To loop a 4K 60fps video on YouTube Live with OBS, add the file as a Media Source, enable Loop, configure OBS for 3840 × 2160 at 60 fps, then connect it to a YouTube Live broadcast with the stream URL and key from YouTube Studio. For a stable 4K stream, match the encoder settings to YouTube’s codec-specific bitrate guidance and to the sustained upload capacity of the internet connection you will actually use.
Before you start
- OBS Studio installed on a computer that can encode your chosen resolution, frame rate and codec.
- A local copy of the video you want to loop. OBS Media Source supports local video files, including MP4, MOV, MKV and WebM. OBS Media Sources documentation
- A verified YouTube channel with no live-streaming restrictions during the previous 90 days. YouTube’s general guidance says streamers must be at least 16. Check the current requirements for your channel in YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance.
- A sustained upload connection capable of carrying the selected bitrate, with headroom for normal variation. Your location in India, advertised download speed or broadband plan alone cannot establish that the connection will sustain 4K60.
Set up the YouTube Live broadcast
- Open YouTube Studio and go to the Live Control Room. Create a broadcast or select the event you intend to use.
- In the stream settings, copy the stream URL and stream key for your encoder. Follow YouTube’s current stream controls at Manage live stream settings.
- Treat the stream key like a password: do not show it in a recording, screenshot or public message, and do not share it with anyone who should not be able to send video to your broadcast.
- Keep the Live Control Room open so you can inspect its preview and stream-health information after OBS connects.
Make the video loop in OBS
- In the scene you will use for the broadcast, click + in the Sources panel and choose Media Source.
- Create a new source, give it a recognizable name, and select the local video file.
- In the Media Source properties, enable Loop, then confirm the source. The file should restart automatically when playback reaches its end.
- Use Restart playback when source becomes active only if you want playback to restart when that source becomes active in the visible scene. This is a separate setting from Loop; it is not needed just to keep one file repeating. OBS documents both properties in its Media Sources guide.
- Check that the source fits the canvas and that its audio is present in the OBS audio mixer. Play through the end and beginning of the clip to check for an abrupt visual or audio cut at the loop point.
Configure OBS for 4K at 60 fps
Set the output resolution and frame rate
In OBS, open Settings → Video. Set the base (canvas) resolution and output (scaled) resolution to 3840 × 2160 if you want to send a 4K output, and set Common FPS Values to 60. If the source itself is not 4K or 60 fps, sending a 4K60 output does not add detail or motion information that is absent from the source.
Choose a supported encoder and bitrate
In Settings → Output, use the streaming encoder available on your system and choose a codec supported by both that encoder and YouTube’s current ingest. YouTube’s published recommendations for 2160p at 60 fps are codec-specific: YouTube’s encoder-settings guidance lists the following values; the help page does not state a publication year.
| Codec | Published minimum bitrate | Recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| AV1 or H.265 | 10 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| H.264 | 14 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
These are YouTube ingest settings, not a guarantee that a connection can sustain the recommended bitrate. Test upload on the exact computer and connection you will use, preferably under realistic conditions, and leave headroom rather than setting OBS to the highest number a brief speed test reports. If the connection cannot hold a stable 4K60 bitrate, lower the output resolution or frame rate and retest instead of allowing repeated drops.
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Use YouTube’s encoder settings
For RTMP or RTMPS ingest, YouTube recommends CBR (constant bitrate), a two-second keyframe interval (do not exceed four seconds), progressive scan and square pixels. For SDR video, its guidance specifies Rec. 709 and 8-bit. Match these settings in OBS where the corresponding controls are available. YouTube recommends RTMPS, which encrypts the data transfer; use the RTMPS server address provided for your broadcast when connecting OBS. The 2160p/4K setting uses normal latency on YouTube; low-latency mode is unavailable at that resolution. See YouTube’s current encoder and latency guidance.
Connect OBS and test before going public
- In OBS, open Settings → Stream and select the YouTube service if available. Choose the option to use a stream key, then enter the stream URL and key from the Live Control Room. If the OBS service integration does not expose the URL field you need, use a custom server configuration and enter YouTube’s RTMPS URL and key as directed by the current YouTube and OBS interfaces.
- Apply the settings and start streaming from OBS. Check that the Live Control Room receives the signal and displays the expected preview before starting the public event.
- Use a private or unlisted test broadcast when appropriate. Watch the video and listen through at least one complete loop; check for a frozen frame, missing audio, an unexpected scene change or a cut at the loop point.
- Monitor OBS and YouTube stream health while the test runs. YouTube advises testing in advance, reviewing the preview and continuously monitoring audio and video quality and stream health. YouTube live streaming tips
- When the preview, sound and health indicators are satisfactory, start or schedule the intended broadcast in the Live Control Room and monitor it during the stream.
For a playlist instead of one video
For a single clip, Media Source with Loop is the simplest option. For a playlist, OBS offers a VLC Video source with playlist controls and a Loop Playlist property. The VLC source requires VLC to be installed. Set up and test the playlist in advance, including transitions and audio levels. OBS Media Sources documentation
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Troubleshooting a 4K60 loop
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| The Live Control Room receives no video | OBS is not sending to the intended broadcast, or the URL/key is incorrect. | Confirm the active broadcast in YouTube Studio, then recheck the stream URL and key in OBS. Keep the key private. |
| YouTube reports unstable stream health or the picture breaks up | The connection may not sustain the configured bitrate, or the computer may be struggling to encode. | Check upload stability at the streaming location and OBS performance. Reduce the bitrate, resolution or frame rate as needed, then test again; do not assume an India-wide upload figure applies to your connection. |
| The output is not 4K or 60 fps | OBS output settings or the selected encoder configuration may not match the target. | Check Settings → Video for 3840 × 2160 output and 60 fps, and confirm the output is configured as intended. The source should also contain the detail and frame rate you expect. |
| The clip plays once and stops | Loop is not enabled on the Media Source. | Open the source properties and enable Loop. Do not confuse it with Restart playback when source becomes active. |
| The video repeats but audio is missing or cuts at the restart | The source may have no audio, be muted in OBS, or have an audible discontinuity in the file itself. | Check the audio mixer and source settings, then listen to the file’s ending and beginning in a test loop before going live. |
| 4K stream has more delay than expected | YouTube does not offer low-latency mode for 2160p streams. | Plan for normal latency at 4K. If lower latency matters more than 4K output, test a lower resolution and confirm the available latency options in YouTube Studio. |
Copyright and suitability of the video
Before scheduling a loop, make sure you have the rights or permissions needed for every visual and audio element in the recording. A live-stream workflow does not grant permission to rebroadcast copyrighted music, footage or other material. Also consider whether a repeating recording adds genuine value for viewers; looping a file is a technical method, not a guarantee of channel eligibility, monetization or audience response. Check YouTube’s current live-streaming and channel policies before relying on a particular use.
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