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You can automate a YouTube loop stream by combining three separate settings: loop a local video in an OBS Media Source, launch OBS with the --startstreaming argument when Windows starts, and configure the selected YouTube broadcast to start when its encoder connects. Test the whole sequence after a restart: OBS opening does not by itself prove that YouTube is live to viewers.
How the automatic start works
There are three independent stages. OBS must play the video repeatedly, OBS must connect to YouTube, and YouTube must put the intended broadcast live. A failure at one stage can look like a failure at another: for example, OBS may be streaming to YouTube while the event still needs a separate Go Live action.
- Looping: the Media Source’s Loop property repeats the file.
- Starting the encoder: OBS begins sending the configured output to YouTube.
- Going live: the YouTube broadcast becomes visible to viewers, subject to the event’s Auto-start setting or an explicit Go Live action.
OBS documents Media Sources and its Loop property in its Media Sources guide. The instructions below use Windows and OBS Studio; labels and behavior can vary by installed version, so verify them on your system.
Set up the video loop in OBS
- Create or select a scene. In OBS, use the Scenes panel to select a scene for the loop or create one. Save the scene collection so it is available on the next launch.
- Add the video. In the Sources panel, select +, choose Media Source, give it a recognizable name, and select the local video file. OBS lists Media Source as a source type and describes its file and playback properties in the Media Sources documentation.
- Enable Loop. This makes playback repeat after the file reaches its end. Do not confuse it with Restart playback when source becomes active: that setting controls whether playback begins again when the source becomes active, not whether it repeats continuously.
- Check the preview. Confirm the intended video is visible and plays. If you have multiple scenes, ensure the looping scene is the one selected when OBS opens.
OBS’s Sources Guide explains how sources fit into scenes. Keep the video file at a stable local path; if you move or rename it later, edit the Media Source so OBS can find it.
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Connect OBS to the intended YouTube broadcast
- Choose how to connect. You can connect OBS to your YouTube account through OBS’s account integration, or configure the encoder using YouTube’s live server URL and stream key. YouTube describes both the encoder workflow and stream key setup in its live stream encoder instructions.
- Select or schedule the broadcast. If you use a scheduled event, verify that OBS is set to the correct broadcast before relying on unattended startup.
- Set the broadcast’s start behavior. Enable Auto-start when you want the YouTube event to go live as the encoder connects. If Auto-start is off, connecting OBS may not make the scheduled event live; a separate Go Live action may be required. OBS’s YouTube streaming guide explains this distinction.
- Protect the stream key. Treat it like a password: do not post it, share it publicly, or include it in screenshots. If it is exposed, replace it in YouTube and update OBS.
OBS’s YouTube controls distinguish selecting or creating a broadcast from starting streaming; the current English interface labels can be checked in the OBS English locale strings.
Make Windows launch OBS and start streaming
OBS community examples document the --startstreaming launch argument. The examples are from 2015 and 2019, so treat them as guidance rather than a guarantee for every current OBS and Windows configuration. Use the actual OBS executable path on your PC and confirm the behavior with a full restart test.
Simple option: a startup shortcut
- Find the installed OBS executable or an existing OBS shortcut. If you create a shortcut, confirm its target points to the OBS installation on this computer rather than copying an old path from an online example.
- Open the shortcut’s properties and add
--startstreamingto the end of the launch target, after the executable path. Preserve any quotation marks around a path containing spaces, and put a space between the closing quote and the argument. - Press
Win+R, entershell:startup, and press Enter to open the current user’s Startup folder. Place the configured shortcut there. Windows will launch it after that user signs in; this is not the same as streaming before sign-in. - Sign out and back in, or restart Windows, then check whether OBS opens and begins sending the stream. Do not assume that an OBS launch means the YouTube event is live.
The Startup folder approach is suitable when the stream should begin after your usual Windows account signs in. For different triggers or launch contexts, a scheduled task offers more control, but the sources here do not establish universal task settings. Configure and validate any scheduled task on the specific PC rather than assuming one set of options works for all installations.
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Alternative: a scheduled task
You can use Windows Task Scheduler to trigger the OBS shortcut or executable at a chosen event, with the same --startstreaming argument. Choose the trigger and run context that match your setup, then test whether OBS can access its saved scene, media file, and YouTube connection in that context. The available OBS community examples discuss scheduled-task approaches but are dated; verify behavior locally.
Older OBS forum discussions describe automatic start and restart approaches: launching OBS and starting streaming automatically and restarting OBS after a system restart. Their executable paths and instructions should not be copied blindly onto a current system.
Test the entire boot-to-live sequence
- Start OBS normally and check that the right scene and video appear in the preview.
- Confirm the video reaches its end and begins again, so you know Loop is enabled.
- Start streaming manually once and verify OBS connects to YouTube using the intended account, event, and stream key.
- Confirm the broadcast is actually live to viewers. If it remains an encoder preview or waiting state, check the selected event and its Auto-start setting or use YouTube’s Go Live action as appropriate.
- After the manual test succeeds, restart Windows and repeat the checks. Verify the OBS launch, encoder connection, and live broadcast separately.
OBS recommends checking output settings and testing before depending on a stream; see its Quick Start Guide. A successful sign-in launch is only one part of the test.
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Common problems and fixes
- OBS opens, but the video does not appear: check that the right scene is selected, the Media Source still points to the file’s current location, and the source is enabled.
- The video plays once and stops: open the Media Source properties and enable Loop. Restart playback when source becomes active is not a substitute for Loop.
- OBS opens but does not start streaming: inspect the shortcut target and confirm
--startstreamingis included after the executable path. Test the shortcut directly before putting it in Startup. - OBS says it is streaming, but viewers do not see a live event: confirm the correct YouTube broadcast is selected and check whether Auto-start is enabled. Encoder connection and broadcast-live state are distinct.
- The stream key or account connection fails: recheck the YouTube connection and the configured server URL and key, then update OBS if the key was changed. Keep credentials private.
- It works when launched manually but not after sign-in: check that the Startup shortcut targets the correct installation and that the signed-in Windows account can access the scene collection and media file. If you chose Task Scheduler, verify the task’s trigger and launch context on that PC.
- It fails after a Windows restart or update: run the full test again. A restart can reveal a changed path, sign-in behavior, or YouTube event state; do not count on OBS opening alone as proof the broadcast recovered.
Copyright and the content of a loop
Before streaming a recording repeatedly, confirm that you have the rights needed to broadcast its video and audio on YouTube. A video looping successfully in OBS does not establish that it is cleared for a public live stream or that it meets YouTube’s rules. Review applicable copyright and platform requirements for the specific material rather than assuming that ownership of a file grants streaming rights.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does OBS have to be running for this Windows method to work?
Yes. This approach launches OBS on the Windows PC, so the PC and its internet connection must remain available while OBS is sending the stream.
Can a scheduled YouTube event remain offline even if OBS connects?
Yes. The event’s Auto-start setting or a separate Go Live action controls whether the broadcast becomes live to viewers.
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