To loop a prerecorded video on YouTube Live from a Windows mini PC, use OBS Studio: add the video as a Media Source, enable Loop, connect OBS to YouTube with your stream URL and key, and keep Windows awake for the broadcast. Test the preview, audio, and upload connection before you click Go live.
Before you start: confirm YouTube Live is available
Your channel must be verified and must not have had a live-streaming restriction in the previous 90 days. If this is your first live stream, enable live streaming ahead of time: YouTube says activation can take up to 24 hours. Check YouTube’s live-streaming requirements before scheduling the loop.
Set up the video loop in OBS
Loop one video file
- Open OBS Studio and create or select a scene for the broadcast.
- In the Sources panel, select + and choose Media Source.
- Create a new source, select the local video file, and turn on Loop in the source properties.
- Check the OBS preview: confirm the picture fits the canvas, the audio is audible, and playback restarts when the file ends.
OBS Media Source supports common formats including MP4, TS, MOV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. See the OBS Media Sources guide for source options.
Loop a playlist of files
For multiple videos, add a VLC Video source, add the files to its playlist, and enable Loop Playlist. This requires VLC. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC so the architectures match. A playlist is useful when you want several recordings to play in sequence rather than repeat one file.
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Choose output settings your mini PC can sustain
There is no universal mini PC processor, memory, or graphics requirement established for this setup. Pick an output resolution and frame rate that match the source and the computer’s sustained capability, then test them before the event. OBS cautions that 60 fps can be considerably more demanding than 30 fps; a lower frame rate or resolution may be the better choice if the system struggles. Review OBS’s system guidance and validate your actual setup under load.
Make sure your internet connection has enough outbound upload capacity for the configured stream bitrate. YouTube recommends leaving 20% bandwidth headroom; that is a recommendation, not a guarantee, and shared connections may leave less capacity for your stream. YouTube’s streaming tips explain its bandwidth and reliability guidance.
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Connect OBS to YouTube Live Control Room
- In YouTube Studio, select Create > Go Live. In Live Control Room, open the Stream tab and create a stream or select one you have already set up.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for the stream. Treat the key like a password: do not share or publish it. If it is exposed, reset it in YouTube Studio.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream. Select YouTube if it is offered, then connect as prompted; otherwise choose the option to use a stream key and enter YouTube’s stream URL and key.
- Select Start Streaming in OBS. Wait for the incoming preview in Live Control Room, check the picture and sound, and then select Go live in YouTube.
YouTube’s encoder streaming instructions cover the Live Control Room workflow and stream-key handling. Do not start the public broadcast until the preview is arriving and looks right.
Keep Windows and the connection running
On Windows 11, go to Start > Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts. Set the sleep timeout so the mini PC will not sleep during the scheduled stream. You can set the display timeout separately; turning off the screen does not need to end the stream. Microsoft’s Windows power settings guidance describes these controls.
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Use a reliable network connection and avoid relying on bandwidth that other devices may consume during the event. YouTube notes that a broken connection can interrupt a stream; keeping the PC awake alone cannot prevent a network interruption.
Preflight, monitor, and end the broadcast
- Run a test with the same video, OBS settings, and network conditions you expect to use. Let the file reach its end at least once to verify that it loops.
- Before going live, inspect the Live Control Room preview and confirm the video, audio, framing, and stream health. YouTube recommends previewing and monitoring audio and video quality during the broadcast. Use YouTube’s live-streaming tips as a final check.
- During the stream, keep an eye on OBS and YouTube’s stream-health information. If the connection or encoding becomes unstable, resolve the cause before relying on the stream for a long session.
- When finished, end the event in YouTube Live Control Room and stop streaming in OBS.
Copyright, reused content, and archives
A loop does not change the rights obligations for the video or audio. Use material you own or are authorized to stream, including music, footage, and images, and review YouTube’s copyright guidance. Permission to use material and eligibility for monetization are separate questions: YouTube’s monetization policies address reused content. Repeating a video is not, by itself, proof that a channel meets those policies.
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YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. Its cited guidance does not establish the same archive outcome for a stream longer than 12 hours, so do not depend on a complete recording of a longer loop being saved automatically. Read YouTube’s live-stream archive guidance and make your own recording if you need a dependable copy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common problems and fixes
| What you see | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The video stops instead of repeating | The Media Source loop option is off, or the playlist is not set to repeat. | Open the source properties and enable Loop for one file or Loop Playlist for a VLC playlist. Confirm the end-to-start transition in the preview. |
| VLC Video source is missing or does not work | VLC may not be installed, or its architecture may not match OBS. | Install VLC and, when using 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC. |
| YouTube does not receive the OBS stream | The stream URL or key may be wrong, the selected stream may not match, or the connection may be unavailable. | Compare the OBS settings with the active stream in Live Control Room, check the connection, and keep the key private. Reset it if exposed. |
| The mini PC stops streaming after a period of inactivity | Windows may have entered sleep. | Adjust the sleep timeout in Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts. |
| Preview or stream health is poor | The PC may be under sustained encoding load, or available upload capacity may be too low or inconsistent. | Test the chosen output settings under load, consider reducing resolution or frame rate, and check upload headroom and competing network use. |
| Video appears but audio does not | The source or OBS audio configuration may not be sending the expected audio. | Check the Media Source’s audio and OBS audio meters during a local test, then confirm sound in YouTube’s preview before going live. |
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