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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, enable Loop, then connect OBS to YouTube with RTMPS and configure a stable encoder output. This keeps the video repeating while OBS is broadcasting; it does not guarantee that your computer, internet connection, OBS, or YouTube ingest will stay online indefinitely. Test the complete setup before a long stream.
Install OBS Studio on Linux
Use an installation route appropriate for your distribution. The OBS Project lists Flatpak and Ubuntu as supported Linux builds and recommends Flatpak for distributions other than Ubuntu. See the OBS Linux installation documentation for the available routes.
Choose how OBS should repeat your video
Loop one file with Media Source
- Open OBS and create or select a scene in the Scenes panel.
- In Sources, select + and add Media Source.
- Give the source a name, then browse to and select your video file.
- Enable Loop in the source properties and select OK.
- Check the preview and audio. Start playback to confirm the file reaches its end and begins again.
OBS Media Source supports formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. See the OBS Media Sources guide for source behavior and options.
Loop a set of videos with VLC Video
Use VLC Video when you want OBS to play a playlist rather than repeat one file. VLC must be installed for this source type to appear; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. Add the source, populate its playlist, and check its properties: Loop Playlist defaults to On and Shuffle Playlist defaults to Off. Turn shuffle on only if you want the order randomized. The OBS Media Sources guide documents both source types.
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| Source | Best fit | Important setting or requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Media Source | One video that should restart after it finishes | Enable Loop |
| VLC Video | A playlist of videos | Install VLC of the same bitness as OBS; review Loop Playlist and Shuffle Playlist |
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, open the live control room for the broadcast and obtain its stream key and server details. Keep the stream key private: anyone with it may be able to send video to your channel.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream. Choose YouTube as the service and use the provided stream key, or configure the supplied RTMPS server endpoint and key if entering the connection details manually.
- Use RTMPS where available. YouTube recommends RTMPS; its ingest documentation specifies an RTMPS protocol URL, a valid endpoint and application path, and port 443. Follow the exact endpoint shown for your stream rather than guessing a server URL. See YouTube’s encoder settings and live server documentation and YouTube’s RTMPS ingestion guide.
- Save the settings, then start the stream from OBS when you are ready. Check YouTube Studio to confirm it is receiving the feed before treating the broadcast as live.
Set video, audio, and bitrate for a stable stream
Match output to the file and to the upload connection you can sustain continuously—not merely to the connection’s advertised peak. YouTube’s current encoder guidance supports RTMP/RTMPS, H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 video up to 60 fps, AAC or MP3 audio, constant bitrate (CBR), and a recommended two-second keyframe interval; do not exceed four seconds. For broad compatibility, H.264 with CBR is a straightforward choice. The YouTube encoder settings page is the reference for supported settings.
Use a bitrate appropriate to resolution and frame rate
These H.264 figures are YouTube recommendations (publication year not stated), not guarantees that a particular computer or network can sustain the stream:
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| Output | Recommended video bitrate | Practical implication |
|---|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | Requires less sustained upload capacity than the higher-bitrate examples below. |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | Allow additional upload headroom for audio and network variation. |
| 720p at 60 fps | 8 Mbps | Higher frame rate has a higher recommended bitrate than 720p30. |
Choose among these or other YouTube-supported settings based on the source’s resolution and frame rate and a sustained upload test. If the connection cannot reliably hold the selected bitrate, lower the output resolution, frame rate, or bitrate rather than relying on brief speed-test peaks. YouTube’s live encoder settings include its resolution-specific recommendations.
Set the keyframe interval and audio
In OBS, open Settings > Output and configure the streaming encoder for CBR, the chosen bitrate, and a two-second keyframe interval. YouTube says not to exceed four seconds. Set audio to AAC or MP3; YouTube recommends 128 Kbps stereo audio and 44.1 kHz stereo sampling in its advanced settings. Keep the output no higher than the source can usefully support.
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Test before leaving a stream running
Make a short test using the exact file, scene, encoder settings, and network intended for the full broadcast. OBS recommends testing settings and stream performance ahead of a first live stream. Confirm that the video loops, audio remains synchronized and audible, OBS reports a stable connection, and YouTube Studio receives the stream. Stop the test and correct issues before starting a long broadcast. See OBS’s streaming guide.
What “nonstop” means—and what it does not
The Loop option repeats media inside OBS. The broadcast remains dependent on the machine staying powered on, OBS continuing to run, the network maintaining its connection, and YouTube continuing to ingest the feed. A looping source alone is not an uninterrupted-stream guarantee.
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Plan for the 12-hour archive limit
YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived, but a stream exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all. For an archive you need to keep, end broadcasts before they reach 12 hours, start a new broadcast as needed, and make a local recording as backup. YouTube also says rewind/DVR may be limited or unavailable on streams longer than 12 hours. These are YouTube’s stated limits; they do not promise that every shorter stream will produce a usable archive. See YouTube’s live stream archiving guidance and YouTube’s DVR guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check rights and monetization before looping
You are responsible for having the necessary rights to stream the video and its music, including rights covering any resulting archive. A video being prerecorded or publicly available does not by itself establish permission. Review YouTube’s live streaming terms and confirm the rights needed for both live transmission and recording.
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Technical ability to repeat a video does not guarantee monetization. YouTube’s monetization policies apply to live streams; its July 15, 2025 clarification renamed “repetitious content” as “inauthentic content” and says repetitive or mass-produced content is ineligible for monetization. Review the current YouTube channel monetization policies before relying on revenue from a repeated stream.
Troubleshoot common OBS-to-YouTube problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The video stops instead of restarting | Loop is off, or the wrong source is being used. | Open Media Source properties and enable Loop. For a playlist, inspect VLC Video’s Loop Playlist setting. |
| VLC Video is missing from Sources | VLC is not installed or its bitness does not match OBS. | Install VLC; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. |
| YouTube does not receive the feed | Service, stream key, server endpoint, or protocol details may be incorrect. | Check OBS Settings > Stream, copy the current key carefully, and use YouTube’s provided RTMPS endpoint and application path. |
| Connection drops or the stream stutters | The chosen bitrate may exceed sustained upload capacity, or the connection may be unstable. | Run a test, then reduce bitrate, resolution, or frame rate until the upload can sustain the stream. |
| Audio is absent or unsuitable | Source audio or output audio settings may not be configured as intended. | Check the OBS audio mixer during playback and use a YouTube-supported audio codec; YouTube recommends 128 Kbps stereo at 44.1 kHz. |
| The live stream has no usable archive | The broadcast may have exceeded YouTube’s 12-hour capture threshold. | Keep broadcasts under 12 hours when an archive matters and record locally as backup. |
Or let it run in the cloud
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