If a missing file stops or disrupts a YouTube Live playlist, repair the local playlist in OBS: restore the video at its expected path, or remove or replace the stale entry, then test playback past that point before going live again. OBS documents playlist controls, but its documentation does not establish that VLC Video automatically skips a missing item. Loop Playlist restarts playback after the list ends; it is not a missing-file recovery setting.
First, find out whether the playlist or the live output stopped
Check the OBS preview or program and the YouTube Live output at roughly the same time. If the scene is still being sent but the video is frozen, blank, or absent, start with the local media source and its file entries. If OBS output itself stopped reaching YouTube, investigate the encoder or network separately: a local playlist problem and a stream-ingestion problem are different layers.
YouTube’s HLS setup guidance concerns delivery of an HLS stream into YouTube, not an OBS playlist of local video files. Do not change HLS settings for a missing local clip unless your encoder is actually configured to use HLS ingestion. See YouTube’s live encoder settings and HLS guidance.
Choose the OBS source that matches your playlist
| OBS source | Best fit | Relevant behavior | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media Source | One local media file | Its Loop option repeats that file. | It is not the documented source for a multi-item playlist. Several separate Media Sources do not automatically form an ordered queue. |
| VLC Video | A list of local media items | Offers playlist order, optional shuffle, Loop Playlist, and Visibility Behaviour. | Requires VLC to be installed. The reviewed OBS documentation does not establish that it skips a missing entry or continues automatically. |
OBS describes Media Source and VLC Video as serving these different roles. If VLC Video is absent from the Add Source menu, install VLC. OBS specifically requires 64-bit VLC when using 64-bit OBS.
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Repair the missing playlist entry
- Open the playlist source in OBS. In the scene containing the playlist, select the VLC Video source and open its properties. Confirm you are editing the source that actually appears in the program output.
- Check the listed path. Verify that the missing video still exists at the exact location recorded in the playlist, including its filename and extension. Try opening it directly to confirm it is readable.
- Restore, remove, or replace the entry. If the file was moved or renamed, restore it to the expected path or update the playlist entry to its current location. If it is unavailable, remove the stale entry or replace it with a valid video.
- Check order and playback options. Turn off Shuffle Playlist if clips must play in a particular order. Enable Loop Playlist if playback should restart after the last item. Loop Playlist concerns the end of the list; it does not repair a broken entry.
- Review Visibility Behaviour. If the source is hidden during scene changes, inspect this setting: OBS offers behavior that can continue, pause, or stop playback while the source is hidden. Select the behavior that fits how your scenes are used.
- Test the repaired list in the actual scene. Start playback and watch it pass the entry that used to fail. Check the OBS program and, if appropriate, a private or otherwise controlled live test before relying on the playlist for a public broadcast.
OBS source code includes checks for missing local paths and missing-file handling, but that shows detection, not a promise of automatic skipping, continuation, or fallback. The safe fix is to make the entry valid or remove it, then verify playback yourself. See the OBS Studio source code.
Reduce the chance of another interruption
- Keep a second copy of source videos if an interruption would matter. A separate drive, such as an external SSD, can serve as a backup, but it does not make OBS skip an unavailable playlist entry.
- Before a scheduled broadcast, check that every listed video opens and that the playlist advances through each transition.
- Keep source files in stable locations. Moving or renaming a file can leave a playlist entry pointing to a path that no longer exists.
- Test the same scene and visibility behavior you plan to use live; a source hidden by a scene change may behave differently depending on its Visibility Behaviour setting.
If VLC Video is not the right workflow
The OBS Forums listing for the community Media Playlist Source plugin describes it as an alternative to VLC Video, with playlist editing and management features. It is an optional third-party plugin, not a built-in OBS recovery feature. Check the current release notes for compatibility with your installed OBS version before installing: the forum listing gives a minimum of 30.0.0, while a release line indicates an OBS 31 minimum. That discrepancy makes checking the specific release especially important. The available information does not establish that the plugin automatically handles missing files.
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See the OBS Forums Media Playlist Source listing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or let it run in the cloud
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