To loop a pre-recorded video on YouTube Live with OBS Studio 30, add the file as a Media Source, turn on Loop, and set OBS’s stream output to match YouTube’s encoder guidance. If you want playback to begin only after OBS connects to YouTube, start on a holding scene and switch to the video scene once the stream is underway. OBS playback and YouTube’s live status are separate controls.
Set up one video to repeat
- Create or select a scene. Choose the scene that should display the video.
- Add the file. In the Sources panel, select + and choose Media Source. Give it a name, select the local video file, and confirm. OBS lists common formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, and WebM. See the OBS Media Sources guide.
- Enable looping. In the Media Source properties, check Loop. This replays the file when playback reaches its end; OBS lists the setting as off by default.
- Choose its activation behavior. Check Restart playback when source becomes active if the file should start from the beginning whenever the source becomes visible in the current scene.
- Check framing and sound. Make sure the video fits the canvas and its audio is routed and audible as intended. Test the scene before streaming.
Loop and Restart playback when source becomes active do different things: the first repeats the file at the end; the second restarts it when the source becomes visible. Enable both for a video that should repeat continuously and restart whenever it is shown.
Use a playlist instead of one file
For multiple local files, add a VLC Video source and configure its playlist, looping, or shuffle controls. This source requires VLC to be installed. A 64-bit OBS installation requires 64-bit VLC. OBS also provides visibility behavior settings for hidden sources. For one file, Media Source is the simpler built-in option. Details are in the OBS Media Sources guide.
Start playback after OBS connects
A Media Source begins or restarts playback in response to source visibility and activation. That does not mean YouTube has made the event live to viewers. The stream key and server URL send OBS’s feed to YouTube; the source’s playback settings control the local video.
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- Create a holding scene that does not contain the video source.
- Start streaming from OBS and wait for the feed to connect in YouTube Live Control Room.
- Switch to the scene containing the video source. If restart-on-activation is enabled, playback starts from the beginning when the source becomes visible.
This scene handoff is a practical way to avoid playing the opening while OBS is connecting. YouTube’s stream settings are managed separately from OBS source playback; see Manage live stream settings.
Match OBS output to YouTube’s encoder guidance
In YouTube Live Control Room, get the stream URL and stream key for the event, then enter them in OBS’s streaming configuration. Use a supported protocol and encoder configuration. YouTube recommends RTMPS; its listed video codecs include H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1. H.264 is a broadly applicable choice when your available OBS encoder supports it.
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- Rate control: CBR.
- Keyframe interval: two seconds recommended; do not exceed four seconds.
- Audio codec: AAC or MP3. For stereo, YouTube lists 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps as recommended advanced settings.
- Resolution and frame rate: YouTube detects these automatically by default in Live Control Room. Choose an output your computer and connection can sustain.
The bitrate figures below are YouTube Help’s published recommendations for live ingestion. Select the row that matches both the output and codec configured in OBS; these are configuration recommendations, not guarantees of stream performance.
| Output | H.264 minimum | H.264 recommended | AV1 or H.265 minimum | AV1 or H.265 recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p30 | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps | 4 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| 720p30 | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps | 2 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
These figures are from YouTube Help’s encoder settings page, checked 2026-10-03; the page does not state a publication year. Consult YouTube’s current live encoder settings for other resolutions or frame rates and to confirm the latest recommendations. The available interface may differ from a preserved OBS Studio 30 screen; check the installed version if a label has changed.
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Test bandwidth, scenes, and stream health
YouTube recommends leaving 20% headroom between your total outgoing stream bitrate and available upload bandwidth. The figure is YouTube’s recommendation, not a guarantee that a connection will remain stable. Test before going live using audio and movement similar to the intended stream, then monitor stream health and messages during the event. See YouTube’s streaming tips.
- Confirm the local file plays through to its end and loops as expected.
- Check that the intended scene and source are visible, and that both picture and audio reach the OBS output.
- Verify the codec, CBR setting, keyframe interval, resolution, frame rate, and bitrate against the selected YouTube guidance.
- Confirm the YouTube preview receives the feed before switching away from the holding scene.
- Test the full scene handoff and watch YouTube’s stream health indicators.
OBS’s overview guide recommends testing scenes and stream performance before the first live stream.
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Troubleshoot common playback and stream problems
- The video stops at the end: Open Media Source properties and enable Loop.
- The video resumes partway through after switching scenes: Enable Restart playback when source becomes active if it should restart whenever it is shown.
- The opening plays before YouTube receives the feed: Begin on a holding scene, start the stream, then switch to the video scene after the feed connects.
- A playlist source is unavailable: Install VLC and ensure its architecture matches OBS. A 64-bit OBS installation needs 64-bit VLC.
- YouTube reports an unstable or unhealthy stream: Check that total outgoing bitrate fits available upload bandwidth with YouTube’s recommended 20% headroom. Verify the encoder settings against the codec-specific guidance and test before the event.
- Viewers cannot hear the video: Check the source audio routing and the OBS output mix, then confirm audio is present in the YouTube preview before going live.
Copyright and YouTube live rules
Using a pre-recorded file does not remove the need to have rights to its video and audio. Confirm that you have permission to stream every component, including music, clips, photographs, and archival footage, and review YouTube’s applicable copyright and monetization policies before broadcasting. A successful OBS setup or a healthy preview does not establish that content is cleared for use.
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