Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFor a single local clip, use MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio as a compatibility-first choice, then enable Loop in OBS’s Media Source properties. That is a practical default, not a special format required by OBS: supported playback depends on the codecs inside the file and your OBS build and hardware. The file format also does not set your YouTube stream’s resolution or frame rate.
Which file format should you use?
Start with an MP4 containing H.264 video and AAC audio if you want a broadly compatible file for an ordinary looping clip. OBS describes MP4 as a de facto internet-video standard, H.264 as ubiquitous, and AAC as widely supported in its Audio/Video Formats Guide. Treat this as a compatibility-first recommendation, not a guarantee that every MP4 will play: the extension alone does not identify its codecs or ensure they decode correctly on your system.
OBS supports MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. No one container is designated as uniquely best for looping. If you already have a file in another supported format, try it in your OBS version before converting it.
Loop one video in OBS
- Add the source: In the scene, click + in the Sources dock and choose Media Source. Name the source if prompted, then choose the local video file in its properties.
- Enable looping: Turn on Loop in the Media Source properties. OBS defines this control as specifying whether the file plays again after playback has completed. Start or restart the source to check that it reaches the end and begins again.
- Test decoding: If playback stutters or fails, confirm the actual video and audio codecs, test the file in the OBS build and hardware you plan to use, and try a more compatible export such as MP4 with H.264 and AAC.
- Use hardware decoding only when useful: Use hardware decoding when available is optional. Enable it only if your GPU has an appropriate built-in decoder and testing shows it helps; no separate decoder device is required.
For a playlist rather than one repeated clip, add a VLC Video source and use its Loop Playlist property. OBS says this source uses VLC libraries and requires VLC to be installed. A single file does not need this extra dependency: Media Source has its own Loop setting. See OBS’s Media Sources documentation for source properties.
#1 Best Overall
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Keep file format separate from 4K60 stream output
A video’s container and codecs govern how OBS reads that source; they do not choose the stream’s output resolution or frame rate. In OBS, open Settings > Video and configure the Base (Canvas) Resolution, Output (Scaled) Resolution, and Common FPS Values for the scene and intended output. OBS says the common FPS value should match the desired output FPS, such as 30 or 60, in its OBS Studio Overview Guide.
Use a 4K source when its displayed size and intended output justify it; a larger source can add decoding and rendering work if it is scaled down. OBS cautions that 60 fps can be more taxing than 30 fps. If output is choppy or encoding is overloaded, reduce the output resolution or frame rate and avoid unnecessarily high-resolution sources. See Encoding Performance Troubleshooting.
Rank #2
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MP4 or H.264 does not guarantee a 4K60 YouTube Live stream. The OBS guidance cited here explains local playback, formats, and general output settings; it does not establish current YouTube-specific ingest requirements such as bitrate, keyframe interval, or account capability. Check YouTube’s current guidance for those settings rather than inferring them from the file format.
When another format or source makes sense
- MKV: OBS notes its flexibility across OBS encoders and resilience when a recording ends unexpectedly. Those are recording advantages, not a reason MKV must be preferred as a loop source.
- MOV: It can suit editing workflows and some codec combinations; OBS notes it is often favored on Mac platforms.
- VLC Video: Choose it for a playlist or broader VLC-library support, accepting that VLC must be installed. For one clip, use Media Source and Loop.
- AV1 or HEVC: OBS documents these codecs, but compatibility varies. They are not necessary for basic looping; choose them only when you know the playback hardware, platform needs, and reason to use them.
The useful decision points are whether your OBS build and playback hardware decode the file, whether you need one clip or a playlist, and how much source quality and resolution the scene actually needs.
Rank #3
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Troubleshooting loop playback and stream performance
- The file will not play: Check that the file is not damaged and that its codecs are supported by your OBS build and hardware. A supported filename extension alone is not enough; test an H.264/AAC MP4 export if needed.
- The clip plays once and stops: Open the Media Source properties and enable Loop. For a playlist, use VLC Video and enable Loop Playlist.
- Playback stutters: Test hardware decoding if the GPU supports it. Reduce the source resolution when the scene scales it down, and check OBS performance guidance before changing unrelated output settings.
- The stream is choppy or encoding is overloaded: Lower output resolution or FPS and reassess whether 4K60 is necessary for the content and audience. A 4K60 file does not require a 4K60 stream.
- The image or motion does not match expectations: Check the OBS canvas, scaled output resolution, and Common FPS Value separately from the file properties.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a prerecorded YouTube channel that stays live without keeping OBS or a computer running at home, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It keeps looping the uploaded video from the cloud; it does not stream from a camera.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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- Nothing has to stay on at home.
- One flat price per slot for any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps; the video streams as uploaded, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
- Automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream.
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Monthly: $9.99 per month.
Start your free StreamNeo day.
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