For a multi-file playlist in OBS, add a VLC Video Source, put your files in its playlist and leave Loop Playlist enabled. That setting restarts the source after the list runs out; it does not keep OBS, your computer, your network or YouTube online by itself.
For one file that should repeat, use Media Source and its Loop setting instead. These are separate source types for separate jobs, so choose according to whether you need one repeating file or a sequence of files.
Choose VLC Video Source for a playlist
In your scene, select VLC Video Source when you want OBS to play several local media files in sequence. The source has a playlist and a dedicated Loop Playlist control. OBS defines that control as restarting the source when it has run out of media files. The OBS media sources guide documents both VLC Video Source and Media Source settings.
Media Source is intended for a single media file. Its Loop control replays that file, rather than managing a multi-file playlist. If you have four bhajans, for example, and expect the first to play after the fourth, put the four files into a VLC Video Source playlist. If you have one long aarti recording that should start again when it ends, a looping Media Source is the simpler fit.
This distinction matters because a scene can look correct while the wrong source type is doing the work. A single file repeating is not the same behaviour as a list advancing through several files and starting over at the end. If you are deciding between a one-file repeat and a list, this single gaming VOD repeat guide covers the former pattern; here, the steps focus on the playlist source.
Looping concerns media playback inside OBS. The broadcast still depends on OBS continuing to send output, the connection carrying it, and YouTube receiving it. YouTube's encoder setup instructions treat the destination URL, stream key and encoder output as separate parts of configuring a live stream. A playlist setting is not a substitute for checking those parts.
Install VLC with matching architecture
OBS requires VLC to be installed for VLC Video Source to appear. Install VLC before configuring the source. Match its architecture to OBS: if you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC. This requirement is easy to miss when VLC is already installed for ordinary desktop playback, because the installed copy may not match OBS.
If the source is missing, check the architecture of OBS and VLC rather than repeatedly searching the add-source menu. In OBS, the application information or installer can help you identify which build you are running. Then install the corresponding VLC build and restart OBS so it can detect the dependency. Avoid making other changes until you have checked this basic requirement; it narrows down the cause without disturbing the rest of your scene setup.
You do not need VLC Video Source simply because you want a video to repeat. For one file, Media Source has its own loop control and does not require the playlist workflow described here. The guide to streaming one VOD on repeat is a useful contrast if your actual requirement is a single item rather than a rotation.
Add and order media files
Open the scene that should contain the playback, add a VLC Video Source, and give it a name that identifies its role, such as “Evening bhajan playlist”. In the source properties, add each local media file to the playlist. Arrange the files in the order you want them to play. The playlist order is the normal playback order unless you choose to shuffle it.
Use files that are available on the computer running OBS. If you move a file, rename it, disconnect a drive or change a folder, OBS may no longer be able to use the saved path. Keep the media in a stable folder and avoid reorganising it after you have tested the source. For a channel run from a small office or home computer, that simple housekeeping can prevent a playlist from failing after a routine tidy-up.
The source's Shuffle Playlist setting is separate from Loop Playlist. Shuffle is documented as off by default; turn it on only if you want the order to vary rather than follow your list. Loop Playlist is documented as on by default, but inspect the checkbox rather than assuming a preset is still in place. The FFmpeg podcast playlist troubleshooting guide discusses a different playback workflow, but the useful principle is the same: check what order the source is actually using rather than infer it from a list of filenames.
For a devotional rotation, you might keep a short opening track first, follow with the main set, and place a closing track last. If the intended order matters, leave shuffle off and verify the sequence by watching the source play. Do not use shuffle as a fix for duplicates or missing files; resolve those in the playlist itself.
Enable Loop Playlist
In the VLC Video Source properties, find Loop Playlist and make sure it is checked. OBS documents it as enabled by default and describes it as restarting the source when it has run out of media files. With the option on, the source reaches the final item and starts the playlist again. If it is off, playback can finish at the end of the list instead of returning to the beginning.
Keep that setting distinct from Loop in Media Source. A single Media Source file can replay with its own Loop option, but that does not turn Media Source into a multi-file playlist manager. For a list of songs, episodes or ambience clips, the exact combination is VLC Video Source plus its playlist plus Loop Playlist.
Do a local check before treating the setup as ready for a live audience. Confirm that the first item plays, that the next item starts, and that the end of the list returns to the first item. If you do not want to wait for a long playlist to finish, temporarily test with a few short files, then restore the intended list and order. This is a practical check of the source setting, not evidence that the full live stream will remain uninterrupted.
If you use a different workflow for a long video loop, the FFmpeg video streaming guide explains that separate approach. OBS's Loop Playlist setting is useful because it handles the list at the source level, but the playback mechanism you choose should match the way you build and maintain the channel.
Check playback and scene visibility
Start with the scene where the playlist is meant to run. Confirm that the source is enabled and positioned where viewers can see it. A source can be playing correctly but hidden behind another full-screen source, cropped outside the canvas or disabled in the active scene. Check the preview as well as the source properties before investigating YouTube.
OBS documents the VLC Video Source visibility behaviour as Stop when not visible, restart when visible by default. This is independent of Loop Playlist. If the source is hidden by switching scenes or toggling its visibility, it may stop and restart when it becomes visible again. That can be useful when playback should begin from the start on reappearance, but it is different from reaching the end of the playlist and repeating it.
For a single-scene 24/7 channel, leave the playlist source visible in that active scene. If your production uses several scenes, decide whether the playlist should stop while another scene is on air or continue to play in the background. Test the transition deliberately; do not assume visibility behaviour and playlist looping are the same control.
Then test the actual encoder path separately. OBS preview confirms local composition, not delivery to YouTube. In YouTube Studio, verify that the live control room receives the encoder feed after you configure the server URL and stream key in OBS. YouTube's live encoder setup help describes connecting an encoder to a live stream. For practical alternatives to managing a computer and encoder, streaming a playlist from a Linux VPS describes a different operating model; it is not a necessary purchase or prerequisite for OBS looping.
A local recording can help diagnose what OBS produced, and it can preserve a copy if the platform archive is incomplete. YouTube says streams over 12 hours may not be captured at all and recommends keeping a local archive backup when preservation matters. Read its current archive live streams guidance before relying on an automatic archive. A local file will use storage, so choose that option based on whether you need a copy, not as a cure for stream interruptions.
Troubleshoot a missing VLC source
If VLC Video Source does not appear in OBS's add-source list, confirm first that VLC is installed. Then check that its architecture matches OBS. The common case described in OBS documentation is 64-bit OBS paired with 64-bit VLC. Restart OBS after installation and check the list again.
If the source appears but the playlist is blank or does not play, look at the file paths and the media files themselves. Confirm that the files still exist in the locations added to the playlist and can be opened on the same machine. Add one known-good file to isolate a path or file issue, then restore the complete playlist. If the order seems wrong, inspect the entries and shuffle setting rather than changing Loop Playlist.
If the source plays in preview but viewers see a blank or frozen stream, separate the diagnosis into layers. First check that the source is visible in the active scene. Next check that OBS is still sending output and that YouTube is receiving it. A loop setting can restart the media source when its list ends, but it cannot by itself restore a stopped encoder session, repair a network connection or guarantee that YouTube continues to receive the broadcast.
If you are evaluating a fully managed way to keep a file-based channel running while your own computer is off, StreamNeo removes the need to leave OBS playing on that computer by running an uploaded file as a YouTube live stream; the playlist setting in OBS remains the free, direct solution for local multi-file playback.
What playlist looping does not guarantee
A source loop is a content setting, not an uptime promise. The VLC Video Source can repeat its list while OBS is running and the source remains available, but a 24/7 stream also depends on the encoder session, the computer, power, network and YouTube's receiving side. Treat each as a separate point to monitor. If playback has stopped, establish whether the source ran out of files, became hidden, or whether OBS stopped sending output before changing the playlist.
YouTube's archive is another separate concern. Its help page says that streams exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all, and recommends keeping a local archive backup. If you need a record of a long broadcast, make a local recording and confirm that it is being saved where you expect. Do not assume that a looping OBS source means YouTube will retain a complete archive.
Viewer controls have their own limits too. YouTube says DVR rewind and pause can be limited or unavailable on streams longer than 12 hours. If viewers need to revisit a particular devotional segment or programme, consider publishing a separate recording or using a schedule that suits that need; do not promise that they can rewind through an uninterrupted 24/7 stream.
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FAQ
How do I make an OBS playlist loop automatically?
Add a VLC Video Source, add your files to its playlist and ensure Loop Playlist is checked. OBS documents the control as restarting the source when it has run out of media files. Test that the last item returns to the first in the intended scene.
Can Media Source loop several files?
Media Source's Loop control is for repeating one file, not for looping a multi-file playlist. Use VLC Video Source when you need a playlist with several files. Choose the source type based on whether you have one item or a sequence.
Why can’t I see VLC Video Source in OBS?
OBS requires VLC to be installed, and the architecture should match. In particular, pair 64-bit OBS with 64-bit VLC, then restart OBS and check the source menu again. If it still does not appear, verify the installed builds before changing scene settings.
Does Loop Playlist keep a YouTube stream live all night?
No. It controls what the VLC source does when its list ends; it does not guarantee that OBS, the computer, network or YouTube stays connected. Check the encoder feed separately, and keep a local recording if you need an archive of a long stream.