements alone does not guarantee streaming performance.
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Copyright and documentary footage checks
Having a local copy of a film or documentary does not by itself establish that you have permission to broadcast it. Before streaming, check that you have the necessary rights for the video, music, photographs, narration, and other included material. A claim that footage is educational or documentary does not automatically resolve copyright or YouTube monetization questions. Review YouTube’s current rules for your specific use and keep records of licenses or permissions. For a practical pre-stream checklist, see the copyright safety checklist.
Troubleshooting common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The file plays once and stops | Loop is off, or the wrong source setting was changed | Open Media Source properties and enable Loop. For a playlist, enable Loop Playlist on VLC Video. |
| The video restarts when changing scenes | Restart playback when source becomes active is enabled | Decide whether a scene re-entry should restart from the beginning. This setting does not replace Loop. |
| The playlist source is missing or unavailable | VLC is not installed or its architecture does not match OBS | Install the matching VLC version, then reopen OBS and check the VLC Video source. |
| The video loops locally, but YouTube does not show it as expected | Playback and broadcast timing are separate, or the encoder feed is not arriving correctly | Start on the holding scene, confirm YouTube receives the feed, switch scenes, and inspect stream health. |
| The stream buffers or drops frames | Upload capacity or encoding performance may be insufficient for the chosen output | Test with representative content, check stream health, and try a lower resolution, frame rate, or bitrate. Use OBS’s Auto-Configuration Wizard as a starting point. |
| The stream has no sound or distorted sound | Audio may be absent from the file, muted in OBS, or too loud | Check source and mixer levels in OBS and listen to a test stream before the broadcast. |
| The stream key is rejected or the wrong feed appears | The key may be incorrect, stale, or associated with another stream setup | Verify the key and destination in YouTube’s stream settings and OBS; do not publish or share the key. |
Or let it run in the cloud
For a pre-recorded YouTube stream that should stay on without a home computer, StreamNeo runs the uploaded video or playlist from the cloud:
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- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
- Upload a recording or build a playlist.
- Add your YouTube stream key once.
- Go live; StreamNeo loops the video from the cloud.
Nothing has to stay on at home. Uploaded video streams as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot; StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card (one free day per account). Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for uploaded videos on YouTube, not live camera feeds.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Start your free StreamNeo day.
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