To keep a prerecorded playlist in a predictable order, use OBS’s VLC Video Source, arrange the files in the intended sequence, and leave Shuffle Playlist off. Turn on Loop Playlist only if playback should begin again after the last file. These settings control sequence and looping; they do not, by themselves, guarantee that OBS will resume the same file and timestamp after a full restart.
Set up a playlist that follows the same order
- Add a VLC Video Source. In OBS, add a VLC Video Source to the scene used for the prerecorded stream. OBS documents this source for playlists; the ordinary Media Source is intended for an individual file. See OBS’s Media Sources documentation.
- Add the files in the order you want. Open the source properties, add the media files, and check their displayed order before streaming.
- Leave Shuffle Playlist off. OBS describes shuffle as the control that randomizes playback rather than following the file-list order.
- Choose whether to loop. Enable Loop Playlist if playback should return to the beginning after the final item. Looping determines what happens when the list ends; it is not a restart-resume setting.
- Install VLC if needed. The VLC Video Source requires VLC. OBS specifies that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
The exact property labels or layout can vary by OBS version. If the list plays in an unexpected order, reopen the source properties and verify both the file order and that Shuffle Playlist is off.
Playlist order and restart recovery are different
A fixed list order answers which file plays next during normal playback. Restart recovery asks what happens after OBS closes and opens again: whether it returns to the same file, and whether it resumes at the same point in that file. The built-in VLC Video Source documentation establishes list order, shuffle, and loop behavior, but does not establish that it restores the exact file and timestamp after a full OBS restart.
Do not treat Loop Playlist as a way to restore playback after restarting OBS. It only tells the list what to do when it reaches its end.
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If OBS must reopen on the current file
The OBS community listing for the Media Playlist Source plugin says it saves the currently playing file so that file will play when OBS restarts. That is a plugin feature claim, not a guarantee about the built-in VLC source. The listing gives OBS Studio 30.0.0 as its minimum version and lists Windows, macOS, and Linux.
The listing does not promise that the plugin saves the exact playback timestamp. If resuming at the same moment matters, test the plugin with your OBS version and media before relying on it for a live broadcast. The available documentation does not establish exact timestamp recovery for either option.
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Choosing the right OBS source
| Option | Best fit | What is established about restart behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Media Source | Playing one media file. | The cited OBS documentation describes it as an individual-file source; it does not establish restart recovery. |
| VLC Video Source | Playing multiple files as a playlist in a chosen order. | OBS documents playlist order, shuffle, and loop controls. Exact file-and-timestamp recovery after a full restart is not established. |
| Media Playlist Source plugin | When the currently playing file should be selected again after an OBS restart. | The plugin listing claims it saves the current file. It does not promise exact timestamp recovery. |
OBS is the playlist source in this workflow; YouTube Live is the destination. YouTube does not set or preserve the order of files in your local OBS playlist. An OBS forum discussion about adding files to a VLC playlist for a YouTube stream illustrates the practical question of whether changes appear during a live broadcast, but does not establish what happens in every setup: OBS forum discussion, May 2, 2023.
Check the setup before going live
- Confirm the VLC playlist contains the intended files in the intended order.
- Verify Shuffle Playlist is off and Loop Playlist matches your desired ending behavior.
- Confirm VLC is installed and matches OBS’s architecture; for 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC.
- If using the plugin, confirm compatibility with your OBS version and test what happens after a full OBS restart.
- If changing a playlist while live, check the actual YouTube output rather than assuming the update takes effect immediately. The cited forum example is a question, not a universal answer.
Troubleshooting unexpected playback
- Files play in a different sequence: Check the displayed file order in VLC Video Source properties and make sure Shuffle Playlist is off.
- The list starts over unexpectedly: Check whether Loop Playlist is enabled. It restarts the playlist after the list runs out.
- The same file returns, but not the same moment: The plugin listing claims to restore the current file, not its timestamp. Exact position recovery is not established by the cited documentation.
- VLC Video Source is unavailable or does not work: Install VLC and match its architecture to OBS; OBS says 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- A playlist edit does not appear on YouTube: Confirm whether the OBS source reflects the change, then inspect the live output. The available forum discussion does not establish a single rule for when edits become visible.
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