Yes—if the network drive is mounted on the computer running OBS and the account running OBS can read the video. Add the file as a Media Source, test that it plays reliably, then send OBS’s encoded output to YouTube using your stream URL and key. OBS documents media files and playlists, but does not guarantee that every network-share setup will work the same way.
How OBS uses a network-drive video
OBS treats a video file added to a scene as a source; the scene is then part of the output OBS streams. In practice, a mounted network share needs to appear to OBS as an accessible file path for the entire time you are streaming. A share that is disconnected, unavailable to the OBS user, or slow to deliver data can interrupt playback.
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OBS’s official Media Sources guide explains how to add media files, but it does not expressly promise compatibility with every SMB, NFS, mapped-drive, or other network-share configuration. The exact behavior can depend on how the operating system mounts the share and which account launches OBS. Treat it as a file path to test, not a universally guaranteed feature.
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Media Source for one video
For a single file, add a Media Source to the scene and select the video on the mounted share. OBS lists common formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. See the OBS Media Sources guide for source settings and supported formats.
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VLC Video for a playlist
For a playlist or broader media-library support, use VLC Video. VLC must be installed, and its architecture must match OBS: use 64-bit VLC with 64-bit OBS. VLC Video includes a Network caching property with a documented default of 400 ms; that is a setting, not a guarantee that a particular share will stream smoothly.
A network stream URL is not the same as a shared file
If you have a network stream URL using a protocol OBS supports, OBS documents entering it as a Media Source input with Local File unchecked. Its SRT guide and RIST guide describe examples. Those instructions do not mean that any file-share URL or arbitrary protocol will work as a stream input.
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Set up and test the stream
- Mount the share and check permissions. On the computer running OBS, connect the network drive and open the video from the same user account that will run OBS. Keep the share connected for the whole broadcast.
- Add the media to an OBS scene. In the OBS Sources guide, sources are the inputs used to build a scene and its stream output. Add a Media Source for one file, or VLC Video for a playlist, and point it at the share’s file path.
- Verify picture and sound before going live. Play the source in OBS and check that video and audio are present and remain continuous. OBS’s media-source guidance and YouTube’s streaming guidance support testing and monitoring; neither sets a required test duration for a network-drive scenario.
- Connect OBS to YouTube Live. In YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room, obtain the stream URL and stream key, then enter them in OBS’s stream settings. Follow YouTube’s encoder setup instructions. YouTube says enabling live streaming for the first time may take up to 24 hours. Its eligibility guidance says a channel must be verified and have had no live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days; check your current account status in YouTube Studio. See Get started with live streaming.
- Check upload bandwidth separately from share access. Your computer must read the file from the share and upload OBS’s encoded stream to YouTube. YouTube states, “The total bitrate you’re streaming cannot exceed the amount of upload bandwidth available,” and recommends leaving 20% headroom for the encoder’s upload. That guidance does not quantify the LAN bandwidth needed to read your network drive. See YouTube’s streaming tips.
What to check when playback or streaming fails
| Symptom | Likely check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The source is missing or will not open | The share may not be mounted, the path may have changed, or the OBS user may lack access. | Reconnect the share, verify the exact file path, and test access while signed in as the account that runs OBS. |
| Playback stops or stutters | The share connection or file delivery may be interrupted. The cited OBS guidance does not provide network-share throughput guarantees. | Check that the share stays available and that the computer can read the file continuously. Test playback before broadcasting; do not assume YouTube upload headroom fixes a local share-read problem. |
| Video plays but audio is absent | The source may not be delivering the expected audio, or it may not be audible in the OBS mix. | Check the source’s audio and OBS’s audio meters and monitor the output in a test stream. |
| YouTube drops or does not start the stream | Check the stream URL and key, channel eligibility, and available upload bandwidth. | Verify the encoder details in YouTube Studio, confirm the channel’s live status, and compare stream bitrate with upload capacity while leaving YouTube’s recommended 20% headroom. |
Copyright still applies to files you can access
Access to a file on a network drive does not give you permission to rebroadcast it. YouTube scans live streams for third-party content; a match can lead to a placeholder, interruption, or termination. Even licensed material may require the rights owner to allowlist your channel through Content ID. YouTube’s copyright guidance for live streams explains these risks.
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YouTube’s livestream terms require the provider to have the necessary rights for live content, including music licensing rights, and to comply with applicable rules. Confirm those rights before streaming prerecorded video or music.
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