For one local video, add it as an OBS Media Source and turn on Loop. For a multi-video playlist, use VLC Video, install VLC first, and keep Loop Playlist enabled. Then configure OBS’s stream output to match YouTube’s encoder guidance and test the broadcast. These playback settings repeat media; they do not by themselves restart OBS or recover from every computer, power, or network failure.
Choose the right OBS source
The source controls playback inside your OBS scene. They are separate from the encoder settings that send the stream to YouTube.
One file: Media Source
- In OBS, select the scene that will carry the broadcast.
- In the Sources panel, select + and choose Media Source.
- Name the source, then select OK.
- In the source properties, select Local File and browse to the video.
- Enable Loop, then select OK.
OBS’s built-in Media Source supports video files including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM, and audio files including MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV. Its Loop option is off by default, so verify it is enabled. OBS Project’s Media Sources guide documents the supported formats and controls.
Media Source settings that affect playback
- Restart playback when source becomes active: on by default. Leave it on if making the source visible again should restart the file from the beginning; turn it off if playback should continue from its current point when possible.
- Show nothing when playback ends: on by default. This hides the source at the end rather than leaving the last frame displayed. A properly looping file should repeat instead of remaining at its end.
- Close file when inactive: off by default. Enabling it unloads media while the source is hidden or off-scene, which can save memory but may cause a short delay when it appears again.
- Use hardware decoding when available: off by default. This affects video decoding when a supported GPU decoder is available; it is separate from the encoder used for the outgoing stream.
- Speed: default 100%, with a documented range of 1% to 200%. Keep 100% for normal playback.
- YUV Color Range: defaults to Partial.
Several files: VLC Video
- Install VLC. OBS uses VLC libraries for extended media support, and the VLC Video source will not be available without VLC installed. For 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC.
- In the Sources panel, select + and choose VLC Video.
- Add the files to the playlist in the order you want, then confirm the source properties.
- Leave Loop Playlist enabled to repeat the playlist. It is on by default.
- Leave Shuffle Playlist off for a fixed sequence; enable it only if you want playback order randomized.
VLC Video defaults to stopping when the source is not visible and restarting when it becomes visible. Review Visibility Behaviour if your scene changes may hide the source. Its default network caching value is 400 ms, but OBS does not specify one universally correct value for every network source. OBS’s Media Sources documentation describes these options.
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- Spacious Design: Measuring 21.1" wide and 14.1" deep, our lap desk comfortably fits most laptops up to 15.6". Extra room for accessories ensures convenience.
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Set OBS output for YouTube Live
A file can loop correctly while the YouTube stream still has the wrong codec, bitrate, or keyframe interval. Configure the stream output independently. YouTube currently lists RTMP/RTMPS ingest with H.264, H.265 (HEVC), or AV1; recommends RTMPS; supports frame rates up to 60 fps; and recommends CBR encoding with a two-second keyframe interval (no more than four seconds). Match the settings to the resolution, frame rate, and codec you actually select. The following are YouTube’s recommended H.264 examples, not universal bitrates for other codecs or configurations:
| Output | YouTube recommended H.264 bitrate |
|---|---|
| 720p30 | 4 Mbps |
| 720p60 | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | 17 Mbps |
| 1440p30 | 21 Mbps |
| 1440p60 | 34 Mbps |
| 4K30 | 42 Mbps |
| 4K60 | 50 Mbps |
Use YouTube’s encoder settings and bitrate guidance for the current ranges, including separate recommendations for AV1 and H.265. YouTube lists AAC or MP3 audio for RTMP/RTMPS; AAC is required for 5.1 surround. Its advanced recommendations include square pixels, progressive scan, Rec. 709 for SDR, and 44.1 kHz stereo audio.
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Connect OBS to the correct YouTube stream
- In YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room, create or select the live event and obtain its stream URL and stream key.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream, choose the applicable service/server workflow, and enter the YouTube stream key as prompted. Use RTMPS when available.
- Keep the stream key private: YouTube treats it as a credential for the encoder.
- Check YouTube’s preview and stream health after starting the encoder. In the usual workflow, Live Control Room can detect the encoder’s resolution and frame rate; custom stream keys allow manual resolution settings.
YouTube’s latency and DVR options are configured on the YouTube side. Lower latency can increase playback buffering for viewers. See YouTube’s live streaming setup guidance for stream keys and event options.
Prepare Windows 11 and the connection for a long run
- Check upload capacity: YouTube recommends upload bandwidth with 20% headroom above the total stream bitrate. A network disruption can still break the broadcast, even when the nominal connection speed is sufficient. See YouTube’s streaming tips.
- Run a realistic test: before relying on the stream, test with similar audio and motion to the intended broadcast. Check the OBS preview, YouTube stream-health messages, and that viewers can reach the channel and watch page. YouTube’s encoder guidance says, “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.”
- Confirm the scene: make sure the intended media source is visible in the scene being sent to YouTube, and verify that the file loops or the playlist advances as expected.
- Assess the PC under load: OBS supports Windows 11, but that does not guarantee a particular PC can sustain a chosen encoder, resolution, frame rate, and scene complexity. CPU load varies with those settings. See OBS’s system requirements.
Looping controls media playback; it does not guarantee unattended uptime. The source settings do not define recovery from a power loss, Windows update, OBS crash, file error, or network failure. If continuous operation matters, test the computer’s restart and recovery behavior separately.
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Troubleshoot common playback and stream problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The video plays once and stops. | Media Source Loop is off, or the wrong source type or file is selected. | Open the Media Source properties, confirm the local file, and enable Loop. |
| The last frame remains on screen. | The file reached its end without looping, or the source’s end behavior is showing a frame. | Verify Loop is enabled and that the selected file plays through. OBS’s default Show nothing when playback ends setting hides the source at the end. |
| VLC Video is missing from the source menu. | VLC is not installed, or its architecture does not match OBS. | Install VLC; for 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC, then reopen OBS if needed. |
| A playlist stops when you change scenes. | The VLC Video source is hidden and its visibility behavior stops playback. | Review Visibility Behaviour, and ensure the source is visible in the scene sent to YouTube. |
| YouTube reports stream health or connection trouble. | Encoder settings may not match YouTube guidance, or upload capacity/network stability may be inadequate. | Check codec, CBR, keyframe interval, bitrate, and upload headroom; inspect YouTube’s stream-health messages and run another realistic test. |
| The stream does not resume after OBS or Windows stops. | Media looping does not configure application, operating-system, power, or network recovery. | Test and configure those recovery paths separately; do not treat the Loop setting as an unattended restart system. |
Keep the content eligible for a public live stream
A working media source and valid encoder settings do not grant rights to the video or its soundtrack. Use content you own or are licensed to stream, and check YouTube’s rules and the rights that apply to each item in a playlist. Repeating content does not make it original or rights-cleared. Review the copyright safety checklist before scheduling a long-running broadcast.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or let it run in the cloud
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- Cool Comfort: Enjoy a stable surface with our lap desk's dual bolster cushion, designed for comfort and airflow, keeping your lap cool during extended use.
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