To loop an MKV file in OBS for YouTube Live, add it to the intended scene as a Media Source, select the local file and enable Loop. Then connect OBS to YouTube with the stream URL and key, and check the preview, picture and sound before starting the broadcast.
Loop means the file plays again when it reaches its end. It does not mean OBS will restart playback whenever the source becomes visible; that is a separate setting. You do not need to convert an MKV just to use this single-file setup.
Check the MKV is available locally
Before opening source properties, make sure the video file is stored on the computer that is running OBS. The Media Source plays a local file; YouTube receives the encoded output from OBS, not the original MKV as an uploaded live video. OBS lists MKV among the formats supported by its media sources. See the OBS Media Sources guide for the current source options.
Put the file somewhere you can find again, such as a dedicated folder for the channel’s media, rather than a temporary downloads folder that you routinely clear. If the file is on an external drive, confirm that the drive is connected before starting OBS. A source that points to a missing or moved file cannot play the intended video.
It is useful to give the file a clear name, for example morning-bhajans-loop.mkv, especially if the folder also contains edits or older versions. Check that it is the final version you mean to broadcast. If you make a change later, confirm that OBS still points to the right file rather than an earlier export with a similar name.
MKV is often discussed in connection with OBS recording because it can be more resilient if a recording is interrupted, while some editing programmes may need a remuxed file. That recording guidance is a different issue from playing an existing MKV in a Media Source. OBS’s recording output guide and audio and video formats guide explain those format considerations; they do not make conversion a prerequisite for this playback path.
Add a Media Source to the intended scene
In OBS, select the scene that you intend to send to YouTube. In the Sources panel, use the add control and choose Media Source. Give it a name that says what it contains, such as Main MKV loop, then confirm to open its properties.
The scene matters. OBS sends the active scene’s composition to the encoder, so adding the Media Source to a scene that is not selected at broadcast time will not put the file on air. If you have separate scenes for a holding screen, a programme and a break slate, decide which one should contain this video and test scene changes as part of the preview.
A readable source name helps later if the scene has additional items, such as a logo, text overlay or background. It also makes it easier to tell the media item apart from a microphone or other audio source. Keep the first test simple: confirm the file plays in the intended scene before adding overlays that could obscure the picture or complicate troubleshooting.
For a single video, OBS’s built-in Media Source is the direct route. You do not need VLC merely to loop one MKV. If your programming changes between several files, that is a different setup; the guide to scheduling a playlist change without ending a YouTube livestream may help you think through how programme changes fit into an always-on channel.
Select the file and enable Loop
In the Media Source properties, enable Local File if it is not already selected. Browse to the MKV’s location, choose the file and confirm. Then enable Loop and apply the properties. OBS describes this control as replaying the file after playback completes.
The basic choices can be checked at a glance:
| What you need | OBS source or control | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat one local MKV | Media Source with Local File and Loop | Plays the selected file again after it finishes |
| Start again when the source becomes visible | Restart playback when source becomes active | Controls playback when the source becomes active; it is distinct from Loop |
| Play a sequence of files | VLC Video source with a playlist | Provides a playlist path and requires VLC to be installed |
For one file, leave the source on the Media Source path and verify the exact filename in its properties. Loop applies to that media playback: after the final frame and audio of the file, playback begins again. YouTube is not being asked to restart a live event at that point; OBS continues sending its scene output.
If you actually need multiple files, OBS’s VLC Video source is the alternative described in its Media Sources documentation. That route depends on VLC being installed, and the OBS guide specifies 64-bit VLC when using 64-bit OBS. For one MKV, adding that dependency does not solve a problem that the built-in source does not already address.
Looping and restart-on-activation are different
OBS also has a setting labelled Restart playback when source becomes active. It controls what happens when a source becomes active, such as when it is made visible in a scene. Loop controls what happens at the end of the file. One setting does not substitute for the other.
For example, suppose a source is visible while a long devotional programme plays. If Loop is enabled, the programme starts again when it reaches its end. If you switch to a holding scene and later return to the programme scene, the restart-on-activation option determines whether the source starts from the beginning when it becomes active. Do not rely on Loop to make that decision.
Choose the activation behaviour deliberately. If each return to the scene should begin at the opening, keep Restart playback when source becomes active enabled. If you want it to resume or continue according to OBS’s behaviour when shown again, test that choice with your scene changes rather than assuming it will match your intention. Labels or behaviour can change between software versions, so check the current properties in your OBS installation.
This distinction is useful when a channel uses an intermission scene, a schedule or a short programme rotation. A scene transition can make the source active again, but only the activation setting addresses that event. For broader planning around a recurring visual schedule, see how to make an animated channel look like a TV schedule on YouTube. Whatever the arrangement, test the exact transition rather than inferring it from the Loop checkbox.
Set the YouTube stream URL and key
The Media Source controls local playback; OBS’s streaming settings connect the composed scene to YouTube. In YouTube Live Control Room, create or open the intended stream and obtain the current stream URL and stream key. In OBS, open the stream settings and choose YouTube if it is available as a service, or enter the URL and key as requested by the current interface.
Treat the stream key as confidential. YouTube explains that it identifies where the encoder should send the feed and allows YouTube to accept it; its Help page compares stream keys to a password and address. Use YouTube’s stream key instructions to find the current controls. Do not paste the key into a public post or show it in a screen recording.
Check that the stream settings in OBS match the event you opened in Live Control Room. If you use a scheduled event, connect to that event’s details rather than an old key or a different broadcast. The exact controls and labels can vary, so follow the current OBS and YouTube interfaces rather than an old screenshot.
YouTube’s guidance covers encoder setup as well as the stream key. Its recommended encoder settings include output choices such as codec, frame rate, bitrate mode and keyframe interval. Choose output quality that your connection can sustain, rather than assuming that the source file’s resolution alone determines what reaches viewers. A high-quality local file cannot compensate for an unstable upload connection.
An always-on channel also needs a routine for checking event readiness and restrictions. YouTube states that livestreaming requires a verified channel without live-streaming restrictions during the preceding 90 days; check the current livestreaming eligibility and setup guidance rather than treating an OBS configuration as approval. For channel planning beyond this one source, how to create a 24/7 YouTube Odia instrumental music channel discusses the broader choices involved in running a continuous music channel.
Preview the scene and test playback
Before going live, start the Media Source in OBS and watch the scene preview. Confirm that the picture appears, that the expected audio is present and that the image is framed as intended. Let the file play through its ending in a test so you can observe whether it starts again. A brief check of the opening alone will not confirm that Loop works at the end.
Then check YouTube Live Control Room for the incoming encoder preview. YouTube recommends preparing encoder streams in advance and checking the preview before starting. The YouTube live encoder setup guidance and current Live Control Room provide the relevant checks. Make sure the preview shows the expected scene rather than a blank canvas, an unrelated scene or desktop capture.
Listen as well as look. Check the start, a representative section with sound, and the point where playback is expected to repeat. Confirm that the source is not muted in OBS, that the intended audio reaches the stream, and that any microphone or other audio source is not unexpectedly layered over the file. A visual preview alone cannot tell you whether the mix is suitable.
Use a private or unlisted test when you need to inspect the YouTube-side result without broadcasting publicly, and understand the event’s visibility before starting. The walk-through for testing a live stream without going public covers that planning. A test is a way to catch setup mistakes, not a guarantee that the live connection will remain uninterrupted later.
During a live event, keep an eye on YouTube’s stream-health indication and OBS’s status. If the connection degrades, the local file may continue to play in OBS while YouTube receives a disrupted feed. The test should therefore include a realistic period of motion and audio and should use the network connection you expect for the actual broadcast.
Troubleshoot playback or connection issues
If the Media Source is black or shows no picture, first confirm that Local File is selected and that the path still points to the intended file. Open the properties and browse to the MKV again if it has moved. Confirm that the source is in the active scene and not hidden beneath an opaque image or colour source. Check whether the file plays in a suitable local player, but remember that success in another player does not guarantee every MKV will behave identically in OBS.
If the file plays once and stops, return to the Media Source properties and confirm Loop is checked on the correct source. It is easy to have two similarly named sources or to edit a source in another scene. Let the playback reach its end during a controlled test; do not confuse restart-on-activation with end-of-file looping.
If video is visible but audio is absent, check the source’s audio level in OBS’s mixer and make sure it is not muted. Check the file itself and listen to the YouTube preview where available. If another source is also sending sound, inspect the mix rather than assuming the MKV is silent. Changes to monitoring or audio routing should be tested in the stream preview before a public broadcast.
If OBS shows that it is streaming but YouTube does not show the expected preview, verify that OBS is connected to the correct YouTube event and that the stream URL and key are current. Re-enter credentials only through the official interfaces, and replace a key if you believe it has been exposed. Follow the Live Control Room’s status and prompts; a local preview proves that OBS can render the scene, not that YouTube has accepted the feed.
If YouTube reports stream health problems, distinguish connection trouble from file playback trouble. The source might loop normally on the computer while the upload connection struggles to carry the encoded output. Check the encoder settings against YouTube’s current recommendations and select a sustainable output quality. Avoid changing several settings at once: make one adjustment, reconnect or test as appropriate, then check the preview and health status again.
If the MKV itself fails to play or behaves unexpectedly, try a known-good test file and review the current OBS format documentation before altering the original. Do not assume that changing the extension converts the file; it does not. Some files can have characteristics that a particular playback path handles differently, so test the actual asset you plan to use and retain a backup of the source file.
For a single local file that needs to repeat through the night, it is also worth deciding who will notice and respond if the computer or connection stops. A loop setting only controls repeat playback, not the health of the whole broadcast. If having the computer switched off is the specific difficulty, StreamNeo removes that particular burden by running an uploaded video as a YouTube live stream without keeping your own computer on; it is YouTube-only. It does not change the need to check that the content and channel are ready.
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
Does OBS support MKV in a Media Source?
OBS lists MKV as a supported media format, so you can select a local MKV directly in a Media Source. A specific file can still behave differently depending on its contents, so test the actual file in OBS before relying on it for a live event.
Does Loop restart the file when I switch back to its scene?
No. Loop repeats playback after the file reaches its end. Restart playback when source becomes active is a separate control for what happens when the source becomes active, so test that setting if you move between scenes.
Do I need VLC to loop one MKV?
No. Use the built-in Media Source for one local file. VLC is relevant if you choose OBS’s VLC Video source for a playlist; that source requires VLC to be installed.
Does enabling Loop keep my YouTube stream online?
No. Loop controls playback in OBS, not the reliability of the computer, network connection or YouTube ingest. Preview the event and monitor stream health, and check current YouTube guidance if the stream reports a problem.