To loop prerecorded video in a YouTube live stream from Ubuntu, use OBS Studio: add a Media Source and enable Loop, or use a VLC Video source for a playlist. Connect OBS to YouTube with the stream URL and stream key, configure an encoder profile your internet connection can sustain, then monitor stream health in YouTube Live Control Room. The key limitation: YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; it does not promise automatic archiving for a single 24-hour broadcast.
Before you begin
- An Ubuntu computer that can run OBS and remain powered on and connected for the length of the stream. OBS notes that basic system compatibility does not guarantee adequate streaming performance; see its system requirements.
- OBS Studio installed from a package source compatible with your Ubuntu release and OBS version.
- A prerecorded video stored locally, or VLC installed if you plan to use a playlist.
- A YouTube channel enabled for live streaming. YouTube says first-time live streaming enablement can take up to 24 hours, so set it up in advance.
Install OBS on Ubuntu
The OBS Project’s Linux installation article gives the following commands for Ubuntu:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:obsproject/obs-studio
sudo apt install obs-studioThat article, dated 2021, states Ubuntu 18.04 or newer as its baseline. Treat that as dated installation guidance, not confirmation that a particular current OBS release supports your Ubuntu version. In an announcement dated June 19, 2026, the OBS Project said OBS Studio 33 would no longer support Ubuntu 24.04. Check the OBS version and package source against the project’s current information before installing or upgrading; the available guidance does not establish a complete current Ubuntu-release compatibility matrix. The OBS Project’s Linux installation instructions describe the PPA approach.
Set up the prerecorded video in OBS
Loop one video
- Open OBS and select the scene where the video should appear.
- In Sources, select + and choose Media Source.
- Name the source, then choose the local video file in its properties.
- Enable Loop and save the source settings.
- Confirm in the OBS preview that the video appears, its audio is present at a suitable level, and playback restarts when it reaches the end.
OBS documents common local formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF and WebM. The OBS Media Sources guide explains the source options.
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Loop a playlist
- Install VLC before adding the source. OBS’s VLC Video source requires VLC; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- In OBS, add a VLC Video source to the scene.
- Configure the playlist with the videos you want played. Set the order or shuffle behavior to suit the programme.
- Enable Loop Playlist (on by default in OBS’s documented source) and check the preview to confirm that playback advances and repeats as intended.
Use a single Media Source for a straightforward repeat of one file; choose VLC Video when the stream should cycle through several files. These playback settings control what OBS plays, not YouTube broadcast creation, archive segments or unattended recovery.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or select the stream.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for that stream.
- In OBS, open the streaming settings, select the available YouTube service integration or configure the server and stream key manually, and enter the copied details.
- Keep the stream key private. Anyone with it may be able to connect an encoder to your stream.
- Start streaming in OBS. YouTube says starting the encoder sends content and creates a watch page. For a scheduled stream, wait for the preview in Live Control Room and select Go live there when ready.
Follow YouTube’s encoder setup instructions for the current Live Control Room flow. Labels and available integration options may vary; use the stream URL and key displayed for your own stream rather than reusing old credentials.
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Choose stable encoder settings
For the standard OBS-to-YouTube workflow, YouTube recommends RTMP or RTMPS ingestion, H.264 video, constant bitrate (CBR) and a 2-second keyframe interval; do not exceed 4 seconds. RTMPS encrypts the connection to Google’s servers. YouTube does not prescribe one universal resolution or bitrate for every creator: choose settings appropriate to the output you want and the upload capacity your connection can sustain.
- In OBS’s output and video settings, choose H.264 and CBR for the stream where those controls are available.
- Set the keyframe interval to 2 seconds, and make sure it is no greater than 4 seconds.
- Select a resolution and bitrate that remain stable on your actual upload connection. A high setting that fluctuates or drops frames is a worse fit than a lower, steady output.
- Test with representative video motion and audio before the intended broadcast. Check YouTube’s stream-health indicators while the encoder is sending.
See YouTube’s live encoder settings for supported ingestion and setting guidance. YouTube also documents HLS ingestion, including OBS as a supported encoder. HLS requires TS segments of 1–4 seconds, a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments, and HTTPS POST/PUT; it has higher latency than RTMP. It is an alternative for compatible workflows, not the simplest default for a basic loop.
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Plan around YouTube’s 12-hour archive limit
YouTube Help states that streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. Its guidance does not promise automatic archiving for one uninterrupted stream lasting 12 hours or longer. YouTube also says DVR rewind may be limited or unavailable for streams longer than 12 hours. If an archive matters, do not assume that OBS looping alone creates dependable archive segments or handles YouTube broadcast rotation.
Decide whether your priority is an uninterrupted live feed, reliably archived shorter broadcasts, or both. If you need separate archives, ending and starting distinct broadcasts may be necessary, but the cited guidance does not establish a fully automatic, reliable OBS rotation recipe. Verify what appears in Live Control Room and on the channel after your own broadcasts. See YouTube’s live stream DVR guidance alongside its encoder guide.
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Troubleshoot common problems
OBS cannot add or play the video
- Check that the local file path is correct and that the file is accessible to the Ubuntu account running OBS.
- For a VLC Video source, confirm VLC is installed and its architecture matches OBS (64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS).
- Try a locally stored file in a documented common format, then confirm playback in the OBS preview before going live.
The video plays once and stops
- For a Media Source, open its properties and enable Loop.
- For a VLC Video playlist, enable Loop Playlist and confirm there is more than one intended playlist entry if you expect a sequence.
YouTube does not receive the OBS stream
- Confirm that the server URL and stream key are copied from the correct stream in Live Control Room and entered in OBS without extra characters.
- Check that the channel is enabled for live streaming; first-time enablement can take up to 24 hours.
- Start the encoder and watch YouTube’s preview and stream-health status. For scheduled broadcasts, use Go live in Live Control Room after the preview appears.
The stream is unstable or reports poor health
- Check upload capacity and stability, then lower the bitrate or output resolution if the connection cannot sustain the chosen settings.
- Verify H.264, CBR and a 2-second keyframe interval (never over 4 seconds) for the recommended RTMP/RTMPS workflow.
- Test with representative audio and video motion, and continue monitoring stream health while live.
The broadcast is live but there is no dependable full-length archive
- Check the broadcast duration: the automatic-archive statement applies to streams under 12 hours, not a guaranteed 24-hour stream.
- For streams longer than 12 hours, account for potentially limited or unavailable DVR rewind.
- If archived segments are essential, plan separate broadcasts and verify the resulting archives rather than relying on the media loop to segment a YouTube stream.
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