To loop a prerecorded video on YouTube Live from a Windows VPS, add it to an OBS scene as a Media Source, enable Loop, connect OBS to a YouTube broadcast with its stream key, and verify the incoming preview in YouTube Live Control Room. For a sequence of clips, use OBS’s VLC Video Source with Loop Playlist enabled; VLC must be installed. Test the complete setup at your intended resolution and frame rate before leaving it unattended.
What you need before setting up the loop
- A Windows VPS with the video file accessible to the Windows session running OBS.
- OBS Studio installed on that VPS.
- A YouTube channel able to create a live broadcast, plus the broadcast’s stream key.
- A video file, or a playlist if you want several clips to play in sequence.
There is no universal VPS CPU, GPU, memory, disk, or network specification established for this workflow. Requirements depend on the source media, chosen output resolution and frame rate, encoder, and the VPS provider’s available resources. Test the actual VPS under the settings you plan to use rather than relying on a generic minimum.
How to loop one video in OBS
- Put the file on the VPS. Copy or upload the video so it is available to the Windows account that will run OBS. Keep it somewhere that remains accessible after remote desktop sessions end; do not rely on a temporary download folder that may be cleared.
- Create an OBS scene and source. In OBS, select or create a scene, use the Sources panel’s + button, and choose Media Source. Give the source a recognizable name, then select the video file in its properties.
- Enable the loop. In the Media Source properties, turn on Loop. This restarts the selected file when playback reaches its end. Check that the video fits the canvas as intended; use OBS’s source transform controls if you need to resize or position it.
- Check audio behavior. Confirm the source’s audio is audible in the OBS mixer and is not unintentionally doubled by another active source. Play through the end and beginning of the file to check the restart and audio transition.
OBS documents Media Source for video files and its loop behavior in the Media Sources guide.
How to loop a playlist instead
For multiple prerecorded clips, OBS documents the VLC Video Source as a playlist option. Install VLC on the VPS first; the source is available in OBS only when VLC is installed. Add a VLC Video Source, add the media files to its playlist, and enable Loop Playlist so playback starts again after the playlist finishes. See the OBS Media Sources guide for source details.
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Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Create or select the broadcast. Open YouTube Live Control Room and create a new live stream or select the broadcast you intend to use.
- Copy the stream key into OBS. In YouTube’s stream settings, copy the stream key. In OBS, open Settings > Stream, select YouTube as the service, and enter or connect the key using the available configuration. Treat the key like a password: anyone who obtains it may be able to send video to your stream.
- Use RTMPS where available. YouTube recommends RTMPS, a secure extension to RTMP, for live ingest. Use the RTMPS server option in OBS’s stream configuration when offered.
- Start and verify the feed. Start streaming in OBS, then check YouTube Live Control Room for an incoming preview and stream status. Do not assume the broadcast is working just because OBS says it is connected; confirm that YouTube is receiving the intended picture and sound before relying on it.
YouTube’s live encoder settings cover ingest and stream configuration.
Set OBS output for YouTube
YouTube’s encoder guidance specifies H.264 video, constant bitrate (CBR), and frame rates up to 60 fps. It recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says the interval should not exceed four seconds. Choose an output bitrate from YouTube’s current recommendations for the resolution and frame rate you select; one bitrate should not be applied to every mode.
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- Video encoder: H.264.
- Rate control: CBR.
- Keyframe interval: 2 seconds recommended; do not exceed 4 seconds.
- Frame rate: No more than 60 fps under the cited YouTube guidance.
- Bitrate: Match the current YouTube table to the output resolution and frame rate, then verify the VPS can sustain the required upload rate.
In OBS, output controls are in Settings > Output; video resolution and frame-rate controls are in Settings > Video. Exact available encoder choices depend on the VPS and OBS installation. If a hardware encoder is offered, use it only if it is supported by the VPS and works reliably in your end-to-end test. YouTube advises testing with comparable audio and movement and monitoring stream health in Live Control Room.
Test the Windows VPS before leaving it running
- Start the broadcast as an unlisted test if that suits your channel workflow, and verify YouTube receives the stream.
- Let the source play through its end and confirm that it restarts. For a playlist, verify it returns to the first item after the last.
- Check audio level and continuity, picture framing, and stream health during playback.
- Test at the intended output resolution, frame rate, and encoder so the workload resembles the real stream.
- Confirm the VPS remains powered on and connected when you disconnect from remote desktop. Check your provider’s rules and behavior for Windows licensing, bandwidth limits, storage, GPU access, and unattended sessions.
These are operational checks, not a guarantee that any particular VPS can encode or deliver a particular stream. Provider resources and policies differ, so validate the exact machine and plan you use.
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Common problems and fixes
- The video plays once and stops: Reopen the Media Source properties and check that Loop is enabled. For multiple files, confirm you used VLC Video Source and enabled Loop Playlist.
- VLC Video Source is missing: Install VLC on the VPS, then restart OBS and check the Sources menu again.
- YouTube shows no incoming preview: Confirm OBS is using the intended YouTube stream key and server configuration, then check the connection and VPS network access. Verify the stream in Live Control Room rather than relying only on OBS’s status.
- The stream health warning appears or video drops: Check YouTube’s current bitrate recommendation for your resolution and frame rate, and whether the VPS’s sustained upload capacity is adequate. Test with similar audio and movement and monitor Live Control Room’s stream health.
- The VPS struggles while encoding: Reduce the output workload or choose another supported encoder, then repeat the end-to-end test. A universal CPU or GPU requirement is not established; the appropriate capacity depends on the workload and provider.
- Playback or audio changes after a remote-session disconnect: Reconnect and inspect OBS, Windows power/session behavior, and the VPS provider’s unattended-use policies. Confirm the stream remains healthy after disconnecting before leaving it unattended.
Copyright and YouTube channel considerations
A looping broadcast does not grant permission to use the footage, music, or other material in the video. Use content you own or have permission to stream, and review YouTube’s policies and any applicable licenses before broadcasting. Replaying the same material also does not guarantee that YouTube will treat a channel as eligible for monetization; eligibility and policy decisions are made by YouTube. Avoid implying that a continuous stream itself establishes originality or monetization eligibility.
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