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You can change what viewers see without clicking Stop Streaming in OBS, but OBS does not document a guaranteed way to hot-reload a playlist that is already playing. The cautious option is to prepare a second scene with its own VLC playlist, update that inactive playlist, then switch scenes while keeping OBS’s stream output running. This two-scene workaround comes from an OBS forum suggestion, not an officially guaranteed feature, so rehearse it and monitor YouTube Live Control Room before relying on it.
Use VLC Video Source for an OBS playlist
OBS’s Media Sources documentation describes VLC Video Source as supporting a playlist of items. VLC must be installed; for 64-bit OBS, the guide specifies 64-bit VLC. Media Source is a different source type and is not the playlist workflow described here.
- Install VLC with the same architecture as OBS. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC.
- In OBS, add a VLC Video Source to a scene and create or select its playlist.
- Set up the playlist and playback options before going live. OBS documents Loop Playlist as on by default and Shuffle Playlist as off by default.
Why editing the active playlist is uncertain
OBS’s documentation covers playlist controls but does not say that saving changes to a playlist currently playing will reliably reload its contents without interruption or a playback reset. In an OBS forum thread started May 2, 2023, one user reported mixed results when editing and saving a live VLC playlist; a suggested workaround was to use two scenes and two playlist files, with the author warning that it might still fail. A separate OBS forum question from April 20, 2020 reports playback appearing to reset to the first video after media or playlist changes. These are individual reports, not controlled tests or guarantees about all setups.
Changing a scene or media source is also distinct from ending the encoder connection. YouTube says the stream key tells the encoder where to send the feed and lets YouTube accept it, but its live stream settings help does not promise that every playlist or scene change will be invisible to viewers. Keep OBS streaming and verify the result in Live Control Room.
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Prepare a two-scene change before going live
- Create two equivalent OBS scenes. Put a VLC Video Source in each and point each source to a separate playlist file. Keep the alternate scene out of program output until needed.
- Rehearse the exact change: edit the inactive playlist, save it, then switch to that scene. Confirm the new video starts as expected and check picture, audio, playback position, and YouTube Live Control Room status.
- Plan what viewers will see during the transition. A holding scene can cover a gap, but ensure the transition does not hide or stop the only media source you need to keep playing.
- Check the VLC source’s Visibility Behaviour. OBS documents the default as Stop when not visible, restart when visible; other behavior depends on the setting. Hiding a source may therefore stop its playback or cause it to restart when shown.
This is a cautious adaptation of a community suggestion, not a documented live-reload feature. If uninterrupted output is essential, test the full sequence on your setup before using it for a public broadcast.
Make the change while YouTube Live stays connected
- Confirm OBS is still streaming and the current program output is healthy.
- Prefer updating the inactive playlist and switching to its prepared scene over editing the playlist currently playing.
- Do not press Stop Streaming during the change. Switch scenes or change the media source while OBS’s streaming output remains active.
- Watch OBS’s program output and YouTube Live Control Room for continued video, audio, and stream health. If the new playlist does not load as expected, use your rehearsed fallback rather than assuming YouTube will show the change seamlessly.
Or let it run in the cloud
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