You can rotate videos stored in Google Drive through a YouTube Live stream by making the files available on the computer running OBS Studio, adding them to an OBS VLC Video playlist, and sending OBS’s encoder output to YouTube. Google Drive does not provide a native connection that turns a Drive folder into a rotating YouTube live playlist: this workflow joins Drive for desktop, VLC, OBS, and YouTube Live.
What you need—and what the playlist actually does
- Google Drive for desktop: to make the source video files available to the streaming computer.
- VLC media player: OBS requires VLC installed for its VLC Video source to appear.
- OBS Studio: to queue and play the files, then encode the resulting program as a live stream.
- YouTube Live: to receive OBS’s output using a stream URL and stream key.
The playlist in this method is an OBS playlist of media files, not a YouTube playlist of published videos. A YouTube playlist groups videos already on YouTube; it does not import Drive files or feed them into a live encoder. The YouTube Data API’s playlist operations likewise work with YouTube video IDs and require OAuth authorization, rather than turning a Drive folder into a live media queue (Google for Developers: YouTube Data API playlist implementation).
Make the Drive videos available locally
On the computer that will run OBS, set up Drive for desktop and choose whether to stream or mirror your files. In Drive’s streaming mode, files are primarily stored in the cloud and become available offline when accessed. Mirrored files are stored both on the computer and in Drive. Google describes mirrored files as files that “will always be stored on your computer and in the cloud” (Google Drive Help: Stream and mirror files with Drive for desktop).
For a live playlist, mirroring the source videos—or verifying that each streamed file is available offline before starting—reduces dependence on fetching a cloud-only file during playback. That is a practical reliability precaution based on the two storage modes, not a guarantee that playback will never be interrupted. Make sure the computer has enough local disk space if you mirror a large folder.
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Build the rotating playlist in OBS
- Install VLC, then open OBS. OBS’s VLC Video source is available only when VLC is installed. If the source is missing, install VLC and restart OBS.
- Add a VLC Video source. In the scene that will be sent to YouTube, add a VLC Video source and add the desired local video files to its playlist. OBS documents this source as allowing “a playlist of items, similar to an Image Slideshow” (OBS Project: Media Sources).
- Choose the playback order. Enable Loop Playlist to restart the queue after its last file. Enable Shuffle Playlist only if you want randomized playback; leave it off for a predictable sequence. The labels and availability can vary with OBS versions.
- Check the scene and audio. Confirm the video fits the scene, the source is visible, and audio meters move when a file plays. Play through at least one transition so you can catch missing files, unexpected black gaps, or silence before going live.
Do not assume OBS watches the Drive folder and edits its queue automatically. Treat the playlist as a manually maintained list: if you add, remove, or replace files in Drive, refresh the local files and update the VLC Video source playlist in OBS.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Create or schedule the broadcast. Open YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room and create or schedule a stream. YouTube recommends preparing encoder streams in advance and checking the live preview (YouTube Help: Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder).
- Copy the stream URL and key. Use the stream details shown for that broadcast. In OBS, open Settings → Stream, select YouTube or the relevant service configuration, and enter the stream URL and key as required by the selected connection method.
- Protect the key. Treat the stream key like a password. Do not publish it, share it in screenshots, or put it in a public document. If it is exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube’s live settings before using it again.
- Start the encoder and verify the result. In OBS, start streaming. Check YouTube’s preview or watch page to confirm the intended video and audio arrive, then monitor the live output for interruptions. YouTube’s encoder guidance covers stream configuration and live settings (YouTube Help: Manage live stream settings).
YouTube recommends trying a test stream and monitoring audio and video. Do a full-path test before relying on the setup: play the files from the Drive-backed local storage, verify playback in OBS, then verify the YouTube preview and that the queue loops or shuffles as intended (YouTube Help: YouTube live streaming tips – Computer).
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Keep the playlist current and understand the limits
When Drive folder contents change
Adding a video to the Drive folder does not establish that OBS will add it to the VLC playlist. Wait until the file is available locally, then update the source’s playlist in OBS and test the new entry. Remove or replace outdated entries there as well.
When you want a scheduled or unattended broadcast
YouTube lets creators schedule streams and reuse stream settings, which can reduce repeated setup. The cited YouTube guidance does not establish that adding a file to a Drive folder will automatically start a new broadcast or update a live encoder’s queue. Fully unattended scheduling is a separate automation problem: verify the encoder and any API workflow you plan to use rather than assuming the folder itself triggers a stream. YouTube’s live upload schedule guidance is available at Upload schedule tips – Live.
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Copyright and channel eligibility
Use video and audio you own or are authorized to stream, and check YouTube’s current live-streaming rules and channel status before scheduling. A playlist that repeats successfully is not, by itself, evidence that its content qualifies for monetization or complies with YouTube policy. Avoid promising viewers uninterrupted access if the computer, internet connection, Drive availability, encoder, or YouTube service can fail.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or do |
|---|---|---|
| VLC Video is missing in OBS | VLC is not installed or OBS has not detected it. | Install VLC, restart OBS, and add the source again. |
| A playlist item is blank, missing, or will not play | The path may point to a file that is unavailable locally, has moved, or was removed. | Confirm the file exists and is available offline in Drive for desktop, then remove and re-add the correct file in the OBS playlist. |
| The queue stops after the last video | Looping is not enabled. | Open the VLC Video source properties and turn on Loop Playlist. |
| Videos play in an unexpected order | Shuffle is enabled or the queue order differs from your intended sequence. | Disable Shuffle Playlist for a fixed order and review the listed files. |
| OBS shows video but YouTube does not | The encoder may not be streaming, or its stream URL/key may not match the YouTube broadcast. | Check OBS’s stream connection, re-enter the correct broadcast details from Live Control Room, start streaming, and inspect YouTube’s preview. |
| YouTube receives video but no sound | The source may have no audio, its audio may not reach OBS, or the wrong track may be configured. | Play the item locally, watch OBS’s audio meters during playback, and check the source and output audio settings before testing again. |
| A newly added Drive video does not appear in rotation | The OBS playlist is not established as an automatic mirror of the Drive folder. | Wait for local availability, add the file to the VLC Video playlist in OBS, and verify it in a test playback. |
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