To loop a video on YouTube Live with OBS on Windows 11, add the video as a Media Source, enable Loop, then connect OBS to a stream in YouTube Studio. Start the encoder output, verify the preview in Live Control Room, and start the event there when prompted; the OBS loop setting does not itself make the event public.
This is a procedure based on OBS and YouTube’s documented workflows, not a report of hands-on testing. Work through channel readiness, source playback, connection and preview in that order so you can catch a problem before viewers see it.
Check that your channel is ready
Before setting up OBS, confirm that your channel can livestream. YouTube’s eligibility guidance says the channel needs to be verified and must not have had live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. YouTube also notes that first-time activation can take up to 24 hours, so do not leave activation until the moment you plan to go live. Check the current YouTube live-streaming eligibility guidance in Studio or Help; channel status and product requirements can change.
Verification is not the same thing as checking for restrictions. Review the channel’s current status and any notices in YouTube Studio. If live access is unavailable or activation is pending, resolve that first rather than repeatedly changing OBS settings. The encoder can send a feed only when YouTube allows the account to use live streaming.
Also decide whether a repeating prerecorded file is the right format for your channel. A loop can suit a devotional programme, an ambient scene or a notice board, but it is still a broadcast to viewers. Use material you have permission to broadcast and follow YouTube’s rules. Repeating a file does not create a copyright or policy exemption.
If you are planning a longer-running channel rather than a single test, distinguish this one-file method from the broader operating setup. The guide to running a 24/7 YouTube livestream with OBS and Live Control Room in India covers the wider workflow and operational considerations. Here, the focus is the Windows 11 Media Source loop and the hand-off to a YouTube event.
Create or select a YouTube stream
Open YouTube Studio and go to Live Control Room. Create a stream or select the stream you intend to use. YouTube’s encoder setup instructions explain the stream setup sequence and distinguish the encoder feed from the event controls in Studio.
A stream is the destination and its connection settings; the event is what you manage in Live Control Room. Depending on the setup shown in Studio, you may create or schedule an event first, or work with a stream that is already available. Follow the labels currently shown for your channel. Do not assume that pressing Start Streaming in OBS also presses YouTube’s Go live control.
Keep Live Control Room available while you configure OBS. You will return to it to check whether YouTube is receiving the encoder feed and to inspect the preview before starting the event. If you have multiple streams or events, verify the title and selected destination so you do not send a test feed to the wrong one.
At this point, note the connection route YouTube presents. OBS may offer a YouTube service option, or you can enter YouTube’s stream URL and stream key manually. The exact screens vary with the chosen route. If you need a separate explanation of the surrounding always-on arrangement, the article on OBS settings for 24/7 YouTube playlist streaming in India provides related context; a playlist workflow is broader than the single-file source described here.
Add a Media Source in OBS
On Windows 11, open OBS and create or select the scene that should carry the video. In the Sources panel, choose +, then select Media Source. Give the source a recognisable name, such as “Main loop”, so it is easy to identify if the scene later contains a logo, text or other layers.
In the source properties, enable the local-file option and browse to the video stored on the computer. OBS documents Media Source as supporting common video formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI and WebM; consult its Media Sources documentation if the format you have is not listed in your source dialog or does not behave as expected. The setting is for a local file, so ensure the selected path points to a file available on the Windows machine running OBS.
If the file lives on an external drive, confirm that the drive stays connected and that Windows can access the same path after a restart. For a first setup, a local folder with a clear filename is easier to troubleshoot than a removable drive or a deeply nested location. This is not a guarantee against every playback issue; it simply removes a common source of confusion when the file cannot be found.
The scene preview should show the source once it is added and playback begins. Arrange the source in the canvas if the video does not fill the intended frame. Check that any additional text or graphics do not cover important content. The picture visible in OBS is useful for composition, but it is not yet confirmation that YouTube is receiving the feed.
Choose the file and enable Loop
Select the Media Source and open its properties. Confirm that the intended local video is selected, then check Loop. OBS documents that this control determines whether the file plays again once playback completes; it is off by default. This is the setting that makes a single local video repeat in the OBS scene.
Do not confuse this with YouTube’s viewer-side loop feature. A viewer can repeat a normal watched video, but that does not control an encoder’s livestream. The repeat behaviour here is created at the source in OBS before the picture is sent to YouTube.
There is a separate setting called Show nothing when playback ends. It is not the loop control. With looping enabled, the ordinary end-of-file state should be avoided, but the documentation does not establish seamless, gap-free transitions for every file or computer. Test the actual asset from beginning through its end and into the next playback. Listen as well as watch: a visual restart that is acceptable for a static background may still create an audible break in music or spoken material.
For one video, Media Source is the direct choice. If you need a sequence of several local files instead, OBS has a separate VLC Video source with a Loop Playlist setting; OBS says VLC must be installed for this source to appear. That adds a dependency and a playlist to maintain, so it is unnecessary for the one-video case. Compare the intended source before choosing:
| Need | OBS source | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| One local video repeated | Media Source with Loop | Confirm the path and test the file’s restart |
| Several local files in sequence | VLC Video with Loop Playlist | Install VLC and confirm the playlist order |
| A scheduled programme or changing content | A broader scheduling workflow | Plan content changes and event controls separately |
If the content is a playlist rather than one file, see how to use a YouTube playlist as a 24/7 livestream source for that distinct approach. A YouTube playlist and an OBS local-file loop are not interchangeable controls.
Set YouTube RTMPS or stream credentials
Return to OBS Settings and open Stream. If OBS offers a YouTube service selection that suits the stream you created, follow its connection prompts. If using a custom or manual route, take the stream URL and key from the matching stream in YouTube Studio and enter them in OBS. YouTube’s encoder instructions describe connecting the encoder with these credentials.
Treat the stream key like a password. It authorises an encoder to send a feed to the associated stream, so do not paste it into public chat, a screenshot or a channel description. If you think it has been exposed, use Studio’s controls to replace or reset it as available, then update OBS with the current credential. Take care not to confuse the stream URL with the key: they are separate fields in a manual setup.
Use RTMPS where it is available in the YouTube/OBS connection choices. YouTube’s encoder guidance recommends RTMPS, constant bitrate (CBR) and a two-second keyframe interval; check YouTube’s current encoder settings recommendations alongside the options OBS actually presents. Avoid copying settings blindly from an unrelated machine or an old tutorial. Available encoders and sensible quality choices depend on the content and the computer’s capabilities.
Your internet connection also matters. YouTube recommends leaving upload-bandwidth headroom; its streaming tips specify 20% recommended headroom. That is guidance, not a guarantee that a connection will remain stable. A household connection may vary when other devices upload, so consider testing at the time and with the network conditions expected during the broadcast. You can find more detail in YouTube’s live streaming tips.
Start OBS and confirm the preview
Before sending the feed, review the selected scene and source. Check that the correct video is visible, the audio meter responds if the file has audio, and the scene is the one you mean to broadcast. A local preview confirms the composition in OBS, not receipt by YouTube.
Select Start Streaming in OBS. Then return to Live Control Room and wait for its encoder status and preview. YouTube may take a short time to display incoming video. Confirm the preview is the right content, that the picture is not cropped unexpectedly, and that the audio is present at a sensible level. If the control room shows a warning or the preview does not arrive, pause here rather than starting the event and hoping the issue clears.
A useful check is to watch enough playback to see both ordinary content and the point where the file reaches its end. Confirm that it starts over in the OBS preview and that the YouTube preview continues to show the expected scene. This catches a wrong file, a missing loop checkbox or a source that goes blank at completion. It does not establish that every future session will behave identically, so retain a way to monitor the live output.
If the preview is absent, verify that OBS is streaming to the same stream selected in Studio, and check the URL and key if entered manually. If the preview appears but is silent, inspect the file’s audio, OBS mixer and relevant audio output settings. Make one change at a time and re-check the preview. YouTube’s streaming tips are a primary reference for connection and encoder troubleshooting.
Start the event when prompted
Once Live Control Room shows the correct incoming preview and you have checked the picture and sound, use the event control in YouTube Studio to go live when prompted. This is a separate step from starting OBS. OBS provides the encoded feed; YouTube’s control room governs whether the event is started for viewers. The distinction is central to the procedure: a checked Loop box repeats local playback, but it neither creates the public event nor starts it automatically.
After starting the event, continue to monitor YouTube’s stream health and the actual output. A source can loop while another issue affects the connection, audio or video quality. If you are leaving a channel running, plan who will notice a warning and what they will do; do not treat a looping source as proof that the whole broadcast needs no attention.
End the broadcast deliberately when it is no longer needed, using the controls presented in OBS and YouTube Studio. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived, but that guidance is not a promise of an archive for longer streams or of indefinite availability. If you need a recording, plan a separate recording and retention approach rather than relying on a long-running event to produce a permanent copy.
For a file-and-channel workflow where you do not want your Windows computer responsible for keeping local playback running, StreamNeo addresses that specific always-on computer burden by letting you upload a video and connect your YouTube stream credentials for a cloud-run broadcast. It is YouTube-only, and the OBS procedure above remains useful when you want to operate the encoder yourself.
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
How do I make a video repeat continuously in OBS?
Add it as a local Media Source, open the source properties and enable Loop. The OBS source repeats the file when playback completes; it is separate from YouTube’s viewer loop feature. Test the end-to-start transition with the actual video before using it in a live event.
Does starting OBS make my YouTube event live?
No. Starting OBS sends the encoder feed, while the event’s start control is handled in YouTube Live Control Room when the workflow prompts you. Confirm the preview first, then start the event in Studio.
Where is the Loop checkbox in OBS Media Source?
Open the Media Source properties from the source in your scene. The Loop checkbox is in those properties and is off by default according to OBS documentation. It applies to that source’s local file.
Can I leave a loop running all day and rely on YouTube to archive it?
Do not assume that a long-running stream will be archived automatically. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; its guidance does not promise automatic archiving for longer streams. If you need a retained recording, arrange and verify a separate recording plan.