To loop multiple local videos on a YouTube livestream from Windows, install VLC with the same architecture as OBS, add OBS’s VLC Video source to a scene, add your files to its playlist, and leave Loop Playlist enabled. Then connect OBS to YouTube with the server URL and stream key from YouTube Studio, check the preview, and click Go live in Live Control Room.
Before you set up the loop
- Your YouTube channel must be verified and have no live-streaming restrictions in the preceding 90 days. First-time live-stream activation can take up to 24 hours, so enable it ahead of your planned stream. YouTube says users must be at least 16 to livestream. YouTube’s live-streaming requirements explain eligibility and activation.
- Install OBS and VLC on the Windows computer that will run the stream. The VLC Video source depends on VLC libraries; if you have 64-bit OBS, OBS says to install 64-bit VLC.
- Gather the video files for the playlist and confirm you have the rights and permissions needed to broadcast each item. The technical setup does not grant permission to stream third-party films, music, or other material.
OBS’s Media Sources documentation describes VLC Video as an alternative to the built-in Media Source for extended media support. Its article is dated January 11, 2022, so exact labels or behavior may vary by installed version.
Create and configure the VLC playlist in OBS
- Open OBS and select the scene that should show the videos. If you need a dedicated scene, create one and give it a recognizable name.
- In the Sources panel, select + and choose VLC Video. If that source type is missing, install VLC with the same architecture as OBS, then restart OBS.
- In the source properties, add the local media files to the playlist in the order you want them to play. OBS documents common Media Source formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, WebM, MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV; its page does not separately promise that every format works in every VLC installation, so test your actual files.
- Leave Loop Playlist enabled. Once the source reaches the end of the media list, it starts again. Shuffle is off by default, so the files play in list order unless you change that setting.
- Check the source’s visibility behavior. OBS says the default is to stop playback when the source is not visible and restart it when visible. If you switch scenes, account for that behavior and test whether the playlist resumes as you intend.
- Confirm that the video fits the scene canvas and that audio is audible in OBS’s mixer. Play through enough of the playlist to verify the order, transitions between files, and sound before connecting to YouTube.
For a single local file, OBS’s built-in Media Source has its own loop option; use VLC Video when you need a playlist of multiple items.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, select Create → Go Live. In Live Control Room, create a stream or choose an existing one. You can set one up immediately or schedule it in advance. Follow YouTube’s encoder setup instructions for the current Live Control Room workflow.
- Copy the stream’s server URL and stream key from YouTube and enter them in OBS’s stream settings. The key is a credential that lets YouTube accept the encoder feed; treat it like a password and do not share it. If it is exposed, reset it from Live Control Room.
- Start streaming from OBS. Wait for the incoming feed to appear in YouTube’s Live Control Room preview, then check both picture and sound.
- When the preview looks right and the stream is accessible as intended, select Go live in Live Control Room. Starting OBS sends the feed; YouTube’s separate control makes it live to viewers.
Test bandwidth and keep the stream running
YouTube recommends testing before the event and leaving about 20% upload-bandwidth headroom above the stream bitrate. The connection must have enough upload capacity for the total stream bitrate; other devices using the same connection can reduce the available margin. See YouTube’s streaming tips.
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- Test the full playlist sequence, not just the first video, so you can catch missing files, unexpected ordering, or playback problems at the loop boundary.
- Check the YouTube preview for audio and video before going live, and confirm that the event’s accessibility is what you intend.
- For a long or unattended loop, check the stream periodically. This setup does not guarantee uninterrupted 24/7 operation or automatic recovery from every failure.
- After the stream, stop the OBS encoder. YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived.
Do you need HLS?
No—not just to loop a playlist. The ordinary encoder workflow uses YouTube’s server URL and stream key. YouTube documents HLS for supported cases such as HDR or codecs not supported by RTMP; HLS has higher latency because it sends segments instead of a continuous RTMP stream. Choose it only when you need a supported HLS-specific use case, not because your OBS source is a playlist.
If you do configure HLS, YouTube specifies TS segments of 1–4 seconds, a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments, HTTPS POST/PUT, and no byte ranges or encryption beyond HTTPS. YouTube lists OBS among encoders supporting HLS output. See YouTube’s HLS setup requirements.
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Troubleshooting
VLC Video is not available in OBS
OBS cannot find the VLC libraries it needs. Install VLC, match its architecture to OBS (64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS), then restart OBS and check the source menu again.
The playlist stops after the last file
Open the VLC Video source properties and make sure Loop Playlist is enabled. Also confirm the playlist contains the intended files and that they can play in your installation.
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The source stops when you switch scenes
OBS’s documented default stops a source when it is not visible and restarts it when visible. Check the source’s visibility behavior and test your scene-switching workflow before relying on it for a long broadcast.
YouTube does not show an incoming preview
Check that OBS is using the server URL and stream key for the selected YouTube stream, and that OBS has started sending. Verify the channel’s live-stream eligibility and activation status, then review upload capacity and the stream connection.
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The preview has video but no audio
Check that the selected files contain audio, that the OBS mixer shows activity during playback, and that the preview’s audio is audible. Test more than one file in the playlist if the issue occurs only at certain points.
The stream buffers or drops
Check whether available upload bandwidth can sustain the stream bitrate, allowing YouTube’s recommended 20% headroom. Retest with competing network use reduced; the cited guidance does not guarantee uninterrupted operation on a particular connection.
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