The Tool Desk
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First identify what OBS is playing
| What you want to stream | OBS source | Loop control |
|---|---|---|
| One prerecorded gaming video file | Media Source | Loop |
| A playlist of prerecorded videos | VLC Video | Loop Playlist |
| Gameplay happening live on your computer | Game Capture or another capture source | No media-file loop control |
Game Capture captures the current game, rather than replaying a local recording. To show prerecorded gameplay, add the recording as a media source instead. OBS’s Media Sources documentation describes the source options and their playback controls.
Loop one gaming video with Media Source
- In the OBS scene you are streaming, add or select a Media Source. To add one, use the Sources panel’s add button and choose Media Source.
- Open the source’s properties and select the local video file you want to play.
- Enable Loop, then confirm the properties. OBS documents this setting as controlling whether the file plays again after playback completes; its listed default is Off.
- Check that the source is visible in the scene and that the OBS preview shows the video playing. If it reaches the end and stops, reopen the properties and verify that Loop is enabled on the source that is actually in the active scene.
The OBS documentation lists local video formats including .mp4, .ts, .mov, .flv, .mkv, .avi, .gif and .webm, as well as audio formats including .mp3, .aac, .ogg and .wav. That guide is dated January 11, 2022, and does not name an OBS release, so the exact wording or layout can vary by build.
Loop a playlist with VLC Video
- Install VLC if it is not already installed. OBS requires VLC for the VLC Video source; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- Add a VLC Video source to the scene and open its properties.
- Add the intended media files to the source’s playlist and enable Loop Playlist.
- Confirm the source is visible and active in the scene, then check the preview through the end of one item and into the next cycle.
A single-file Loop option and a playlist’s Loop Playlist option are separate controls. Choosing the wrong source or changing a setting on a different source will not make the active video repeat.
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Check source activation and what happens at the end
- Restart playback when source becomes active controls whether playback restarts when the source becomes active. It is separate from the loop control; OBS’s cited guide lists it as enabled by default.
- Show nothing when playback ends is another separate option. The guide lists it as enabled by default. With looping off, this can make the source disappear at the end instead of holding its final frame.
- Confirm the source is in the scene currently sent to the stream, is visible, and points to the intended file or playlist.
Work out whether the problem is OBS playback or YouTube delivery
Watch the OBS preview while the video is supposed to loop. If it stops there, focus on source type, the appropriate loop setting, the file or playlist, and whether the source is active and visible. If the preview loops correctly but viewers see interruptions, the issue is more likely in the encoder output or stream delivery than in the media source.
- Check the encoder output and stream health. YouTube’s troubleshooting guidance recommends checking the encoder and, when quality is poor, CPU load or a local recording.
- If the encoder output looks healthy, check the outbound internet connection.
- If OBS reports no dropped frames but some viewers buffer, their network connections or playback devices may be contributing. Buffering alone does not establish that the local file stopped.
YouTube receives a stream from an encoder, which can be software or hardware; its encoder instructions include gameplay as a use case. YouTube settings such as latency and DVR affect delivery or viewer playback, not whether an OBS media file repeats. They cannot replace the source’s loop setting.
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Fix stuttering caused by gaming load
Consider GPU load only if playback or output is choppy while the game is running. OBS explains that games and scene rendering compete for GPU resources. Its performance guidance recommends capping the game’s frame rate or enabling V-Sync when GPU overload causes rendering problems. This can help performance, but it does not enable looping.
Troubleshoot by symptom
| Symptom | Likely area to check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| A single video ends in OBS preview | Media Source setting or wrong active source | Open that source’s properties, enable Loop, and check scene visibility. |
| A playlist stops after one pass | VLC Video playlist configuration | Enable Loop Playlist, verify playlist contents, and check that VLC is installed with the same architecture as OBS. |
| Live gameplay stops changing | Capture source rather than media playback | If you want a recording to repeat, add it as Media Source or put recordings in a VLC Video playlist. |
| Preview loops but viewers see interruptions | Encoder output or outbound connection | Inspect encoder output and stream health, then check the connection if the encoder looks healthy. |
| Video or stream stutters under game load | GPU/rendering pressure | Try capping the game frame rate or enabling V-Sync if GPU overload is indicated. |
| Some viewers buffer while OBS shows no dropped frames | Viewer connection or device may be involved | Check delivery and viewer playback conditions rather than assuming the source stopped. |
Or let it run in the cloud
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