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To stream a sequence of prerecorded local videos through OBS, install VLC, add OBS’s VLC Video source to a scene, and put the files in the order you want. Set the playlist to loop or stop as needed, then connect OBS to a YouTube Live Control Room event with its server URL and stream key. A playlist file or source automates playback; it does not create the YouTube event or keep your computer and internet connection running for you.
Choose the right OBS source
| Your need | OBS source | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Play one local video | Media Source | Plays an individual media file; its Loop property repeats that file. |
| Play several local videos in sequence | VLC Video | Provides a playlist with controls for looping, shuffling, and visibility behavior. VLC must be installed for the source to appear. |
OBS documents VLC Video as its built-in playlist option. A local media playlist is different from a playlist webpage on YouTube. See the OBS Project’s Media Sources guide for source details and supported media types, including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM.
Prepare OBS and the video files
- Check the files. Keep each video accessible on the computer running OBS. Play them locally first to confirm the picture and audio, and decide their intended order.
- Install VLC with a matching architecture. OBS requires VLC for the VLC Video source to appear. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC.
- Add the playlist source. In OBS, select the scene you want, then in the Sources dock click + and choose VLC Video. Add the files in the desired sequence in the source properties.
- Set playback behavior. Leave shuffle off to preserve the listed order; enable it only for randomized playback. Turn on Loop Playlist if the sequence should repeat after the last item. OBS documents loop on and shuffle off as VLC Video defaults.
- Set visibility behavior deliberately. OBS documents the default as stopping playback when the source is not visible and restarting when it becomes visible. Check this against your scene-switching plan: hiding the scene can affect playback.
- Fit the video in the scene. Resize and position the source in the preview. Place titles or overlays where you want them in the Sources list; sources higher in the list appear above and may cover those beneath them. The OBS Sources Guide explains adding, layering, and positioning sources.
Create the YouTube event and connect OBS
- Check channel eligibility and enablement. In YouTube Studio, open Create → Go Live to access the Live Control Room. YouTube says first-time live-stream enablement may take up to 24 hours. Its eligibility guidance says the channel must be verified, have no live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days, and the person streaming must be at least 16. Check the current channel state in Studio; see YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance.
- Create or schedule a stream. Use the Live Control Room to create a broadcast or schedule one. The playlist in OBS and the YouTube event are separate setup tasks. YouTube’s encoder setup instructions cover creating and scheduling the event.
- Configure OBS’s stream connection. In OBS stream settings, choose YouTube if available. Otherwise, copy the server or stream URL from YouTube into OBS’s server field, then copy the stream key into its key field.
- Protect the stream key. Treat it like a password: do not include it in screenshots, documents, or public instructions. If it is compromised, use YouTube’s reset flow. See YouTube’s stream settings and key guidance.
- Start the encoder and check the preview. Start streaming from OBS and wait for the incoming preview in Live Control Room. For a scheduled event, YouTube says to click Go live after the preview appears.
- Test and monitor. Watch a full file transition and check the image, audio, loop or end behavior, and scene visibility before relying on a longer broadcast. YouTube recommends setting up the encoder ahead of time, testing, and monitoring quality during the stream; see its streaming tips.
- End the broadcast intentionally. When finished, click End Stream in Live Control Room and stop sending content from the encoder.
Keep a playlist predictable
- Fixed order: keep shuffle off and arrange the files in the intended sequence.
- Repeat continuously: enable Loop Playlist and test the transition from the last item back to the first.
- Play once: leave looping off and verify what viewers will see when the final file ends.
- Switch scenes: account for the source’s stop-when-hidden and restart-when-visible behavior, or adjust the settings for the way you use scenes.
- Layering: check that overlays do not cover important parts of the video.
Optional plugin alternative
The OBS forums list a separate Media Playlist Source plugin. Its listing describes editing a playlist while a video plays, retaining the current file when OBS restarts, selecting files or folders, and shuffling. The listing states a minimum OBS version of 30.0.0 and lists Windows, macOS, and Linux. The forum listing and its associated repository differ in version-era details, and the repository notes limitations including manual folder refresh and no audio-track or subtitle selection. Verify compatibility and current behavior before relying on it. For a built-in playlist workflow, VLC Video is the documented OBS option.
Common problems and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| VLC Video is missing from the Sources menu | VLC is not installed or its architecture does not match OBS. | Install VLC; use 64-bit VLC with 64-bit OBS. |
| Videos play in an unexpected order | Shuffle is enabled or the playlist order is incorrect. | Turn shuffle off for a fixed sequence and review the item order in the source properties. |
| The playlist stops after the last file | Loop Playlist is off. | Enable Loop Playlist if the sequence should repeat, then test the end-to-start transition. |
| Playback stops or restarts when changing scenes | The source’s visibility behavior is affecting playback. | Review the stop-when-hidden and restart-when-visible settings and test the intended scene changes. |
| YouTube does not receive the OBS feed | The event, server URL, or stream key may be missing or mismatched. | Confirm the event in Live Control Room and recheck the server URL and key in OBS. Reset the key if it may have been exposed. |
| The preview is absent after starting OBS output | The encoder feed may not yet be connected, or the event setup may be incomplete. | Wait for the Live Control Room preview and confirm the selected event and connection details before going live. |
| Audio or picture fails during a transition | A file or playback transition may not behave as expected in the scene. | Test each file and transition locally and in the YouTube preview; monitor audio and video during the broadcast. |
Copyright and channel-policy checks
Only stream videos and audio you have the right to use, including any music, archival footage, and other material in the files. A technically successful broadcast does not establish that the content is permitted or eligible for monetization. Review YouTube’s current rules and check your channel status before scheduling; its eligibility guidance also describes live-streaming restrictions. A playlist source only automates local media playback—it does not guarantee a continuous internet connection or unattended uptime.
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Or let it run in the cloud
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