If you want OBS to play several local gaming VODs one after another on a YouTube Live stream, use its VLC Video source, add the videos to that source’s playlist, and enable Loop Playlist. Turn on Shuffle Playlist only if you want the order to change rather than follow the list.
The “text file playlist” part needs a qualification: the OBS documentation reviewed here describes adding media items to a VLC Video source, but does not establish that OBS imports a separate plain-text or M3U playlist file. A Text Source that reads a file is for displaying text, not for queuing video. The steps below cover the documented workflow without assuming an undocumented import method.
What “text file playlist” means in OBS
A playlist can mean two different things in this context. One is a media queue: a sequence of video files that OBS plays in turn. The other is a text document, perhaps containing file paths, that software might interpret as a playlist. OBS documents the first through VLC Video; the documentation does not confirm the second for this source.
That distinction matters if you have a file containing one VOD path per line, or an M3U file exported by another player. Do not assume that selecting VLC Video will load that document, that OBS will understand its syntax, or that changing the document will update the queue. The official OBS Media Sources documentation explains the playlist controls within the source, but it does not document an external text-file import procedure.
For the supported workflow, add the local files through the VLC Video source’s playlist controls in OBS. You can then arrange the entries and set how they repeat. If a text file is essential to your workflow, first verify its behaviour against the exact OBS version you use, rather than relying on a tutorial or instructions written for a different plugin or release.
A media playlist is also not the same as a YouTube playlist. Here, OBS is selecting which local video appears in the broadcast. YouTube receives the resulting live video; OBS’s local playback queue does not, by itself, change the live event’s title, game category, description, or other metadata. Keep playback and stream configuration as separate jobs.
Install VLC with the right architecture
OBS needs VLC installed for the VLC Video source to be available. OBS specifically notes that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. If the source is missing from the add-source menu, check the VLC installation and architecture before troubleshooting the playlist itself.
Install VLC from its official download page, then close and reopen OBS if it was already running during installation. OBS’s Sources Guide describes how sources are added to scenes; the exact menu appearance can vary by software version and operating system. Avoid assuming a particular installer screen or source label will look identical on every machine.
Before you proceed, check that the VODs are available as local files and can play normally. A video stored on a removable drive or network location may become unavailable if that drive disconnects or its mount point changes. For a channel that should continue unattended overnight, keep the files in a stable location and test that location after a reboot or sign-in change.
Also confirm that the VOD files are yours to rebroadcast. A recording of a game session can still contain music, cut-scenes, or other material controlled by someone else. YouTube says live streams are scanned for matches to third-party content; detected material may lead to a placeholder or interruption. Its live-stream copyright guidance also explains that licensed content may require the rights owner to allowlist your channel through Content ID. A local copy and a working playlist do not establish permission.
Add local VODs to a VLC Video source
Open the scene that should show the gaming videos. In the Sources panel, use the add control and select VLC Video. Give the source a name that will still make sense when you return to the scene later, such as “Gameplay rotation”. The name is for your OBS project; it does not change what viewers see.
In the source properties, use the playlist controls to add the video files you intend to play. Select them from their local folders and review the resulting list. OBS describes VLC Video as allowing a playlist of items, unlike the ordinary Media Source, which is designed around an individual media item. This is why VLC Video is the documented choice when you have several files to rotate.
Check the entries, not just the number of them. Remove a duplicate if you did not intend to schedule the same VOD twice, and make sure there is no short test clip or unrelated file at the top. If the list has a meaningful sequence—perhaps a tournament recap followed by match analysis—arrange it in that order before enabling playback.
A playlist only determines which media OBS attempts to play. It does not guarantee that every file will decode correctly or look right in the scene. Confirm the source fits the canvas, that its audio is routed as expected, and that no overlays cover important gameplay text. If you are preparing a sequence with captions or explanatory labels, the separate workflow for adding subtitles to prerecorded videos may help you think through how text should appear, but it does not change the VLC playlist controls.
For a single VOD, consider using Media Source instead. Its Loop control repeats that one media item. This is simpler when there is no sequence to manage; it is not a substitute for VLC Video’s multi-item playlist when you need several VODs.
Enable Loop Playlist for continuous playback
In the VLC Video source properties, enable Loop Playlist if you want playback to return to the first item after the last item finishes. Without that setting, a finite list can reach its end rather than beginning again. Confirm the control’s current label in your OBS version, since interface wording can change.
Looping does not mean that each VOD is restarted immediately after its first play. The intended behaviour is to progress through the playlist and then repeat the playlist. If there are three entries, for example, the source plays through those entries and returns to the start once it has exhausted the list, subject to each file being readable and playback continuing normally.
For one file, Media Source has a separate Loop setting. The two controls address different setups: a single source item that repeats, or a VLC Video playlist that repeats as a sequence. When you are deciding between them, compare the practical choices:
| Setup | Number of files | Repeat control | Order | Useful when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Media Source | One | Loop | The same file repeats | You want one VOD or one background video to run again |
| VLC Video | Multiple | Loop Playlist | List order, unless shuffled | You want several local VODs to play in sequence and repeat |
Treat the table as a distinction between documented source types, not a claim that every video format behaves identically on every computer. Test your actual files in OBS. A source that appears configured correctly can still be silent, fail to decode, or show a different aspect ratio than expected.
If your aim is a long-running channel, a repeating playlist can make content rotation easier to manage, but it cannot repair a stream that loses connectivity or drops frames. Keep those failure modes separate: this guide is about local media selection, while reducing OBS GPU use on a nonstop stream addresses another part of the operating workload.
Choose whether to shuffle
Leave Shuffle Playlist off when you want the entries to play in the order you arranged. That is usually the easier setting to understand when a series has an editorial sequence, when you want a particular VOD to follow another, or when you are checking that the queue works. With shuffle off, the playlist order is visible and repeatable as a planned sequence.
Enable Shuffle Playlist if a randomized sequence is the point. This changes the ordering behaviour; it is not a way to import a playlist or make a text file update the queue. If the channel has a daily structure, such as a warm-up stream followed by a main session, random ordering may undermine that structure. If the VODs are interchangeable, shuffle may be acceptable, but test it and decide whether the resulting transitions suit your channel.
For a community channel, think about what viewers expect when they return. A predictable progression can help someone find a particular session or understand that the stream has restarted. A randomized rotation can reduce repetition in the immediate sequence, but it may place two similar videos together or delay one that viewers expect. These are editorial trade-offs, not technical guarantees about what a viewer will see at a particular time.
OBS also provides a Visibility Behaviour setting for VLC Video. It governs what happens to playback when the source is hidden in a scene, with options affecting whether playback continues, pauses, or stops. Decide based on your scene design: if the source is hidden briefly during a transition, continuing may mean the video advances off-screen; pausing or stopping may better fit a deliberate scene change. Check the setting in your version and test it by switching scenes before going live.
Keep Text Source separate from a media playlist
OBS has a Text Source that can display text, including text read from a file. That can be useful for an on-screen label such as “Now playing”, a schedule, or a short notice, depending on how you configure and update it. It does not turn the text document into a queue of media files.
The distinction is easy to blur because both workflows may involve a file. In one case, a source reads text to render characters on the canvas. In the other, VLC Video holds media items to play. The official documentation reviewed for this article does not establish that VLC Video imports M3U or plain-text playlists, what syntax such files would need, whether paths can be relative, or whether edits are reloaded while OBS is running.
Do not build a live workflow around assumptions on those points. If you have found a particular plugin or version-specific method that reads a text file, treat it as a separate implementation and check its current documentation, maintenance status, and compatibility with your OBS release. In the meantime, add the VODs directly to the VLC Video source using the documented controls.
This also avoids a common metadata misunderstanding. A text overlay that says “Now playing: Match 4” will not necessarily update itself when VLC Video advances; nor does the OBS playlist automatically update YouTube’s title or game selection. Unless you have independently verified an automation method, treat labels as manually maintained text and YouTube event details as settings in YouTube Studio.
Test order and playback before streaming
Test the scene while you are not live. Start playback and watch at least one transition from one VOD to the next. Confirm the order, image framing, audio levels, and that the next item appears as expected. Then test the end of the playlist if practical, so you know whether Loop Playlist returns to the beginning in your setup.
Also test the hidden-source behaviour you chose. Hide the source or switch to another scene and return. Observe whether the video continued, paused, or stopped, then decide whether that matches the way you intend to use scenes. This small check can reveal a sequence advancing while viewers cannot see it, which matters if the source is meant to resume at a particular moment.
Check the live output path as well as the OBS preview. Use a private or unlisted test event if appropriate for your channel and account settings, and verify what reaches the stream, including sound. Do not infer from the preview alone that YouTube has accepted or will preserve every item in the broadcast. YouTube’s copyright systems can identify third-party material during live streaming, and a stream may be interrupted even when the local playlist is functioning correctly.
Gaming content also has a separate monetization question. YouTube’s guidance says video-game content may be monetized depending on commercial-use rights granted by the publisher. It notes that simple gameplay may not qualify without appropriate rights, while commentary may need to be tied to the action and provide instructional or educational value. Check YouTube’s current video game and software content policy and the relevant publisher terms for your specific game. Playlist automation does not grant rights or make a channel eligible for monetization.
If you are planning a broader channel with recorded sessions, consider the audience and cadence as well as the queue. The practical discussion in whether a 24/7 stream can help an educational channel grow is relevant to the decision to keep a continuous broadcast, while streaming a YouTube playlist continuously with OBS is a separate topic from a local VLC Video playlist. Do not conflate YouTube-hosted playlists with local VOD playback in OBS.
For unattended operation, consider what happens when the computer restarts, OBS closes, or a file is moved. This workflow depends on OBS remaining open and able to access its media; a local playlist does not itself restart the broadcast after a computer failure. If you need the computer off, StreamNeo removes the specific burden of keeping your own machine running to carry an uploaded video as a 24/7 YouTube stream; it is YouTube-only and does not replace the need to check your media rights or live-event settings.
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
Can OBS play a plain-text or M3U playlist of gaming VODs?
The OBS documentation reviewed here does not establish that VLC Video imports a separate plain-text or M3U file. It documents adding media items to the source’s own playlist. Do not rely on a file format, path syntax, or automatic reload behaviour without checking current, version-specific documentation.
Should I use Media Source or VLC Video?
Use Media Source when you have one video and want its Loop control to repeat it. Use VLC Video when you have several media items to manage as a playlist, with Loop Playlist for repeating the sequence. Test your files in the installed OBS version before relying on either source live.
Does Shuffle Playlist change my YouTube title or game category?
No such metadata behaviour is established by the reviewed OBS documentation. Shuffle concerns the order of media playback in the source. Configure and verify YouTube event details separately in YouTube Studio.
Does looping a VOD make it safe to rebroadcast or monetise?
No. A working loop does not grant rights to game footage, music, or other third-party material, and it does not establish monetization eligibility. Check YouTube’s current policies and the applicable publisher terms before broadcasting.