To play a recorded gaming video on YouTube Live, add it to an OBS scene as a Media Source, choose its playback behaviour, then send the scene to YouTube using the stream URL and key. You do not need a capture card for a file already saved on your computer.
For an overnight broadcast, setting the video to loop is only one part of the job. You also need to test the feed, plan for interruptions, understand YouTube’s archive limit, and keep a local recording if the replay matters.
Prepare the gaming video and OBS scene
Start with the file you want viewers to see. Check that it plays from beginning to end on your computer, that its audio is present, and that the picture has the framing you want. If the recording contains a long pause, loading screen, desktop view or personal information, edit or replace it before broadcasting. OBS will send what the file contains; it will not clean up the footage for you.
Open OBS and create a scene, or choose an existing one. A scene is the composition sent to the stream. It might contain only the replay, or it might combine the replay with a logo, a title, a webcam, commentary or other graphics. Keep the first test simple: add only the elements you intend to use, so that it is easier to identify a misplaced source or unexpected audio.
In the Sources dock, select the plus button and choose Media Source. Give the source a recognisable name, select the local video file, and confirm. OBS documents common formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI and WebM, among others; if the file will not load or behaves oddly, check the OBS Media Sources guide for current format and playback details.
A local file is not the same as a live console signal. If you want OBS to receive a console’s live output, you may need a capture device and a video-capture source. For a replay saved on the computer, Media Source is the direct route. The distinction is also useful when following guidance on choosing a capture card: that equipment addresses external-device capture, not file playback.
Before broadcasting, consider the rights in both the game footage and its audio. A game recording may include licensed music or other material with separate permissions. YouTube’s livestream terms put responsibility on the content provider to have the necessary rights for live content, including music rights. That is not a determination of any particular game’s licence; check the terms that apply to your content.
Choose how the replay plays
With the Media Source properties open, decide whether the clip should play once or repeat. Enable Loop if you want the file to start again when it reaches the end. If you are testing a single run, leave looping off and watch what happens at the end. A stream can remain active even when the source has finished, which may leave an empty scene or a final frame on screen.
The Restart playback when source becomes active setting controls what happens when the source is shown again after being hidden or after changing scenes. If you want each return to the replay to begin at the start, enable it and test a scene change. If you want playback to continue from where it was, avoid a restart you do not intend. Show nothing when playback ends can prevent the last frame from staying visible after a non-looping clip ends.
For one recorded video, the regular Media Source is usually the simplest choice. If you want to rotate through several clips, OBS also has a VLC Video Source that can play a playlist and offers loop and shuffle controls; it requires VLC to be installed, with the OBS and VLC architectures compatible. For a closer comparison of the workflows, see OBS playlist source versus VLC for looping videos.
Now arrange the source order. OBS draws sources higher in the list over sources beneath them. Put the replay above a game capture if it should cover the game, or below a logo or border that should remain visible. Use the eye icon to hide and show sources. Do not assume a source is absent just because it is covered by another one: check the preview and the source list when a layer seems to have disappeared. The OBS Sources Guide explains source ordering and visibility.
Configure OBS for YouTube Live
Choose video and output settings that your computer and internet connection can sustain. OBS’s Auto-Configuration Wizard can provide a starting point based on your hardware and network; it is a starting point, not a guarantee that an overnight broadcast will stay stable. You can follow the checks in the OBS Quick Start Guide, then run a test before going live.
YouTube’s encoder recommendations depend on the stream format and desired quality. Its current encoder settings guidance recommends CBR and a two-second keyframe interval, and says not to exceed four seconds. It allows up to 60 frames per second. Do not copy a bitrate from somebody else’s setup as if it were universal: resolution, frame rate, codec and the available upload capacity all affect the appropriate choice.
Your upload connection has to carry the outgoing stream steadily, including during the hours when other people or devices in the home may be online. YouTube recommends testing upload capacity and allowing headroom for network variability; its streaming tips say total bitrate should not exceed available upload bandwidth and recommend 20% headroom. Treat that as a planning guide, not a promise of uninterrupted service. If the connection fluctuates, lower the output demand and test again rather than relying on a best-case speed reading.
Check OBS’s audio meters while the clip plays. A video can look correct in the preview but be silent because its audio is muted, routed unexpectedly or competing with another source. Decide whether game audio, commentary and any separate music should all be heard; then listen on headphones and test at the level viewers will receive. If you add a microphone, avoid leaving it live overnight unless that is intentional.
Connect using the stream URL and key
In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or select the live stream you intend to use. YouTube provides a stream URL and stream key for the encoder connection. In OBS, open Settings, choose Stream, select the appropriate service configuration, and enter the details shown for the stream. Interface labels can change, so use YouTube’s current live stream settings instructions if your screens do not match.
Treat the stream key like a password. It identifies the feed sent to your channel, so do not paste it into a public chat, screenshot or shared document. If it is exposed, use YouTube’s controls to replace it and update OBS before the next broadcast. Be careful when switching between test and public streams: confirm that the selected key belongs to the intended destination before sending video.
You can save the connection details in OBS so you do not have to enter them for every session. That convenience also means you should secure access to the computer and OBS profile. If you share the computer with another person, make sure they understand that starting the stream sends the configured scene to the channel.
A stream key is not a substitute for checking the stream destination. Confirm the selected stream in Live Control Room, its visibility and any scheduled start details. If you are working through a separate streaming tool as well as OBS, avoid sending two encoders to the same destination at once; how YouTube stream keys work across services is relevant when you need to manage more than one connection.
Preview the incoming feed before starting
After OBS connects, wait for YouTube Live Control Room to show the incoming feed and preview it before starting the public broadcast. YouTube’s workflow distinguishes receiving an encoder signal from starting the stream for viewers. Use that pause to check the actual incoming picture and sound, not only what OBS shows locally.
Watch enough of the clip to confirm that the right file is playing, the loop begins as expected, and the scene layers are in the right order. Listen for game audio, microphone sound and unwanted desktop or notification noises. Check that any graphics remain readable and that no source is hidden or cropped. For an overnight session, test the end of the clip and the transition back to its beginning; a loop that works in a short preview may still reveal a black frame or audio gap at the boundary.
If you plan to include a live game capture as well as a prerecorded clip, test each scene separately. Game Capture is Windows-only in OBS; other systems use the relevant display, window or platform capture source. This does not change how a local Media Source works, but it matters if your composition alternates between a file and a live game.
Do a private or otherwise limited test when you need to check a real stream without presenting it publicly. Confirm YouTube’s current controls and visibility options before relying on them. OBS also recommends checking audio and testing before a first live session. A short test can catch routing or scene errors, but it does not prove that a connection, computer or power supply will behave the same way all night.
Plan for overnight monitoring and continuity
OBS running on a home computer depends on that computer, its power, the network connection and the application remaining available. Sleep settings, operating system updates, a household router reboot or a loose cable can interrupt the feed. Before leaving a session unattended, set the computer not to sleep during the planned broadcast, disable disruptive scheduled restarts where appropriate, and make sure the power connection is secure. Keep in mind that these preparations reduce avoidable interruptions; they cannot guarantee that the stream will stay live overnight.
Think through what you will do if the preview or broadcast drops. Know how to check OBS, Live Control Room and the network connection, and who can reach the setup if you are away. If someone else is responsible for responding, give them a straightforward checklist and make sure they can access the necessary account and computer safely. A plan that depends on you noticing a notification while asleep is not much of a plan.
There is a practical trade-off between running OBS locally and arranging a continuous broadcast elsewhere. Local OBS gives you direct control of scenes and makes it easy to combine the replay with live elements, but the computer and home connection remain part of the chain. A cloud-based approach can remove the need to leave your own computer on, but may be less suited to interactive scenes that depend on live local sources. For the broader trade-off, see OBS or a VPS for a 24/7 YouTube channel.
If the main difficulty is leaving a computer running just to repeat a prepared video, StreamNeo can run an uploaded file as a YouTube live stream without keeping your own computer on; that removes the local overnight power and sleep-setting burden, but it does not replace checking rights, the channel setup or whether a local OBS scene is what you need.
Understand the 12-hour archive caveat
Keeping a feed live and keeping a complete replay are separate problems. YouTube advises that streams under 12 hours can be automatically archived, while streams longer than 12 hours may not be captured at all. Do not assume that a long overnight or continuous broadcast will produce a complete recording in YouTube Studio. The platform’s behaviour and guidance can change, so check its current help before you depend on an archive.
If you need a replay, plan the broadcast around that limitation rather than treating an archive as guaranteed. A session shorter than 12 hours is within YouTube’s stated archive guidance, but that still does not promise a complete replay in every circumstance. For a channel that needs to run continuously, consider dividing the content into separate sessions if that suits the schedule, then verify that each session appears in the channel’s video list.
Also decide what “replay” means for your audience. A looped stream may present the same gameplay segment repeatedly during the live broadcast, whereas the archive may show the entire time the stream was active, including repeated passes, pauses or interruptions. If you want viewers to watch one edited gaming video, uploading that video separately may be clearer than relying on a long live archive.
Make a local recording backup
When the recording matters, save a local copy rather than depending only on YouTube’s archive. OBS can record to disk while streaming, but a local recording adds work for the computer: it needs storage space and must be able to encode both outputs. Test the combination before an important broadcast, check that the recording file opens, and confirm that its audio and picture are intact.
Choose a recording location with enough free space for the planned session, and avoid a drive that may fill or disconnect while the stream is running. File size depends on recording settings and programme content, so do not assume an exact amount without testing your own configuration. If the recording is valuable, use a separate backup after the session as well; a file on the same computer is not protected from that computer failing or being lost.
A local recording is not a substitute for the live feed, and recording can itself fail if the computer runs out of space, overheats or loses power. Check OBS’s recording status during the test and inspect the resulting file from beginning to end, including sound. If the machine is already under load from a game, encoder and recording, lower settings or use a different capture plan and test again.
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FAQ
How do I loop a video in OBS?
Add the file as a Media Source, open its properties and enable Loop. Preview the end and beginning to check how the transition looks and sounds. For several files, consider a VLC Video Source playlist and test its order and loop behaviour before going live.
How do I play a video on my YouTube live stream?
Add the local video as a Media Source in an OBS scene, then connect OBS to YouTube using the stream URL and key shown in Live Control Room. Preview the incoming feed and check its picture and sound before starting the broadcast. A capture card is not needed for a file stored on the computer.
Do I need a capture card to stream a recorded gaming video?
No, not when the recording is already a local file: OBS can play it through Media Source. A capture card is for bringing in a live signal from an external console or device. Confirm which workflow you are using before buying equipment.
Will YouTube save the whole replay of an overnight stream?
Do not count on a complete archive for a stream longer than 12 hours; YouTube says such streams may not be captured. Even shorter sessions should not be treated as a guaranteed complete replay. If the recording matters, make and check a local backup.