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How to Loop a Playlist of Videos in OBS for YouTube Live on Windows

Use OBS’s VLC Video Source to loop a playlist of local videos, or Media Source to repeat one file. Configure YouTube’s stream key, test playback, and troubleshoot common issues.
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To loop several local videos in OBS, add a VLC Video Source to your scene, load the files into its playlist, and leave Loop Playlist enabled. Install VLC first; if you use 64-bit OBS, OBS says you need 64-bit VLC. For just one video, use OBS’s built-in Media Source and turn on Loop.

Loop a playlist of multiple videos with VLC Video Source

  1. Install VLC Media Player. Match its architecture to OBS: 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. If VLC Video Source does not appear after installation, restart OBS. OBS’s Media Sources documentation explains the requirement.
  2. Open the broadcast scene. In OBS, use the + button in the Sources dock and choose VLC Video Source. OBS documents this source-adding workflow in its Sources Guide.
  3. Load and order the files. Create or select the playlist in the source properties, then add your local video files in the order you want them to play. The VLC Video Source uses VLC libraries for extended media support beyond the built-in Media Source.
  4. Set the repeat and ordering options. Keep Loop Playlist on so playback returns to the beginning after the final item. Leave Shuffle Playlist off for a fixed sequence; enable it only if you want randomized order. OBS documents Loop Playlist as on by default and shuffle as a separate setting that is off by default.
  5. Choose what happens when the source is hidden. The VLC source can stop, pause, or continue when it is not visible. OBS’s documented default is to stop while hidden and restart when visible. Choose the behavior that fits scene switching, then test it: a source that stops when you switch scenes may restart from the beginning when you return.
  6. Check framing and sound. Confirm the video fits the scene and that its audio is present at an appropriate level. Play through the transitions between files as well as the start of the playlist; this catches missing media, unexpected gaps, or abrupt audio changes before the broadcast.

Loop one video instead

If you only need a single file to repeat, add a built-in Media Source, select the local file, and enable Loop. This avoids the VLC playlist source. OBS lists common supported video formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, and WebM; confirm that your particular file plays correctly in a test. The OBS Media Sources page documents both the Media Source loop option and the VLC playlist controls.

Playback path Use it when Dependency and behavior to check
VLC Video Source You need multiple files in a playlist. VLC must be installed, with 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS. Set playlist order, Loop Playlist, Shuffle Playlist, and hidden-source behavior.
Media Source You need one local video to repeat. Choose the file and enable Loop. No VLC playlist is needed.

Connect OBS to YouTube Live

  1. Prepare the stream in YouTube Studio. Create or select an encoder-based live stream. YouTube’s encoder setup instructions describe the workflow and stream enablement.
  2. Enter the ingest details in OBS. Copy the stream URL and stream key from YouTube’s live settings into OBS’s stream configuration. Treat the key like a password: anyone who has it may be able to send video to your stream. YouTube explains the URL and key in Manage live stream settings.
  3. Choose settings your connection can sustain. YouTube recommends RTMPS for ingest and advises matching stream quality to available upload bandwidth. Use YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions guidance rather than assuming a resolution or bitrate from your PC’s minimum specifications.
  4. Test before going public. If suitable, use a private or unlisted test, inspect the Live Control Room preview, and check video and audio before selecting Start Streaming. During the broadcast, keep an eye on stream health and playback. YouTube’s live streaming tips recommend testing, previewing, and monitoring.

Check the Windows PC before relying on it

OBS lists Windows 10 or Windows 11 and a DirectX 10.1-compatible GPU among its basic Windows requirements. Meeting those requirements does not guarantee that a particular playlist and scene will stream smoothly: encoder choice, resolution, frame rate, and scene complexity all affect the workload. Run OBS’s Auto-Configuration Wizard as a starting point, then test the actual playlist and scene. The OBS System Requirements page describes the baseline and workload caveat.

Copyright and YouTube policy checks

Use only video and audio you have the rights or permissions to stream, including music, documentary footage, and clips inside a compilation. Looping a file does not grant permission to rebroadcast it. Check YouTube’s current copyright and monetization rules for your content and channel before streaming; a successful OBS test does not establish that the content is eligible for monetization or free of claims.

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Troubleshooting the loop and live output

  • VLC Video Source is missing: install VLC, ensure its architecture matches OBS (64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC), and restart OBS.
  • The playlist stops after its final item: reopen the source properties and verify Loop Playlist is on. If you are using Media Source for one file, verify its separate Loop option instead.
  • Files play in an unexpected order: review playlist ordering and turn off Shuffle Playlist for a fixed sequence.
  • Playback restarts after changing scenes: check the VLC source’s not-visible behavior. The documented default is to stop when hidden and restart when visible; choose pause or continue if that better matches your scene changes.
  • Video appears but audio does not, or levels are wrong: test the source’s audio and OBS mix before going live, including transitions between playlist items.
  • The PC struggles or the stream is unstable: do not infer capacity from OBS’s minimum requirements. Revisit resolution, frame rate, encoder, and scene complexity, then compare the outgoing settings with YouTube’s bandwidth and encoder guidance.
  • YouTube does not receive the stream: confirm the stream URL and key are the current values for the selected live stream, check the OBS stream configuration, and inspect YouTube’s Live Control Room preview before starting.
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