Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteUse OBS’s VLC Video Source: add your video files to its playlist, then enable Shuffle Playlist in the source properties. VLC must be installed on the computer running OBS. Connect OBS to YouTube with your stream URL and key, then test playback and audio before broadcasting.
What you need before setting it up
- OBS Studio and the video files you want to play.
- VLC installed on the same computer as OBS. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC.
- A YouTube channel with live streaming enabled. First-time activation can take up to 24 hours, and YouTube says channels need verification and no live-streaming restrictions in the preceding 90 days. See YouTube’s live-streaming access requirements.
- Permission to broadcast every video and audio track in the playlist. OBS and YouTube do not grant rights to third-party material.
OBS lists VLC Video Source as available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. If the source is missing, check that VLC is installed and that its architecture matches OBS.
Add a shuffled playlist in OBS
- Open or create a scene. In OBS, select the scene where the videos should appear, or click the plus button in the Scenes dock to create one.
- Add the playlist source. In the Sources dock, click + and choose VLC Video Source. Create a new source or select an existing one. If that choice is unavailable, install VLC and restart OBS.
- Add your files. In the source properties, add the video files you want included in the playlist. Confirm that each file is accessible from this computer.
- Turn on shuffle. Enable Shuffle Playlist. OBS describes it as: “Specifies if the source should randomize the media files being played or stay in the order of the file list.”
- Choose whether the playlist loops. Leave Loop Playlist enabled if you want playback to continue after the list ends; OBS documents it as on by default. Turn it off if you want the playlist to stop after its files finish.
- Fit the source to the scene. Position and size the video in the preview. OBS sources higher in the Sources list appear above sources lower in the list, which matters if you use titles, borders, or other overlays.
VLC Video Source or Media Source?
| OBS source | Best for | Playlist and shuffle | VLC required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| VLC Video Source | Several files in a rotating playlist | Playlist controls include Shuffle Playlist | Yes |
| Media Source | A single audio or video file | Not the documented multi-file shuffle route | No |
For a randomized set of videos, use VLC Video Source. The ordinary Media Source is the simpler choice when you only need to add one file. OBS’s source documentation describes playlist support through VLC Video Source when VLC is installed: OBS Media Sources.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. Create or select the stream you plan to broadcast.
- Set OBS’s streaming destination. Choose YouTube in OBS if it is available, or use the encoder settings to enter YouTube’s stream URL and stream key. Follow YouTube’s instructions for streaming with an encoder.
- Protect the stream key. Treat it like a password: YouTube uses it to direct the encoder’s feed to your stream. If it is exposed, reset it in YouTube Studio before broadcasting again.
- Start with a private or unlisted test where appropriate. Confirm that YouTube receives the stream and that the right scene is selected before making the event public.
Test the playlist before the event
In OBS, make a short recording or test stream and check the complete video and audio path. YouTube recommends checking the preview and stream health before an event; OBS also recommends testing before going live.
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- Confirm that a video appears in OBS’s preview and that its audio reaches the mixer.
- Check the YouTube preview for picture, sound, crop, and overlays.
- Let the playlist advance so you can confirm that more than one file plays.
- If the playlist should continue, confirm that Loop Playlist is enabled and that playback resumes after the list ends.
- Check YouTube’s stream health and correct any warnings before the real broadcast.
Shuffle means OBS randomizes the files rather than keeping their listed order. Its documentation does not specify the randomization algorithm or promise a particular repeat pattern, so do not rely on every file playing once before any file repeats.
Troubleshooting
VLC Video Source does not appear
Install VLC, matching its 64-bit or 32-bit architecture to OBS, then restart OBS. VLC Video Source depends on VLC; the regular Media Source does not provide the same documented playlist workflow.
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The stream starts, but the video is black or missing
Check that the files still exist at their listed locations and that the VLC source is visible in the selected scene. Confirm that it is not hidden behind another source, and test playback in OBS’s preview before reconnecting to YouTube.
There is no audio
Check the VLC source’s audio level in OBS’s mixer, confirm that the file has an audio track, and listen to a test recording or YouTube preview. A visible video alone does not confirm that audio is reaching the stream.
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The playlist stops after the last file
Open the VLC Video Source properties and enable Loop Playlist if you want playback to continue when the list ends.
YouTube does not receive the OBS feed
Confirm that OBS is using the correct YouTube stream URL and current key, and that the stream selected in YouTube Studio matches your intended broadcast. If a key may have been exposed, reset it and update OBS. First-time live activation may require up to 24 hours.
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A video plays in a predictable order or does not seem shuffled
Check that Shuffle Playlist is enabled on the VLC Video Source you actually placed in the scene. The setting applies to that source’s playlist; OBS does not document a guaranteed repeat or distribution pattern.
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