If an OBS radio stream goes quiet when a file or playlist finishes, first check the playback source: use Media Source with Loop for one file, or VLC Video Source with Loop Playlist for several files. Then check that the source is available and visible in the active scene.
Those settings repeat media; they do not control whether the YouTube broadcast itself ends. A looping source cannot guarantee that a stream stays live, and a playlist reaching its end is a separate event from stopping a broadcast.
Start by identifying what is playing
The right fix depends on whether OBS is playing one long file or choosing between several files. A single audio track that should repeat needs the Media Source loop setting. A folder of bhajans, ambient recordings or radio segments needs a playlist-capable source, such as VLC Video Source, with its playlist loop setting enabled.
It is worth confirming the distinction before changing settings. If you add one file to VLC Video Source, it may also play again when the playlist loops, but that does not make it the simplest single-file setup. Conversely, adding many files as separate Media Sources does not create a rotating playlist: each source has its own playback and visibility settings.
Look at the Sources list for the scene that is currently live. If the item is named after one track and points to one file, treat it as a single-file source. If it is a VLC source with several entries in its playlist, treat it as a multi-file source. If you are unsure, open its properties and check what media files or playlist entries are configured.
Also note what “stopping” means in your case. You may have silence while YouTube still shows a live broadcast, or the broadcast may actually have ended. Check OBS's streaming status and YouTube Live Control Room before making a change. That distinction will guide the troubleshooting later in this article.
For a different workflow in which a playlist must keep running while you replace items, the FFmpeg playlist update guide covers a separate approach. It is not necessary for fixing the loop controls in an existing OBS scene.
Loop one file with Media Source
For a single local audio or video file, add or select a Media Source in the scene. Open its properties, choose the file, and enable Loop. OBS describes this setting as playing the file again after playback completes; it is not the same control as Loop Playlist on a VLC source. The OBS Media Sources documentation describes the available media-source settings.
In practical terms, a devotional channel might use one continuous recording of an evening aarti. With Loop enabled, OBS begins that same file again after it reaches the end. If you intended a quiet transition, a pause, or a different recording next, looping is not the desired behaviour; prepare a playlist or manage the transition separately.
Check that the file itself is the one you expect. A source can be configured correctly and still appear to stop if its file has been moved, renamed or become unavailable. Re-open the source properties to confirm the path and try playing the file in a local media player. If the file plays there but OBS does not, test a short, known-good file to determine whether the problem is specific to the media or to the source configuration.
Loop is a playback instruction, not a broadcast recovery setting. It cannot correct a failed YouTube connection, a stopped OBS stream, or a computer that has gone to sleep. Treat the repeat setting as one part of the setup, and check the broadcast independently if it appears offline.
The OBS documentation lists Loop as off by default, so do not assume a source repeats simply because it has played once before. Inspect the setting on the actual source used by the live scene. Duplicated scenes or sources can have different properties, and changing an unused copy will not change what is currently on air.
Loop multiple files with VLC Video Source
If the programme is a succession of tracks, use VLC Video Source and add the files as a playlist. In the source properties, check Loop Playlist. OBS documents it as the control for restarting the source when it has run out of media files, and lists it as on by default. Verify the checkbox rather than relying on the default: settings may differ in a particular scene or OBS version.
For example, a local radio loop might contain several talk segments followed by music. With the files in the VLC playlist and looping enabled, the sequence can begin again after its final item. That makes the playback order repeat; it does not mix tracks, normalise their volume, or guarantee a smooth transition between recordings. Listen to the end of one item and the start of the next before using the sequence on a live channel.
Keep the playlist itself easy to inspect. Remove test files, confirm the intended order, and check that every entry points to media that remains available on the computer. If the sequence stops at the same track each time, suspect that file or its path before concluding that the loop control is failing. If playback stops only after switching scenes, investigate source visibility as described below.
A VLC playlist is useful when the list changes often or contains many files. A single Media Source is easier to understand when one recording simply repeats. Choose based on the job rather than adding complexity to a one-file setup.
| Setup | Best fit | Setting to check | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media Source | One local file | Loop | Repeats that file; it does not create a multi-track playlist. |
| VLC Video Source | Several local files | Loop Playlist | Requires VLC to be installed, and visibility behaviour can affect playback while hidden. |
The OBS Sources Guide explains how sources are added to scenes; the exact labels and placement of controls can vary with the installed version. For a playlist sent through a different tool, the guide to streaming multiple files with FFmpeg describes another workflow. It is a different toolchain, not a required step for VLC Video Source.
Check VLC and its architecture
VLC Video Source depends on VLC being installed. If the source type is missing from OBS's add-source menu, first install VLC and restart OBS. The OBS Media Sources article notes an architecture requirement: a 64-bit OBS installation requires 64-bit VLC. A mismatch can prevent the VLC source from being available even when VLC appears to be installed.
Check which OBS build you run before choosing a VLC installer. Do not infer architecture from the age of the computer or from the media files. If OBS is 64-bit, use 64-bit VLC as the documentation specifies. If VLC has just been installed or updated, close and reopen OBS so it can detect the dependency.
If the source remains unavailable, confirm that the installation completed and that you launched the same OBS application you intend to stream with. A computer can have more than one OBS installation or shortcut, and changing a setting in one does not affect another. If the VLC source exists but cannot load media, test the playlist entries and file paths separately from the installation question.
This check is only relevant to VLC Video Source. A single-file Media Source does not require you to install VLC for its Loop control. Avoid installing extra components until you know which source type your scene needs.
Check visibility in the active scene
A source can be configured to loop and still stop or pause when it is no longer visible. OBS documents a Visibility Behaviour setting for VLC sources, with choices that determine what happens when the source is not visible. Check this setting if playback changes after a scene switch, after hiding the source with the eye control, or when a transition removes it from the active scene.
Start with the scene actually being sent to the stream, not a scene you use only for testing. Confirm that the VLC source is present and its visibility indicator is on. If you have nested scenes, check the source in the relevant nested scene as well. A source hidden in a parent scene may not behave as you expect, even if it looks enabled when you inspect a different scene.
Then inspect Visibility Behaviour in the VLC source properties. Decide what should happen when that source is hidden: should it continue playing in the background, pause, or stop? The appropriate choice depends on your programme. A station that changes visual scenes but wants uninterrupted audio may need playback to continue while hidden. A source that should be silent when its scene is off may need different behaviour.
Test the change before relying on it overnight. Switch between the scenes you normally use, wait long enough to see whether audio continues, and return to the source. Confirm both the audible result and the source state. Do not assume that seeing a live indicator in OBS proves the media source is still playing.
If you use a Media Source rather than VLC, check its own settings and how that source behaves when hidden; do not assume VLC's named visibility control is present on every source type. The central diagnostic question is whether the media source remains active and visible as intended in the scene being broadcast.
Separate playback ending from the live broadcast
A playlist reaching its final item is a media event. The stream stopping is a broadcast event. They may happen around the same time, but one does not establish the other. If audio ends while YouTube still reports a live broadcast, investigate the source, its playlist loop setting, file availability and visibility. If the broadcast itself has ended, inspect OBS's streaming state, connection and any actions that could have stopped the broadcast.
Do not configure your channel on the assumption that OBS will automatically end the stream when a playlist finishes. An OBS forum moderator, responding to a question about local playlists, said there was no built-in way to auto-end at the playlist's end in that context. That is a dated community forum response, not an official product specification; check current OBS documentation and your installed version rather than treating it as a guarantee. The forum discussion about ending at playlist completion is useful for understanding the distinction.
Likewise, enabling Loop does not guarantee that a YouTube live stream stays active. OBS may lose its connection, the computer may sleep or restart, or a person may stop the broadcast. These are separate failure modes. First establish whether the stream is still live, then work on the relevant layer instead of repeatedly toggling the playlist setting.
For a channel that needs to keep broadcasting while a local computer is unavailable or powered down, playback looping in OBS is not the same requirement as keeping an always-on channel running. StreamNeo can remove the specific need to leave your own computer running by turning an uploaded video into a YouTube live stream that can be monitored and restarted if it drops; it does not change what OBS's playlist controls do.
For more on planning a continuous channel rather than repairing a playback setting, see the guide to scheduling a 24/7 YouTube live stream. Scheduling, looping and maintaining an active broadcast are related but distinct tasks, so choose the workflow that fits what you need to happen when you are away.
Before committing, compare the operating options on the pricing page. When the file and channel are ready, start free — 24-hour trial, no card.
FAQ
Why does my OBS radio stream stop when one song ends?
If you are using Media Source, open its properties and enable Loop. If the song is one item in a VLC playlist, check Loop Playlist instead; also confirm the file is available and the source is active in the live scene. These settings repeat playback, not the broadcast.
Do I need VLC for one audio file?
No. Media Source can loop one local file without VLC Video Source. VLC is needed for the VLC Video Source playlist workflow; OBS specifies that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
Will OBS end the YouTube livestream when the playlist finishes?
Do not rely on playlist completion to end a broadcast. A playlist ending and a live broadcast stopping are separate events, and the cited OBS forum response is a community answer rather than an official specification. Check the current OBS controls and YouTube Live Control Room for your actual stream state.
Why does audio stop after I change scenes?
The VLC source may be hidden, and its Visibility Behaviour setting governs whether playback continues, pauses or stops when it is not visible. Check the active scene and the source's visibility setting, then test the scene change before leaving the stream unattended.