For a repeating sequence of prerecorded videos in OBS, use a VLC Video Source and add the files to its playlist. A standard Media Source is for an individual file: its Loop setting repeats that file, not a multi-file playlist.
Before relying on the scene overnight, check that VLC is installed in the architecture matching OBS, the playlist is in the intended order, Loop Playlist is enabled and playback behaves as expected when the source is hidden. Then test the actual YouTube feed; a repeating playlist does not guarantee an uninterrupted stream.
Choose VLC Video Source for a multi-file playlist
OBS offers two sources that can sound interchangeable when you are trying to make prerecorded video repeat, but they solve different jobs. Media Source plays an individual file, and its Loop property sends that file back to the beginning when playback ends. VLC Video Source supports a playlist of media files, with separate controls for looping the playlist and shuffling its entries. For a sequence of bhajans, lessons or ambience videos, that playlist source is the relevant one.
| What you need | OBS source | Playback behaviour | VLC required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repeat one local video | Media Source | Enable Loop to replay the same file | No VLC Video Source dependency |
| Play several files in sequence | VLC Video Source | Add the files to its playlist; enable Loop Playlist to repeat the sequence | Yes |
| Change the order of several files | VLC Video Source | Arrange the list and leave Shuffle Playlist off for listed order | Yes |
Do not add several Media Sources and assume their individual Loop settings will combine into one managed playlist. That would be a different scene design, with separate visibility, timing and transition behaviour to manage. If you want a predictable sequence in a single source, use VLC Video Source. The guide to looping one video with VLC covers a related single-video workflow, but the multi-file playlist controls here are the key distinction.
VLC is not an optional extra for VLC Video Source. OBS relies on an installed VLC application for that source, and the source may not appear if the dependency is missing or mismatched. You can verify the distinction in the OBS media sources documentation, which describes the available source types and their playback controls.
Install VLC with the matching architecture
If VLC Video Source is missing from the Sources menu, check the dependency before rebuilding the scene. Install VLC, and match its architecture to OBS. In particular, 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. Once installed, close and reopen OBS if needed, then check the source menu again.
Architecture mismatch is easy to overlook because VLC might open videos perfectly on its own while OBS still cannot use its VLC source. Check which OBS build you have, then install the corresponding VLC build. Avoid downloading installers from unfamiliar mirrors; use the VLC project's official download page and follow its current installation instructions.
This dependency check is worth doing before you arrange an elaborate scene. Otherwise, you may spend time preparing files and overlays only to find that the source type you need is not available. If you need a simpler one-file loop and do not need playlist features, Media Source remains available without this VLC Video Source dependency. That is a choice about the playback job, not a workaround that turns Media Source into a multi-file playlist.
Prepare and order the video files
Put the intended clips in a stable local folder and decide the sequence before adding them to OBS. A devotional channel might order an opening prayer, a run of bhajans and a closing instrumental. A study stream might move from a short welcome to topic blocks. Naming files with a clear prefix or number can help you keep track, but the playlist's displayed order is what matters once you load it.
Avoid moving or renaming the files after you have made the playlist unless you are prepared to update the source. A path that no longer points to the video can leave a blank source or a missing item, which is particularly easy to miss if you only check the opening clip. Keep the working files somewhere the computer can access consistently, and confirm each entry can be opened before building the scene around it.
Consider how different clips will feel when played one after another. Check that audio levels do not jump sharply, that no clip is unintentionally silent, and that the ending of one video and beginning of the next make sense together. OBS will play what you provide; a playlist does not repair uneven audio or awkward edits. For preparation and export decisions, the DaVinci Resolve settings guide for prerecorded YouTube Live is a useful companion.
If the collection is large, make sure there is room for the files and any separate recording you want to keep. You do not need a special drive for OBS to play a playlist, but an external drive can be a practical storage choice for a large library. The important point is to avoid disconnecting or renaming the storage while the playlist is in use.
Add the playlist source in OBS
Open the scene that should contain the video. In the Sources dock, select the plus button and choose VLC Video Source. Give the source a name that distinguishes it from overlays or other video sources, such as “Main playlist”, then open its properties.
Use the playlist controls to add the files you prepared. Check that every intended file appears, then review the displayed order from top to bottom. Do not rely on alphabetical order unless that is also the sequence you intend. If your preferred order differs, rearrange the entries using the controls in the properties window and confirm the list again before closing it.
The OBS sources guide explains how sources are added and layered in a scene. The basic source action is straightforward, but the result depends on what else is in your scene. A background, logo, lower-third or clock may need to remain above the video. OBS draws sources according to their order in the Sources dock, so check that the playlist is not covering elements meant to sit over it.
Before moving on, select the source and confirm it is visible in the scene. If the playlist entry is present but there is no picture, inspect the file path and source visibility rather than assuming the YouTube connection is at fault. Open the source properties again if you need to change files or their order.
Set playlist order, looping and visibility
In the VLC Video Source properties, enable Loop Playlist if the sequence should start again after its final item. The OBS documentation describes this control as determining whether the source restarts after it runs out of media files; it is on by default, but verify it rather than relying on a remembered default. A saved scene may have been adjusted, copied or changed since it was first created.
For a fixed running order, turn off Shuffle Playlist. Shuffle randomises the files instead of playing them in list order. If a channel depends on a planned progression, such as a welcome followed by lessons, random playback can undermine that structure even though the source is technically looping. Check the playlist order and shuffle setting together: one determines the intended sequence, and the other can override it.
Also inspect Visibility Behaviour. Its options determine whether playback continues, pauses or stops while the source is not visible. This matters if you switch scenes, temporarily hide the source or have a scene transition that takes it off screen. Choose the behaviour that suits your scene design, then test a scene change rather than assuming playback will continue in the background.
A common symptom is a video stopping at its last frame or not advancing as expected. Confirm that the source is visible, that each file is available, and that Loop Playlist is enabled. If you are actually using Media Source for a single file, its relevant control is Loop, not Loop Playlist. The playlist setup for an older laptop also discusses planning a playlist workflow around a modest computer, though the same source controls still need to be checked in OBS.
Fit and preview the source
Once the playlist is loaded, size and position the VLC source in the canvas. If the video should fill the frame, use OBS's transform controls to fit it to the intended canvas, then inspect the edges for cropping, letterboxing or unwanted empty space. If the video is designed to sit inside a graphic layout, place it in that region rather than stretching it to fill the entire scene.
Check the whole composition, not just the moving picture. A channel name, schedule or other overlay should remain legible above the playlist source. Reorder sources in the dock if the video hides an overlay, and confirm that the overlay is not obscuring subtitles or important parts of the picture. If you need to crop a prerecorded file's display area, see the guide to cropping prerecorded video in OBS.
Preview enough of each item to catch an incorrect crop, missing audio or an unexpected aspect ratio. Let the current clip reach its end and verify that the next file begins. Then, if practical, observe the final playlist item reaching its end and the first item starting again. This checks the transitions and the loop as they actually behave, rather than only confirming that the right boxes are ticked.
If OBS struggles while rendering the scene, simplify it before depending on the setup. Resolution, frame rate, encoder choice and scene complexity all affect the work the computer must do. OBS's encoding performance troubleshooting guide discusses ways to investigate overload. Reducing an unnecessarily demanding output or removing costly scene elements may help, but the right adjustment depends on the computer and the intended quality.
Test playback through the YouTube stream
A preview in OBS proves only that the scene is rendering locally. Connect OBS to the YouTube Live Control Room using the server URL and stream key shown for the stream. Treat the stream key as a secret: YouTube describes it as functioning like a password and address, so do not post it in a screenshot or share it casually. Check YouTube's current live streaming eligibility and setup guidance before planning a broadcast, including channel eligibility requirements.
Configure the encoder based on the output you can sustain, rather than copying a setting without considering your connection. YouTube's current encoder guidance recommends constant bitrate and a two-second keyframe frequency, not exceeding four seconds. These are YouTube recommendations, not a guarantee that every resolution or bitrate will suit a particular computer or upload connection. Consult the current YouTube encoder settings guidance and choose a supported combination.
Before a long session, run a test stream with similar motion and audio to the real programme. Watch the YouTube preview and stream health while OBS is sending the feed. Check that sound reaches YouTube, the picture is not stuttering, and the playlist advances into its next file. YouTube recommends reserving upload bandwidth beyond the stream bitrate; its streaming tips specify 20% headroom. Leave that margin available rather than using nearly all of your upload capacity for the live output.
A playlist can be configured correctly while the stream still drops because the computer, connection or scene has a problem. That is why checking YouTube's incoming feed matters. If the stream is choppy, lower output demands or simplify the scene, and investigate the network before assuming the playlist itself is responsible. The OBS quick-start guide also recommends testing before a real broadcast.
For unattended operation, consider what you will do if the local computer loses power, the connection fails or OBS stops. OBS playlist looping controls what happens when the media sequence ends; it does not make the overall broadcast immune to a failure. StreamNeo removes the need to leave your own computer running for this particular uploaded-file workflow: it turns an uploaded video into a YouTube live stream, with the channel continuing in the cloud and monitoring and restart if it drops. It is YouTube-only, so this is relevant when the goal is a file-based YouTube channel rather than an OBS scene that needs live interaction.
Plan for monitoring and archives
A 24/7 broadcast is a long-running process, not a one-time playlist setting. Check from time to time that the picture and audio continue, that files advance, and that YouTube Live Control Room still reports a healthy incoming feed. If the source is hidden during a scene change, verify that its visibility behaviour matches your expectation. A short successful test is useful, but it does not prove what will happen after a power cut or a network interruption.
Also distinguish the live broadcast from its replay. YouTube says live streams shorter than 12 hours can be automatically archived and warns that streams exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all. Do not plan on a continuous 24/7 broadcast producing one complete replay. If keeping the programme matters, make a local recording where practical and verify that it is being written. YouTube's guidance on live stream archives explains the archive limitation; the outcome for an individual stream should not be assumed.
Local recording has its own costs: disk space, computer workload and the need to check that the file is usable. Keep enough storage available, especially if you intend to retain recordings over time. If the archive is more important than running one uninterrupted live event, plan how you will record, rotate and back up the files before going live.
If a playlist stops after one pass, revisit the source properties rather than immediately changing the stream encoder. Confirm you used VLC Video Source, Loop Playlist is enabled, shuffle is set appropriately, and the source has not been paused or stopped by its visibility behaviour. If only one file is required, Media Source with Loop is the simpler fit. If the actual YouTube feed is unhealthy despite local playback continuing, investigate the encoder and connection separately from the playlist.
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FAQ
How do I loop multiple videos in OBS?
Add a VLC Video Source to your scene and put the files into its playlist. Enable Loop Playlist to repeat the sequence, and leave Shuffle Playlist off if you want the files to play in their listed order. Test that playback reaches the next file and returns to the start.
Why does my OBS playlist stop after one play?
Check that the source is VLC Video Source and that Loop Playlist is enabled. Also check whether the source has been hidden or switched away from, because Visibility Behaviour can pause or stop playback when it is not visible. If you are using a single-file Media Source, its control is named Loop.
Do I need VLC installed for VLC Video Source?
Yes. VLC must be installed for VLC Video Source to be available in OBS, and its architecture should match OBS. For 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC.
Will a 24/7 YouTube stream be saved as one complete replay?
Do not rely on that. YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours can be automatically archived and warns that streams longer than that may not be captured at all. Keep and verify a local recording if a complete archive is important.