To restart a recorded lesson sequence after its final video, add an OBS VLC Video Source, put the lessons in the intended order, and enable Loop Playlist in the source properties. VLC must be installed for this source to be available; if you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC.
The setting loops the playlist when its media files have run out. It is different from the Loop option on a standard Media Source, which repeats one file. A playlist loop controls the video source’s playback; it does not guarantee an uninterrupted YouTube stream.
Install VLC and match OBS architecture
The VLC Video Source depends on VLC being installed on the computer running OBS. If the source is missing from the Sources dock’s add menu, check for VLC before troubleshooting OBS settings. OBS’s Media Sources documentation says that the VLC Video Source requires VLC, and that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. Match the architecture rather than installing the first VLC download you find.
You can check whether you have 32-bit or 64-bit OBS in OBS’s About information. Then download VLC from VideoLAN’s official site. Close OBS before installing or updating VLC, then reopen OBS so it can detect the dependency. If VLC is already installed but the source remains unavailable, verify that OBS and VLC have matching architectures and that both applications are installed on the same computer account you use to run OBS.
The VLC Video Source is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux, but installation steps differ by operating system. On a managed or older computer, you may need an administrator to install VLC. Check the current OBS documentation and your operating system’s package instructions if the source still does not appear; labels and installation behaviour can change between releases.
Add a VLC Video Source
In OBS, go to the Sources dock and click +. Choose VLC Video Source from the list, give it a recognisable name such as Recorded lessons, and confirm. OBS’s Sources Guide describes adding sources through this plus control. Naming the source clearly helps later if a scene contains several media items or other sources.
The source needs to be visible in the scene for viewers to see it. If you already have a camera, image or background source, arrange the VLC Video Source in the Sources list so it appears above the background but does not cover anything that should remain visible. OBS draws sources in order, so you can drag them to change what sits in front. For a lesson video that fills the frame, check the preview and use the source’s transform controls to fit it to the canvas.
Do not choose Media Source simply because it sounds similar. Media Source is intended for a local media file and has a Loop control for replaying that file. VLC Video Source is the documented built-in choice for a playlist of multiple items and has its separate Loop Playlist control. The distinction matters: repeating the first lesson forever is not the same as playing a sequence and returning to its beginning after the last lesson.
Add lesson files to the playlist
Select the VLC Video Source and open its properties. Add the recorded lesson files to the playlist there. The OBS documentation describes VLC Video Source as supporting a playlist of media items. The exact control labels may differ slightly across OBS versions, so use the current properties window and consult the OBS Media Sources guide if you cannot locate the playlist controls.
Choose the actual files you intend to broadcast, not shortcuts whose target may later move. If the videos are kept on an external drive, make sure it will remain connected whenever OBS is running. A file that is renamed, moved or unavailable at playback time cannot be treated as a reliable lesson in the sequence. For a channel used overnight, test with the computer and storage arrangement you expect to use, rather than with temporary files on a desktop that you plan to tidy later.
Keep a simple record of the intended sequence outside OBS, such as a text note with lesson titles in order. This makes it easier to rebuild the list if a source needs to be recreated. If lesson filenames are similar, open the files once in a media player and confirm their contents; filenames alone can be misleading when several versions have been exported.
Arrange the intended playback order
Order is part of the setup. Add the files in the sequence in which viewers should see them, then inspect the playlist in the VLC Video Source properties. If the interface permits reordering, move items until the list matches your plan. Do not assume alphabetical filenames will match the teaching order: lesson 10 can sort before lesson 2, and files may carry dates or export suffixes that obscure their place.
For deterministic playback, leave Shuffle Playlist off. OBS documents shuffle as a distinct option, separate from Loop Playlist, and its default is off. The loop setting means start again once the list is exhausted; shuffle changes which item comes next. If learners expect a course to progress from introduction to practice and then recap, shuffle would defeat that sequence even though the playlist still repeats.
| OBS choice | What it repeats or changes | Suitable use |
|---|---|---|
| Media Source with Loop | Replays the selected single file | One lesson or a standalone recording that should repeat |
| VLC Video Source with Loop Playlist | Starts the multi-item list again after its final file | A fixed sequence of recorded lessons |
| VLC Video Source with Shuffle Playlist enabled | Randomises the playlist order | A collection where order is not important |
Treat the table as a behaviour comparison, not a guarantee about every media format. Test your own files in OBS, especially if their durations, audio tracks or codecs differ. If a fixed course order matters, keep shuffle off and verify the first few transitions as well as the final-to-first return.
Enable Loop Playlist
Open the VLC Video Source properties and turn on Loop Playlist. OBS describes that control as determining whether the source restarts when it has run out of media files. In practical terms, after the last file completes, OBS begins the playlist again from its start. The first lesson will follow the final lesson without requiring you to manually select it.
This control applies to the full list, not just the file currently playing. There is no need to enable the single-file Media Source’s Loop option as well; that is a separate source type and behaviour. Once Loop Playlist is enabled, review the order and the shuffle control together. A correctly enabled loop with shuffle on will restart the collection, but it may not preserve your planned teaching order.
Click OK or otherwise apply the properties change, then save your OBS scene collection. If you maintain more than one scene collection, confirm you are editing the one used for the YouTube channel. Reopen the properties once to check the setting persisted. These small checks reduce the chance that a correct test in one collection is lost when you return to the live setup.
For users who need to edit a playlist while playback continues or want other playlist controls, a third-party plugin may be relevant. The Media Playlist Source resource on the OBS Forums is a separate project, not the built-in VLC source; check its current compatibility notes before installing it. For the specific job of restarting an ordered list at its end, start with OBS’s built-in VLC Video Source and avoid adding a plugin unless you need its extra behaviour.
Test the transition after the final video
Do not rely on the checkbox alone. Use short test clips, or seek close to the end of the last lesson, and observe what the source does when that file completes. Confirm it advances through the list in order and returns to the first item after the final item. Seeking is useful for a quick check, but a full playback test is more informative because it also exercises the actual file endings and transitions.
Watch the OBS preview during the return to the first lesson. Look for a black frame, an unexpected gap, an error message, an audio cut or a file that does not load. The setting controls whether the source restarts its playlist; it does not repair a damaged file or make incompatible media playable. If one item fails, test that file on its own and confirm it can play locally before rebuilding the whole list.
Check sound as well as picture. A lesson may have a different audio level, a silent opening or an ending that leaves a pause before the next file. If you use a separate audio source in OBS, verify that it is not duplicating the lesson’s embedded audio. The guide to OBS audio drift in a long-running stream covers a different long-duration problem, but it is a useful reminder to monitor both audio and video rather than judging the loop from the picture alone.
When the transition behaves differently from expectation, review these points in order: VLC is installed and architecture-matched; the source is VLC Video Source rather than Media Source; all intended files are present; their order is correct; shuffle is off if order matters; and Loop Playlist is enabled. Make one change at a time, then test again. This isolates a wrong file or option more effectively than replacing several settings at once.
Connect and preview the YouTube stream
Once local playback is right, connect OBS to the YouTube live setup you intend to use and check the OBS preview before going live. Keep the lesson playlist and stream connection as separate things in your mind: the source can loop correctly while the encoder, internet connection or YouTube broadcast has a problem. Conversely, a healthy broadcast does not prove that the playlist will return to its first lesson correctly.
Use YouTube’s current streaming setup guidance to configure the broadcast and confirm the destination and visibility before starting. Avoid exposing a stream key in screenshots or notes. Once connected, watch the preview for a complete pass through the end-to-start transition if practical, and check that the title, audio and framing are right for viewers who may join midway through a lesson.
If your goal is an always-on channel, also plan for what happens when the computer, OBS or connection stops. Loop Playlist only addresses the local media sequence; it cannot restart a disconnected YouTube broadcast. For context on a different way to run a continuously repeating playlist, see the Hindi news clips workflow using FFmpeg. If you use OBS on a small computer for a long session, the Raspberry Pi heat guide covers a separate operational concern.
OBS is useful when you want local control over scenes, graphics, audio and the live connection. The trade-off is that the machine running OBS must remain ready to play the files and send the stream. If keeping that computer on is the specific burden you want to remove, StreamNeo lets you upload a video, provide your YouTube stream key and run a file-based stream without leaving your own computer switched on; it does not replace this OBS playlist configuration question or change the fact that the channel is YouTube-only.
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 make OBS loop a playlist?
Use a VLC Video Source, add the media files in the required order, and enable Loop Playlist in its properties. VLC needs to be installed, and 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. Keep shuffle off when the order must stay fixed.
Why can’t I see VLC Video Source in OBS?
The source requires VLC to be installed. Check that VLC and OBS have matching architectures, particularly that both are 64-bit if you use 64-bit OBS, then restart OBS and look again in the Sources add menu.
Is Loop Playlist the same as Loop in Media Source?
No. Media Source’s Loop repeats one selected file, while VLC Video Source’s Loop Playlist restarts a multi-item sequence after its final media file. Choose based on whether you need one recording or a series of lessons.
Does looping keep my YouTube live stream running?
No. Loop Playlist controls media playback within the OBS source; it does not guarantee that OBS remains open, the computer stays on, the connection holds, or YouTube continues receiving the broadcast. Test those parts separately and check YouTube’s current guidance for the live setup.