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The OBS community Media Playlist Source plugin is the clearest match: its listing says it saves the currently playing file so that file plays when OBS restarts. That does not establish that it restores the exact point within the file, starts OBS after the server reboots, or reconnects the stream to YouTube. Those are separate recovery steps.
What “resume” means after a restart
A stream can fail at several different points. A playlist source may remember which video was playing, while the streaming software itself remains closed or the YouTube connection stays down. Before relying on a setup unattended, distinguish these outcomes:
- Restore the playlist item: OBS opens with the same file selected.
- Restore the position: playback continues from the elapsed timestamp rather than the beginning of that file.
- Restart the encoder: OBS launches after the operating system or server reboots.
- Reconnect to YouTube: the encoder sends video and audio to the intended live stream again.
- Continue the broadcast: the viewer-facing stream recovers in a way that meets your needs after the interruption.
The plugin listing supports the first outcome after OBS restarts. It does not establish the remaining outcomes or seamless recovery.
OBS Media Playlist Source: the closest fit
The OBS Project Forum listing for Media Playlist Source describes it as an alternative to VLC Video Source and says it saves the currently playing file, so that file will be played when OBS restarts. The listing identifies version 0.1.3, requires OBS Studio 30.0.0 or later, and lists Windows, macOS, and Linux support. These are listing details, not results from independent reboot tests.
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#1 Best Overall
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Its stated behavior concerns the current file. The listing does not say whether playback resumes at the exact elapsed position or starts that file from the beginning. It also does not say that the plugin launches OBS after a host reboot or restores a YouTube connection. Confirm those behaviors in your own configuration before treating the setup as unattended.
OBS’s built-in VLC Video Source
OBS’s Media Sources guide documents VLC Video Source as an option for a playlist, with looping and shuffle controls. VLC must be installed for the source to appear in OBS. The guide does not claim that VLC Video Source remembers the current playlist item after OBS restarts.
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That makes it useful for playing and cycling through media, but the documented features do not by themselves answer the restart-persistence question. If keeping the current item across an OBS restart is essential, the Media Playlist Source listing is more directly relevant; test the precise behavior you need.
What YouTube settings do—and do not—recover
Stream keys and “Reuse settings”
YouTube’s live stream settings cover the stream destination, stream key, and related broadcast settings. “Reuse settings” reuses stream metadata, settings, and the key. It does not save OBS’s source-playlist state or promise that an encoder will restart after a host reboot.
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HLS rolling playlists
YouTube’s HLS setup guidance includes a rolling-playlist requirement for the segments sent to YouTube: no more than five outstanding segments. This concerns the transport segments used for HLS ingest, not the playlist of source videos in OBS or the saved playback position. YouTube lists OBS among encoders supporting HLS ingestion.
DVR is for viewers
YouTube DVR lets viewers pause, rewind, and continue watching a live stream. It is not a server-side playlist recovery feature. YouTube notes that DVR capabilities may be limited or unavailable for streams longer than 12 hours, which also affects pause and resume for viewers. See YouTube’s DVR guidance.
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How to evaluate a restart-ready setup
- Check playlist persistence: restart OBS without rebooting the host and confirm whether the expected file is selected.
- Check the seek position: note whether playback resumes at the prior timestamp or begins at the file’s start. The plugin listing does not specify this.
- Check boot behavior: reboot the server and verify separately that OBS starts automatically under the intended account and configuration.
- Check YouTube reconnection: verify OBS uses the intended stream key and determine what happens to the broadcast after the interruption. Reused YouTube settings are not a substitute for testing encoder recovery.
- Check your actual media: test the file types, playlist, and playback pattern used in production, including looping or shuffle if relevant.
- Repeat the test: the available source descriptions do not provide controlled reboot tests or recovery-time measurements, so a successful single restart is not proof of reliability.
Troubleshooting the different failure points
- OBS restarts on a different video: the built-in VLC source guide does not promise current-item persistence. If that behavior is required, test the Media Playlist Source plugin, whose listing says it saves the currently playing file.
- The same video opens but starts at the beginning: exact timestamp restoration is not specified in the plugin listing. Do not assume the elapsed position is saved; verify the behavior in your setup.
- OBS stays closed after a server reboot: playlist persistence does not launch the encoder. Configure and test host-level startup separately.
- OBS is open but YouTube is not receiving the stream: check the stream destination and key in YouTube/OBS settings, then investigate the encoder-to-ingest connection. OBS notes that intermittent disconnections can result from network issues between the computer and remote ingest server; see its stream connection troubleshooting guide.
- VLC Video Source is unavailable: install VLC, which OBS requires for that source, then reopen or refresh the source options.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep uploaded videos looping as a YouTube live stream without relying on a server at home, StreamNeo is the cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it streams the uploaded file as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly: $9.99 per month. This is for uploaded videos streaming to YouTube, not a camera feed. Start the free day with StreamNeo.
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