To keep prerecorded videos cycling on a 24/7 YouTube stream with OBS, add them to a VLC Video Source and enable Loop Playlist. That repeats media files inside one scene. If you mean a sequence of different OBS scenes, use an automation tool such as Advanced Scene Switcher; a VLC playlist does not switch scenes for you.
This guide covers both setups, how to connect OBS to YouTube Live, and the operational limits to plan for before leaving a stream running unattended.
Choose what you want to repeat
| Approach | Best for | What it does | Main tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| VLC Video Source playlist | Repeating several video or audio files in one scene | Plays multiple files, with loop and shuffle controls | Requires VLC; it does not rotate OBS scenes. |
| OBS Media Source | Repeating one media file | Plays one file and offers a Loop option | It does not provide the documented multi-item playlist behavior of VLC Video Source. |
| Advanced Scene Switcher | Moving among scenes automatically | Uses macros that pair conditions with actions | Adds plugin compatibility and configuration requirements. |
For a documentary channel cycling through a set of films or excerpts in a single visual layout, start with VLC Video Source. Use scene automation only if the broadcast needs to change layouts, titles, or other scene-specific elements over time.
Loop several videos in one OBS scene
- Create or select the scene. In OBS, choose the scene that should display the videos. Add any background, overlays, or audio elements that belong in that layout.
- Add the playlist source. In the Sources panel, select + and choose VLC Video Source. Add your media files in the order you want them to play.
- Set the playback order. Enable Loop Playlist to repeat the sequence. Keep Shuffle Playlist off for a fixed order, or enable it if you want files selected in randomized order.
- Choose what happens when the source is hidden. The OBS reference lists stop/restart as the default behavior. Check the source’s visibility behavior and decide whether it should pause, continue, or stop when hidden; test the result in your scene.
- Install VLC if the source is missing. VLC must be installed for VLC Video Source to appear. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC.
Test the end of the final file and the transition back to the first. Check for blank frames, unwanted gaps, missing audio, and whether each file starts as expected. A looping VLC playlist repeats media within the current scene; it does not move to another scene.
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Rotate between OBS scenes with Advanced Scene Switcher
To schedule multiple OBS scenes, use an automation layer rather than a media playlist. Advanced Scene Switcher lets you create macros built from conditions and actions. For a timed sequence, a macro can check how long a scene has been active and switch to the next scene. For media-driven changes, use an appropriate media condition and test it with the source you selected.
- Check compatibility before installing or updating. The plugin listing reports Advanced Scene Switcher version 1.36.1, dated August 7, 2026, with minimum OBS Studio version 31.1.1 and support listed for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Confirm the current release works with your installed OBS build.
- Back up your OBS settings. Save a copy of your profile and settings before changing automation.
- Define each transition. For every macro, specify the condition that should trigger it and the action that should follow. For a timed rotation, decide how long each scene stays active; for media-based transitions, verify that the selected condition responds as intended.
- Close the loop deliberately. Add a final transition from the last scene to the first, or another recurring trigger that returns the sequence to its beginning. Without that step, the rotation may stop after one pass.
- Test the complete cycle off air. Preview every transition, including audio, overlays, and the return to the first scene. Check behavior after hiding and showing a media source.
Standard OBS does not have one built-in button called “scene playlist.” VLC Video Source handles a playlist of files; scene automation handles transitions between scenes.
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Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, open Create → Go Live and select the Stream tab.
- Create or select the stream you intend to broadcast. Check its title and visibility before sending video.
- Copy YouTube’s Live server URL and stream key into OBS’s streaming settings.
- Start the encoder only after checking that OBS is connected to the intended YouTube stream. YouTube notes that previous stream settings, including the stream key, may load again in a later session, so verify the selected stream rather than assuming it is a new setup.
Keep the stream key private: anyone who obtains it may be able to send a feed to that stream. If you believe it has been exposed, replace it in YouTube Studio and update OBS with the new key.
Plan the 24/7 operation
- Test the full loop. Run through the complete media or scene sequence before going live. Confirm that it returns to its start without unintended gaps, and check audio and visibility behavior. OBS recommends testing scenes and stream operation before the first live broadcast.
- Decide how to preserve recordings. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. Its documentation does not promise automatic archiving at or beyond 12 hours, so do not rely on a 24-hour broadcast being saved automatically. Consider separate local recording and a deliberate restart or segmentation plan, then verify current YouTube behavior.
- Stay within YouTube’s simultaneous-stream limits. YouTube Help, checked October 3, 2026, publishes limits of 10 active streams per channel and 3 active streams per stream key. Both apply at the same time; they are YouTube limits, not OBS playlist limits.
- Use material you have permission to stream. Follow YouTube’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service, and confirm you have the necessary rights for every film, soundtrack, clip, and image. A video being available online does not by itself grant permission to rebroadcast it.
Common problems and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| VLC Video Source is not available in Sources | VLC is not installed, or its architecture does not match OBS. | Install VLC; for 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC, then reopen OBS and check Sources again. |
| The videos play, but the sequence does not repeat | Loop Playlist is off. | Open the VLC Video Source properties and enable Loop Playlist. |
| Files play in an unexpected order | Shuffle Playlist is enabled, or the items were added in an unintended order. | Turn shuffle off for fixed playback and review the playlist order. |
| The next scene never appears | The automation condition did not trigger, the action targets another scene, or the final-to-first transition is missing. | Check each macro’s condition and action, then test the full cycle including its return to the first scene. |
| A hidden source starts over or does not resume as expected | The source visibility behavior differs from the scene design. | Choose the intended pause, continue, or stop behavior and test by hiding and showing the source. |
| YouTube receives the wrong feed or no feed | OBS may be using a stale or incorrect stream key, server URL, or selected stream. | Verify the stream in YouTube Studio and compare its Live server URL and stream key with OBS before starting the encoder. |
| The broadcast is not archived as expected | The stream reached or exceeded 12 hours. | Plan separate recording or segmented broadcasts; automatic archiving is documented for streams under 12 hours, not as a guarantee for longer ones. |
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