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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To repeat a prerecorded video on a YouTube live stream, loop the file in an encoder such as OBS Studio. In OBS, add the video as a Media Source and enable Loop. Then connect OBS to YouTube with the stream URL and stream key. YouTube’s playback loop is different: it repeats a video for a viewer, but does not send that video out as a live broadcast.
What you need before you start
- A YouTube channel eligible for live streaming. YouTube says the channel must be verified and must not have had live-streaming restrictions in the past 90 days. First-time activation may take up to 24 hours, so enable it ahead of your planned stream. YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance
- A prerecorded video file available to OBS on the computer that will run the stream.
- OBS Studio and the stream URL and stream key from YouTube Studio.
- A computer and internet connection capable of sending the stream for as long as you intend to run it.
Set up an automatically repeating stream in OBS
- Open YouTube Live Control Room. In YouTube Studio, create or schedule a live stream using an encoder. Find the stream URL and stream key in the stream settings. Keep the key private: YouTube describes it as similar to a password and address. YouTube’s encoder setup instructions
- Make an OBS scene for the video. In OBS, select or create a scene. Under Sources, add a Media Source and choose the prerecorded file.
- Enable looping. In the Media Source properties, turn on Loop. OBS defines this setting as replaying the file when playback completes. Confirm the source includes the audio you want, and check the preview for framing and visible overlays. OBS Project: Media Sources
- Connect OBS to YouTube. In OBS stream settings, select the custom streaming service option if needed, then enter YouTube’s stream URL and stream key. Do not share or publish the key.
- Start the encoder and check YouTube’s preview. Start streaming in OBS so it sends the feed to YouTube. Review the Live Control Room preview and stream health before making the broadcast public or announcing it.
- Test before relying on the loop. Run a representative test with motion and audio, and watch for dropped frames, interruptions, or audio problems. YouTube recommends testing streams, monitoring stream health, using RTMPS where available, and keeping a local recording or archive backup. YouTube’s encoder settings and stream-health guidance
Choose settings that fit your connection and encoder
There is no single bitrate or video codec that is right for every setup. YouTube’s encoder guidance includes H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1, but what you can use depends on the encoder and hardware in your workflow. Start with settings your encoder supports and your upload connection can sustain, then use YouTube’s stream-health feedback and a test broadcast to identify problems. YouTube recommends RTMPS for secure ingestion; use it when the encoder supports it.
For a long-running loop, check the file’s audio levels, aspect ratio, and transitions between its end and beginning. A hard cut or a brief silence at the loop point may be expected if that is how the source file ends; OBS repeats the file, it does not edit the boundary.
Plan separately for long streams and archives
OBS looping can keep sending the file as an encoder feed, but that does not guarantee YouTube will create a complete archive. YouTube says a live stream under 12 hours can be automatically archived; a stream longer than 12 hours may not be captured at all. If you need a complete recording of a 24/7 broadcast, keep a separate local recording or archive plan and enough storage for it. YouTube Help: archive live streams
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A loop is also not a copyright workaround. You are responsible for having the rights or permissions needed for the video and every included music track, image, and other material. Repeated or prerecorded content does not remove YouTube’s copyright rules or other channel policies. Review YouTube’s current live-stream and copyright requirements before broadcasting.
Troubleshoot common looping problems
The video plays once and stops
Open the OBS Media Source properties and confirm Loop is enabled on the source that is actually in the active scene. Make sure the selected source points to the intended file.
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YouTube does not receive a signal
Check that OBS is streaming to the correct YouTube stream URL and that the matching stream key is entered without accidental spaces or omissions. Confirm the stream is configured in Live Control Room and check YouTube’s preview and stream-health status. If the key may have been exposed, reset it in YouTube Studio before streaming again.
The stream starts but has unstable video or audio
Check YouTube’s stream-health feedback, the computer’s encoder load, and whether the internet connection can sustain the chosen output. Test representative motion and sound rather than judging only a static frame. Adjust settings supported by your encoder and connection, then test again.
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The archive is missing or incomplete
Check the stream duration: YouTube may not capture streams longer than 12 hours. For broadcasts that exceed that duration, do not rely on YouTube’s automatic archive as the only copy; maintain a separate recording plan.
The stream stops when the computer or connection goes offline
OBS runs on your computer, so this DIY setup depends on that computer and its internet connection remaining available. For an unattended broadcast, plan for power, network, software, and restart failures—or use a cloud service instead.
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