To loop one local video on YouTube Live, add it to an OBS Media Source and enable Loop. To play several files in sequence, use OBS’s VLC Video source, add the files to its playlist, and enable Loop Playlist.
OBS sends the resulting programme to YouTube as an encoder feed. You create or schedule the stream in YouTube Studio, enter its stream URL and key in OBS, then check the preview in Live Control Room before going live if the broadcast is scheduled. Loop settings repeat media; they do not guarantee that the broadcast itself will remain uninterrupted.
Choose one video or a playlist
Start with the programme you want viewers to see. A single long recording, such as a kirtan session or a study ambience track, is simplest as one Media Source. A set of separate clips that should play one after another belongs in a VLC Video source playlist. These are different OBS source types with different loop controls, not two names for the same setting.
| What you need | OBS source | Loop setting | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repeat one local file | Media Source | Loop | One file is straightforward to select and test. |
| Play several files in order, then repeat | VLC Video | Loop Playlist | VLC must be installed, and the playlist order matters. |
A playlist is useful if a channel rotates between several bhajans, news clips or short lessons. It also gives you more files to check: a missing, damaged or unexpectedly silent item can interrupt the intended sequence even if the playlist loop is on. For a single video, a playlist adds no benefit unless you specifically need playlist behaviour.
Think about what happens at the boundary between files. A hard cut may be appropriate for a news loop; a quiet gap may be noticeable in devotional music or ambience. Preview the transitions in OBS before sending the feed. Looping repeats the media in its current form; it does not add fades, normalise sound or resolve an awkward edit.
Also decide whether the programme can be repeated as-is. Check that you have appropriate rights for the video and every audio element, and that the intended use is acceptable under YouTube’s current policies. OBS’s playback controls do not grant permission to broadcast material. For music-specific considerations, see this guide to live-streaming music on YouTube, including setup and rights.
Loop one file with Media Source
In OBS, make or open the scene for the broadcast. In the Sources panel, add a Media Source, give it a clear name such as “Main programme”, and select the local video file in its properties. OBS documents common formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF and WebM. If a file does not play as expected, check the source properties and test another known-good file before troubleshooting YouTube.
Enable Loop in the Media Source properties. OBS describes this setting as replaying the file once playback has completed. Apply the change and check that the video appears in the preview. Let it reach the end during a test if practical, so you can verify that the selected source restarts rather than assuming the checkbox is enough.
If you are changing a scene or hiding the source during production, check how the source behaves when it is not visible. A source that pauses or stops when hidden may not resume where you expect. Keep the scene simple for a fixed prerecorded programme, and avoid toggling visibility as a substitute for a planned transition.
Check sound as well as picture. Confirm that the Media Source’s audio reaches the OBS mixer, that the meter moves during playback, and that your output is not muted. Listen to the beginning and a point near the end; a video can show a picture while its audio track is absent, too quiet or routed differently than expected. If you are diagnosing a devotional stream, this Gurbani live-stream sound checklist may help separate source audio problems from output routing.
Keep the source file in a stable location for the duration of the stream. Moving or renaming it after you configure the source can leave OBS pointing to a path that no longer exists. Before a long session, reopen the scene and verify that the file loads, starts at the expected point and plays with the intended sound.
Install VLC for a multi-file playlist
For multiple files, add a VLC Video source rather than stacking many Media Sources and trying to manage their playback individually. The source uses VLC, so install VLC before configuring the playlist. The OBS Project’s Media Sources documentation notes that the VLC source requires VLC to be installed; if you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC so the two can work together.
After installation, add VLC Video to the scene. In its properties, add the files you want to play and arrange them in the intended order. Use descriptive filenames if the sequence is important, but do not assume that the source will sort a manually added playlist the way you expect. Check the displayed list and play through enough of it to confirm the order.
A playlist can be easier to maintain than one very long file when clips change on a regular schedule. For example, a local news channel may replace two updates while retaining a weather segment. The trade-off is that every item needs to be present and readable, and changes to the playlist need a fresh check. If you need instructions for a different tool and a playlist-first workflow, this guide to streaming multiple MP4 files with FFmpeg describes a separate approach; it is not a setting you need for VLC Video.
Use a local test to catch differences in format, aspect ratio and audio level across files. A playlist that technically advances can still look inconsistent if one clip is letterboxed and the next fills the frame, or if one recording is much louder. Set up the scene to suit the content, then watch the transition between representative files rather than checking only the first item.
Enable Loop Playlist in VLC Video
In the VLC Video source properties, enable Loop Playlist. This tells the source to start again after it has run through the media in its playlist. It is distinct from Media Source’s Loop control, which repeats a single file. Save the properties and test the playlist from the beginning through its final item, then confirm it returns to the first item.
Review the source’s visibility behaviour as well. OBS provides settings that govern whether VLC media continues, pauses or stops when the source is not visible. If your broadcast uses only one scene and the source remains visible, this may not affect normal playback. If you hide it, switch scenes or use a transition, choose and test the behaviour that fits your production rather than discovering it during the live event.
There is a practical limit to what this check proves: it confirms media playback in OBS, not the stability of your computer, connection or YouTube event. A playlist can loop correctly while the encoder stops sending, the connection drops or a file fails later. Keep a way to observe the event and respond to problems. If your objective is an always-on station rather than a monitored OBS session, compare the operating trade-offs in this guide to cloud options for looping video on YouTube Live.
Create or schedule an encoder stream in YouTube Studio
Open YouTube Studio and go to the Live Control Room. Create a live stream using the encoder workflow, or schedule one for a later time. YouTube’s encoder instructions explain that an encoder converts video for streaming on YouTube and describe the workflow for creating an encoder stream. Set the title, intended audience and privacy choice deliberately, and check the current Studio options before the event.
You can prepare a scheduled event ahead of time, which gives you a destination to test against before viewers arrive. YouTube recommends setting up encoder streams in advance: its live-streaming tips advise beginning setup at least 15 minutes before the event and creating the stream at least 2 hours ahead. These are preparation recommendations, not guarantees of connection quality or approval. For an important broadcast, leave more time if you need to check assets, rights or access with other people.
YouTube’s live-streaming tips recommend testing the encoder and checking the preview, audio and video. Confirm who can view the event and how viewers will access it. A scheduled event is not necessarily public simply because OBS is sending a signal; privacy and event settings still matter.
For encoder configuration, consult YouTube’s current recommended encoder settings and quality guidance in Studio before settling on output values. The research available for this guide notes YouTube’s recommendation for RTMPS, H.264, CBR and a two-second keyframe interval, which should not exceed four seconds. Match the video bitrate to the upload connection you can sustain, rather than selecting a value because it appears in a generic tutorial. If the available upload capacity is uncertain, test the actual connection and watch stream health before relying on it overnight.
Enter the stream URL and key in OBS
In YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room, find the encoder connection details for the event. Copy the stream URL and stream key into OBS’s stream settings. YouTube explains in its encoder setup guide how these details connect an encoder to the live stream. Use the credentials for the intended event, especially if you have several channels or scheduled broadcasts open.
Treat the stream key like a password. Do not include it in a screenshot, public document or message to people who do not need access. If you suspect it has been exposed, review the options in YouTube Studio and use the current official instructions to protect the channel. The key is not part of the video file and should not be stored in filenames or notes that will be shared.
In OBS, choose the YouTube service if available and enter the provided URL and key in the stream configuration. Save the settings, then check the selected scene and source before starting. The scene should contain the correct Media Source or VLC Video playlist, and the audio mixer should show activity. A correct key connects the encoder; it does not select the right video or guarantee the broadcast will be healthy.
If OBS reports a connection problem, check the URL and key against the current event first. Then verify that the connection can reach YouTube and that the output settings are compatible with YouTube’s current guidance. Avoid changing multiple settings at once: make one change, reconnect and observe whether the problem changes. This makes a failed test easier to diagnose than a set of simultaneous adjustments.
Check preview, go live, and stop cleanly
Start streaming from OBS when you are ready to test or broadcast. For a scheduled broadcast, wait for the incoming preview to appear in Live Control Room, check that both picture and sound are present, then select Go live. Do not treat an active OBS status by itself as confirmation that viewers can see the intended programme. The YouTube encoder workflow places the Live Control Room preview and the Go live action in the scheduled-stream process.
Before the event, check the opening, one representative section and the audio level. For a playlist, confirm the order and watch a transition; for one file, verify the loop setting and that it starts from the expected point. YouTube advises testing the stream in advance and monitoring audio and video. A scheduled event should be tested early enough to correct a wrong file, silent source or mismatched stream key without rushing.
During the stream, observe both OBS and Live Control Room for signs that the feed is arriving and that audio and picture remain present. YouTube’s indicators and interface can change, so rely on the current Studio display rather than a remembered screenshot. If something fails, distinguish among three layers: the media source in OBS, OBS’s outgoing encoder feed, and YouTube’s received live event. That basic separation helps you decide whether to restart a source, reconnect OBS or review the event itself.
To finish, end the event in Live Control Room and stop sending content from OBS. Check the broadcast has ended as intended before closing the application or shutting down the computer. YouTube says encoder streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; do not assume that statement applies to longer streams. Its DVR behaviour can also be limited or unavailable on very long streams, including streams over 12 hours, so consult YouTube’s current settings guidance if archive or rewind matters to your channel.
A loop is a media playback instruction, not a continuity plan. Computer sleep, power loss, software problems, network interruptions or an event setting can still end or disrupt a broadcast. Keep the computer awake and the connection monitored for an OBS-run session, and have a recovery plan that fits the value and length of the event.
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 loop a video on YouTube Live with OBS?
Add the local video to an OBS Media Source and enable Loop in its properties. Start the encoder feed to YouTube and check the Live Control Room preview before going live when the broadcast is scheduled. The setting repeats the file, not the entire broadcast connection.
How do I loop a playlist in OBS?
Install VLC, add a VLC Video source, put the files in the required order and enable Loop Playlist. If your OBS installation is 64-bit, install 64-bit VLC. Test the sequence and transitions before the event.
Does OBS looping guarantee an uninterrupted stream?
No. Looping controls what the source does when playback reaches the end, but it cannot prevent a computer, software, network or YouTube event problem. Monitor the encoder and Live Control Room, and plan how you will respond if the feed drops.
Will YouTube archive a looped livestream?
YouTube says encoder streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That guidance does not establish what will happen for longer streams, and DVR rewind may be limited or unavailable on very long broadcasts. Check YouTube’s current official settings before relying on an archive or rewind feature.