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To loop a prerecorded video on YouTube Live from Linux, add it to an OBS Studio scene as a Media Source and enable Loop. For a rotation of multiple videos, use OBS’s VLC Video source, install VLC, add the files as a playlist and enable Loop Playlist. Then connect OBS to a stream you create in YouTube Live Control Room and start the encoder.
Choose the right OBS source
| What you want to play | OBS source | What to configure | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| One video, repeated continuously | Media Source | Select the file and enable Loop. | Check that your OBS build can decode the video’s specific file and codecs. |
| Several videos in sequence | VLC Video | Add the files as a playlist and enable Loop Playlist. | VLC must be installed. OBS specifies 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS. |
Both options play media from the Linux computer through OBS; both still need OBS to send an encoder stream to YouTube. OBS documents these source options for Linux in its Media Sources guide.
Install OBS Studio on Linux
Install OBS using the instructions for your distribution. OBS recommends Flathub for distributions other than Ubuntu and documents an Ubuntu package route; the available packages and installation steps can vary by distribution. Follow the current OBS Linux installation guide for your system.
Loop one video with Media Source
- Open OBS Studio and select or create the scene that will carry the video.
- In the Sources panel, select +, then choose Media Source.
- Name the source if desired, then select OK.
- In the source properties, select the local video file. Enable Loop so playback restarts after reaching the end, then confirm the properties.
- Check the canvas to confirm the video fits the scene. If it does not, use OBS’s transform controls to resize or position it.
- Play the source and watch the audio meters. Confirm that the picture and sound work, including at the transition when the file reaches its end and starts again.
OBS lists commonly supported media formats, but a format name alone does not guarantee that every encoding variant will play in your installed build. Test the exact file before going live. The OBS Quick Start Guide also recommends checking output and doing a short test before the first stream.
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Loop a playlist of videos with VLC Video
- Install VLC for Linux, matching its architecture to OBS. OBS says 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- In OBS, select the scene and choose + in the Sources panel.
- Choose VLC Video. If this source type does not appear, check that VLC is installed and that its architecture matches OBS.
- Add the video files to the source’s playlist in the order you want them to play.
- Enable Loop Playlist in the source properties and confirm the selection.
- Preview the sequence, check audio, and verify that playback returns to the first item when the playlist ends.
Use Media Source when one file is all you need; use VLC Video when you need to manage a multi-file playlist. Playlist looping is not a substitute for testing each file: codecs, audio tracks, or damaged files can interrupt playback.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Studio and go to Live Control Room. Create a stream or schedule one, following YouTube’s encoder setup instructions.
- In the stream’s settings, copy its server URL and stream key. In OBS, open Settings and then Stream; select the YouTube service if available, or enter the server URL and key in the appropriate fields.
- Prefer the RTMPS server URL when your setup supports it. YouTube describes RTMPS as RTMP over TLS/SSL and explains how to reveal the RTMPS URL in Live Control Room in its RTMPS guide.
- Treat the stream key as a secret. Anyone who obtains it may be able to send content to the associated stream. Do not publish it or include it in screenshots; if it is exposed, replace it in YouTube Studio and update OBS.
- In OBS, select Start Streaming. Monitor the incoming preview and status in Live Control Room. For a scheduled stream, wait for the preview and then select Go live in YouTube’s control room; starting the encoder alone may not publish the scheduled broadcast.
YouTube says first-time live-stream enablement can take up to 24 hours. Allow for that delay before planning a first broadcast. YouTube also says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; that does not guarantee an archive for a stream that runs 12 hours or longer. Check the current YouTube encoder instructions for account and stream workflow details.
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Set output and test before a long broadcast
With an encoder workflow, resolution, frame rate and bitrate are set in OBS; YouTube transcodes the incoming feed for viewer delivery. There is no single suitable bitrate for every Linux stream: choose values according to the output resolution and frame rate, the video’s motion and detail, and the upload capacity available to the computer. Check OBS’s output settings and test the actual file and connection before relying on a long session. The OBS Quick Start Guide covers output checks and recommends a short test.
- Make sure the OBS preview shows the intended scene and that audio meters respond when sound should be present.
- Confirm that the selected source plays through a full loop or playlist transition without freezing or losing audio.
- Watch OBS’s streaming status and YouTube Live Control Room preview during the test.
- Use RTMPS if supported. YouTube’s RTMPS troubleshooting guidance says to check that the URL uses
rtmps; it notes that specifying port 443 can help with some SSL errors. - Keep the Linux computer awake, OBS open, and the network connection available for the duration of a locally encoded stream. The cited setup guides describe how to start a stream, not a guarantee of uninterrupted operation.
Copyright and YouTube policy still apply
Looping a file technically does not give you the rights to broadcast its footage, soundtrack or other material. Confirm that you own the relevant rights or have permission for live streaming and any intended archive. The encoder setup process does not establish that a video is eligible under copyright rules or YouTube policies. For documentary footage, check licenses and permissions for both picture and music before broadcasting.
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Or let it run in the cloud
If you want the YouTube channel to keep streaming without leaving a Linux computer and home connection running, StreamNeo is a cloud service for looping uploaded videos on YouTube. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It plays uploaded videos rather than broadcasting a camera feed.
- Your computer does not have to stay on at home; StreamNeo loops the video in the cloud.
- Each slot streams the upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
- It automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card required, one free day per account.
Monthly: $9.99 per month. Start at StreamNeo registration.
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