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How to Add Videos to an OBS Playlist Without Stopping a YouTube Stream

OBS supports VLC playlist playback, but its documentation does not guarantee uninterrupted in-place edits. Learn the plugin option, setup steps, and how to test broadcast continuity separately.
Opened Runtime4 min Written byDocumentaryTube Team
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Short answer: OBS’s built-in VLC Video Source can play a playlist, but OBS does not document a guarantee that you can edit that playlist during playback without interrupting the current video. The OBS Media Playlist Source plugin says it supports editing and reordering without restarting the video; check its current OBS compatibility and test it before relying on it live. A media playback reset and a disconnected YouTube broadcast are separate events, and the available forum reports do not establish that editing a playlist ends the broadcast.

Choose how to manage the playlist

Option What it supports What to know before using it live
OBS VLC Video Source OBS documents playlist playback, with loop, shuffle, and visibility-related settings. OBS does not promise that in-place playlist edits preserve the current video. VLC must be installed, and its bitness must match OBS.
Media Playlist Source plugin The plugin listing says playlist edits and reordering can happen without restarting the current video. This is the plugin author’s feature claim, not an independent guarantee. The listing identifies version 0.1.3, last updated 2025-04-13, and says OBS 31 or later is required starting with plugin version 0.1.0. Check the resource page for current compatibility before installing: Media Playlist Source.

OBS’s official documentation distinguishes the VLC Video Source from Media Source: “Unlike Media Source, you can create a playlist of items, similar to an Image Slideshow.” See OBS Media Sources. A standard Media Source is not the documented built-in playlist option.

Set up a built-in VLC playlist in OBS

  1. Install VLC. The OBS VLC Video Source requires VLC to be installed. Match the VLC and OBS architectures—for example, use 64-bit VLC with 64-bit OBS.
  2. Add the source. In OBS, select the scene that should contain the video, use the Sources panel’s add control, and choose VLC Video Source. Give the source a recognizable name.
  3. Populate the playlist. Add the local video files you want OBS to play, and arrange their order. Confirm the files are accessible on the computer running OBS.
  4. Set playback behavior. Configure loop and shuffle as needed. Check what the source does when it is not visible in the active scene; visibility behavior can affect playback.
  5. Test before going live. Start playback and verify the intended order, looping, and scene behavior. Then test adding or reordering an item while a video is playing and observe whether the current item continues.

OBS’s Sources Guide explains source setup and visibility. The exact result of changing a VLC playlist during playback is not guaranteed by the standard documentation.

Try the plugin if edits must preserve the current video

The OBS forum resource listing for Media Playlist Source says it allows editing the playlist without restarting the video, including when files are reordered. Treat that as the author’s stated feature, not proof that every addition, removal, or OBS setup behaves identically.

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  • Check the listing’s current version and compatibility notes before installing. The listing identifies version 0.1.3 and says versions from 0.1.0 require OBS 31 or later.
  • Test the exact edit you plan to make: adding a file, removing one, reordering entries, or replacing a file may not be equivalent operations.
  • Confirm both the current video’s playback and the outgoing YouTube broadcast after each test.

Separate playback continuity from YouTube continuity

There are two things to watch: whether the video source keeps playing and whether OBS remains connected to YouTube. A source may reset while OBS continues sending a live broadcast; conversely, a stable playlist does not by itself prove that the broadcast connection is healthy.

OBS forum discussions include reports of playback resets and inconsistent results when updating a VLC playlist file, but they are user anecdotes, not controlled tests. They do not establish that a playlist change necessarily ends the YouTube stream, or that it never does. One proposed two-scene workaround was itself presented uncertainly, so do not rely on it without testing your setup.

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Test a live-edit workflow safely

  1. Make a copy of the playlist or keep a known-good version so you can restore it.
  2. Run a private or otherwise low-risk test broadcast using the same OBS version, source type, playlist format, and YouTube configuration you intend to use.
  3. While one item is playing, make one change at a time. Note whether the item restarts, whether the new entry appears, and whether OBS still reports an active connection.
  4. Check the viewer-facing output as well as OBS: confirm that playback resumes as expected and that YouTube still shows the broadcast as live.
  5. If an edit produces an unwanted reset, restore the prior playlist and use a planned transition or make the change between broadcasts until you have validated a safer workflow.

Troubleshoot common problems

  • VLC Video Source is missing or fails to load: Install VLC and confirm its architecture matches OBS. Restart OBS after installation if it does not detect VLC.
  • The current video restarts after an edit: In-place continuity is not promised for the built-in VLC source. Test the Media Playlist Source plugin’s stated editing behavior with your exact operation, or schedule playlist changes for a transition.
  • A changed playlist file is not reflected consistently: Forum reports describe inconsistent updates. Do not assume overwriting a playlist file during playback will reload it reliably; test first and keep a restorable copy.
  • The video resets and you are unsure whether YouTube went offline: Check broadcast connection status separately from source playback, then verify the live output on YouTube. The reset alone does not show whether the broadcast ended.
  • Playback behaves differently when switching scenes: Review the VLC source’s visibility behavior and test scene changes, since source visibility can affect playback.
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