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To loop a folder of videos in OBS, install VLC, add a VLC Video source to your scene, add the videos as playlist entries, and leave Loop Playlist enabled. That repeats the playlist; it does not keep your computer, internet connection, or YouTube broadcast online if any of them fail.
Set up a looping video playlist in OBS
- Install VLC Media Player. OBS’s VLC Video source depends on VLC libraries. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC so the two architectures match. If VLC Video does not appear in OBS’s source list, check that VLC is installed and that its architecture matches OBS. OBS: Media Sources
- Add a VLC Video source. In the OBS scene where you want the video, go to the Sources dock, select the add control, and choose VLC Video. Add the video files to its playlist. This source handles playlists; the standard Media Source is for a selected media file. OBS: Media Sources OBS: Sources Guide
- Set the playback behavior. Keep Loop Playlist enabled to start again from the beginning after the final item. Enable Shuffle Playlist only if you want randomized order; leave it off to retain the listed order. OBS notes that VLC source playback can pause or stop while the source is not visible, so keep it visible in the live scene or choose an appropriate visibility behavior if you switch scenes. OBS: Media Sources
- Arrange the video in the scene. Select the source and position or resize it in the preview. In the Sources list, items higher in the stack render above items below them; place titles, logos, or other overlays accordingly. OBS: Sources Guide
- Check the full playlist before broadcasting. Play it through far enough to confirm the files load, the final item returns to the beginning, and both picture and audio behave as intended. OBS recommends learning the setup and testing before going live. OBS: Quick Start Guide
To loop one video instead
Add a standard Media Source, select the file, and enable its Loop property. That is different from Loop Playlist, which controls the VLC Video source’s list of files. OBS: Media Sources
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Confirm your channel can stream. YouTube’s live-streaming prerequisites include channel verification and no live-streaming restriction during the previous 90 days. YouTube Help: Get started with live streaming
- Copy the ingest details from YouTube Live Control Room. Use the stream URL and stream key provided there, and enter them in OBS’s stream settings. Treat the key as a secret: anyone who obtains it may be able to send a broadcast to your channel. YouTube’s encoder instructions cover entering the URL and key, starting the encoder, and checking the preview. YouTube Help: Go live with an encoder
- Set an output your upload can sustain. Choose a resolution, frame rate, codec, and bitrate that your upload connection can reliably maintain. YouTube’s published recommendation for 1080p at 30 fps is 10 Mbps with H.264 or 14 Mbps with AV1/H.265; these are codec- and resolution-specific recommendations, not a universal setting or a guarantee that a connection can sustain them. Consult YouTube’s current table for other combinations. YouTube Help: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions
- Start OBS streaming and check YouTube’s preview and stream health. Confirm that the video, audio, and intended scene appear correctly before relying on the broadcast. YouTube advises testing before a live stream and monitoring stream health. YouTube Help: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions
What a 24/7 loop does—and does not—guarantee
Loop Playlist restarts the media sequence after the last item. It does not keep OBS running, prevent a computer from sleeping or restarting, repair a missing or failed media file or drive, restore a lost internet connection, or guarantee that YouTube continues receiving the stream. OBS playback controls and YouTube encoder setup address separate parts of the process; neither promises uninterrupted operation. Plan to test the complete setup and monitor it while live.
Plan for failures
- Disable sleep or automatic shutdown on the computer used for OBS, and account for operating-system restarts and updates.
- Keep the playlist files available at their expected paths and check that the storage device remains connected.
- Use an upload connection that can sustain the selected output, and have a way to notice when OBS or YouTube reports a problem.
- Decide how you will respond to a dropped connection or stopped encoder; a playlist loop does not itself reconnect YouTube.
Protect the archive separately from the live feed
A live broadcast and its saved replay are different outcomes. YouTube says streams under 12 hours can be automatically archived, but warns that a stream longer than 12 hours may not be captured at all. Its DVR guidance also says rewind can be limited or unavailable for streams longer than 12 hours. If you need a dependable record, make a local recording backup or divide the broadcast into planned sessions; do not count on a complete YouTube replay of one uninterrupted 24-hour stream. YouTube Help: Archive live streams YouTube Help: Use DVR controls on live streams
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#1 Best Overall
Elebase USB to USB C Adapter for iPhone 18 Pro Max,USBC Car Charger Adapter
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
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Choose the right OBS source for your videos
| OBS source | Best for | Loop control | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| VLC Video | A playlist of multiple videos | Loop Playlist repeats the list; Shuffle Playlist randomizes playback order | VLC installed; match VLC architecture to OBS (64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC) |
| Media Source | One selected video file | Enable the source’s Loop property | The media file selected in the source |
These sources govern media playback inside OBS. Neither source alone provides computer, network, or YouTube uptime.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want the YouTube channel to keep playing uploaded videos without leaving a computer running at home, StreamNeo is a cloud alternative. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; StreamNeo loops the uploaded videos from the cloud. It does not broadcast from a camera, and it streams to YouTube only.
Rank #2
Anker USB-C Hub, 5-in-1 USB Hub for Laptops, 4K HDMI Multiport Adapter
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
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- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
- Nothing has to stay on at home: the stream runs in the cloud.
- One flat price per slot for any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps, without re-encoding or quality tiers.
- Automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card required (one free day per account).
- Monthly: $9.99 per month.
See StreamNeo for details, or start your free first day.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Keep video rights and YouTube rules in view
Only include videos and audio you have the rights or permission to use in a live broadcast. A loop does not change the copyright status of its contents, and permission to watch a video does not necessarily grant permission to rebroadcast it. YouTube’s live-streaming rules and copyright processes apply to the stream as well as to uploaded videos. Also consider whether a channel built from repeated or reused material complies with YouTube’s monetization policies; eligibility is assessed under YouTube’s policies, not guaranteed by using OBS or a particular playlist. Review YouTube’s current requirements before broadcasting. YouTube Help: Get started with live streaming
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Quick Recap
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Anker USB C Hub, 5-in-1 USBC to HDMI Splitter with 4K Display
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Troubleshoot common looping and streaming problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| VLC Video is missing from the Sources add menu | VLC is not installed or its architecture does not match OBS | Install VLC; for 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC, then reopen OBS if needed. OBS: Media Sources |
| The playlist stops after its last video | Loop Playlist is disabled | Open the VLC Video source properties and enable Loop Playlist. OBS: Media Sources |
| Videos play in an unexpected order | Shuffle Playlist is enabled | Disable shuffle to use the listed order. OBS: Media Sources |
| Playback pauses or stops after changing scenes | The VLC source is not visible, and its visibility behavior affects playback | Keep the source visible in the live scene or adjust the source’s visibility behavior. OBS: Media Sources |
| YouTube does not show the expected video | Incorrect stream URL or key, encoder not started, or preview not checked | Verify the URL and key in OBS against YouTube Live Control Room, start the encoder, and confirm the preview. YouTube Help: Go live with an encoder |
| Stream health reports instability | The chosen output may exceed what the upload connection can sustain | Compare the selected codec, resolution, frame rate, and bitrate with YouTube’s current recommendations and test a sustainable setting. YouTube Help: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions |
| A 24-hour stream is missing or incomplete in the archive | YouTube may not capture streams longer than 12 hours as an archive | Record locally or plan separate broadcast sessions if a saved replay matters. YouTube Help: Archive live streams |
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