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To loop a prerecorded video on YouTube Live from a Windows PC, add it to OBS Studio as a Media Source, enable Loop, connect OBS to a YouTube stream with the server URL and stream key, and keep Windows from going to sleep. Test the stream before relying on a long session: a PC-based setup can still stop if the computer, encoder, or internet connection fails.
Before you start: check your channel and video
- YouTube says a channel must be verified and must not have had live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days to stream. Encoder streaming is suitable for a production assembled from video and other computer-based sources. See YouTube’s live-streaming setup guidance.
- Use only video and audio you have the right to stream. Whether a particular documentary, soundtrack, or other recording is cleared depends on the rights and permissions for that material; the setup steps cannot establish that for you.
- Have OBS Studio installed, a local video file ready, and a stable upload connection. Choose output settings your PC can encode and your connection can sustain.
How to set up a looping video in OBS
- Add the video. In OBS, select the scene where the video should appear, then use Sources > + > Media Source. Give the source a name, choose the local file, and confirm. OBS lists formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM in its Media Sources documentation.
- Enable repeat playback. In the Media Source properties, turn on Loop. OBS documents that this setting is off by default; when enabled, the file plays again after playback completes. Check that the source is visible in the preview and that its audio is audible.
- Check the scene before streaming. Confirm that the video fits the canvas, the intended audio source is active, and no unintended desktop or microphone audio is being captured. Play through the start and end of the file to check for unwanted pauses or abrupt transitions. OBS will repeat the file; it does not edit the boundary between its end and beginning.
Create a YouTube Live stream and connect OBS
- Open YouTube Studio. Select Create > Go Live, then create or schedule a stream in Live Control Room. Set the title, audience and privacy (public, private or unlisted) appropriate to your channel. A scheduled event can appear as upcoming, allowing viewers to request a reminder. See YouTube’s instructions for creating a live stream with an encoder.
- Copy the connection details. In Live Control Room, copy the stream’s server URL and stream key. In OBS, open Settings > Stream, choose YouTube as the service, and enter the details using the available connection method. If OBS offers account connection or stream-key setup, follow the displayed workflow and verify that the selected YouTube stream is the one you intend to broadcast.
- Protect the key. Treat the stream key as a credential: anyone who obtains it may be able to send a feed to your stream. Do not publish it or include it in a screenshot. YouTube describes stream keys as “like your YouTube stream’s password and address” in its live-stream settings guidance. If it is exposed, reset it in YouTube Live Control Room and update OBS.
Choose resolution, bitrate and keyframes
In OBS, set the output to a resolution and frame rate your PC can encode reliably. In Settings > Output, select the streaming encoder and configure its rate control and bitrate; in Settings > Video, set the output resolution and frame rate. YouTube recommends choosing a quality appropriate to the connection and testing it before going live. Its H.264 guidance recommends these rates for the modes below:
| Output mode | YouTube-recommended H.264 bitrate |
|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps |
These are YouTube encoder recommendations, not a guarantee of performance on a particular PC or internet plan. Allow upload headroom rather than setting the stream at the full measured upload speed; other network use and connection variation can interrupt delivery. YouTube recommends constant bitrate (CBR), a 2-second keyframe interval (not over 4 seconds), and RTMPS for an encrypted connection. Match the available OBS controls to those recommendations. See YouTube’s encoder settings and bitrates for other codecs and output modes.
Keep Windows awake while OBS is streaming
- Change the sleep timeout. In Windows, open Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen and sleep. Set the plugged-in sleep option so the PC does not sleep during the broadcast. Some Windows editions and device makers show different labels or power controls.
- Let the display turn off if you want. Screen-off and system sleep are different settings. The monitor can turn off while Windows and OBS continue running; the important setting for this purpose is the PC’s sleep behavior.
- Check a laptop’s lid action. If streaming from a laptop, review the lid-close action in Windows power settings. Closing the lid may put the computer to sleep depending on the configured action and device.
- Optional: use PowerToys Awake. Microsoft PowerToys Awake can keep a PC awake indefinitely or for a timed period while the utility is enabled and you are signed in. It does not work at the Windows lock screen. If the machine must stay awake while locked, Microsoft advises configuring the power plan directly. See Microsoft’s PowerToys Awake documentation.
Test the stream, then monitor it
- Start the video in OBS and check its preview before sending the feed. Confirm the picture, loop behavior and audio with representative material, including motion and the loudest expected sections.
- Start streaming from OBS and wait for YouTube Live Control Room to show the incoming preview. Check stream health and audio/video quality before making the stream public or announcing it.
- Validate the viewer experience on the YouTube watch page, including on a phone if that matters to your audience. If you use YouTube’s archive, check that the resulting recording behaves as expected.
- For a scheduled event, start early enough to check the feed before the planned start. YouTube recommends testing with representative audio and motion and monitoring stream health; see its encoder troubleshooting checklist.
What to expect when the stream ends or fails
YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived. That archive behavior is not a promise that a stream will remain live without interruption, and it does not make a PC-based setup suitable for guaranteed indefinite operation. When the event is over, end the stream in YouTube and stop the encoder in OBS.
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A Windows PC running OBS depends on the computer staying powered and awake, the encoder continuing to run, and the network remaining available. The documented setup does not promise automatic recovery from a power loss, internet failure, Windows update or encoder crash. For archive details, see YouTube’s live-stream archive guidance.
Troubleshoot common loop-stream problems
| Symptom | Likely check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The stream stops when you walk away | Windows may be sleeping, or a laptop lid action may suspend it. | Review the plugged-in sleep timeout and lid-close action. Confirm the PC remains awake during a test. |
| The YouTube preview does not appear | The stream key or server URL may be wrong, or OBS may not be sending. | Compare OBS’s stream settings with the current details in Live Control Room. If the key was exposed or reset, update OBS with the new one. |
| The video plays once and stops | Loop may be off, or the selected source may not be the Media Source you configured. | Open that source’s properties, enable Loop, and confirm the correct file is selected. |
| Playback is choppy or stream health is poor | The encoder may be overloaded, or the connection may not sustain the configured bitrate. | Test at a lower resolution, frame rate or bitrate; check YouTube’s stream-health feedback and verify sustained upload capacity. Use the applicable YouTube recommendation as a starting point, not a performance guarantee. |
| Picture is present but audio is missing or wrong | The video’s audio may not be reaching the intended OBS mixer source, or another source may be selected. | Watch the OBS audio meters while the video plays, check the source’s audio settings and confirm the correct audio is audible in the YouTube preview. |
| The stream ends after a power or connection interruption | A local PC workflow relies on the PC and connection continuing to operate. | Restore power or internet, check OBS and YouTube Live Control Room, and reconnect using the stream settings if needed. Do not assume recovery is automatic. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you do not want a Windows PC at home to stay on, StreamNeo runs an uploaded video or playlist as a YouTube Live loop from the cloud. Upload the recording, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It does not stream from a camera or to platforms other than YouTube.
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LAPGEAR Home Office Lap Desk – Pink, Fits 15.6” Laptops
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AboveTEK Portable Laptop Lap Desk w/Retractable Left/Right Mouse Pad Tray, Non-Slip Heat Shield Tablet Notebook Computer Stand Table w/Sturdy Stable Work Surface for Bed Sofa Couch or Travel
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Anker USB C Hub, 5-in-1 USBC to HDMI Splitter with 4K Display
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- Nothing has to stay on at home; the stream runs from the cloud.
- Each slot streams the uploaded file as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot rather than quality-based tiers.
- It can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card required (one free day per account); the monthly option is $9.99 per month.
Start the free day with StreamNeo.
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