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There is no published maximum local-file size for playing a pre-recorded video in OBS and sending it to YouTube Live. OBS reads and decodes the file on your computer; YouTube receives the encoded live stream, not the original source file. In practice, the limits are your computer’s storage and ability to play the video, your stream’s duration, and the stability of your upload connection.
Why there is no single file-size limit
The video you add to OBS as a Media Source stays on your computer. OBS decodes it, combines it with the rest of your scene, and encodes the outgoing program for YouTube. YouTube’s live-stream guidance sets requirements for that outgoing stream; it does not establish a maximum size for the local source file in this workflow.
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This is a distinction between a local playback source and a video uploaded to YouTube Studio. YouTube’s recommended encoding settings for direct video uploads apply to that separate upload workflow, not to an OBS-to-Live source-file allowance: YouTube recommended upload encoding settings.
What determines whether a large file will work
Storage and playback on your computer
Your computer needs enough free storage for the file and enough processing capacity to read and decode it smoothly. OBS documents Media Source support for formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM, and playback controls such as looping and restarting when active. Its documentation does not specify a maximum file size or duration: OBS Project: Media Sources.
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A large file is not automatically a problem if the computer can play it reliably. Conversely, a smaller but demanding or damaged file may stutter or fail. Test the exact file in the intended OBS scene before scheduling a long stream.
Outgoing stream bitrate and upload stability
The source file’s size is separate from the bitrate YouTube receives. YouTube’s current live encoder guidance recommends H.264 bitrates of 14 Mbps for 1080p at 30 fps and 17 Mbps for 1080p at 60 fps. These are outgoing live-stream recommendations, not limits on the file being played. YouTube also recommends a 2-second keyframe interval (no more than 4 seconds) and CBR for RTMP/RTMPS. See Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
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Allow bandwidth headroom rather than matching your internet connection’s maximum upload speed to the stream bitrate. YouTube’s streaming tips recommend about 20% more upload capacity than the bitrate and warn that other traffic on a shared connection can reduce what is available to OBS: YouTube streaming tips.
Duration and YouTube’s live archive
YouTube says it can automatically archive a live stream if it is less than 12 hours; streams longer than 12 hours may not be captured at all. This is an archive-duration caveat, not a cap on the local video file’s size. If you need a complete recording, plan to keep a local recording and verify that it is being written correctly. See Archive live streams.
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Settings and checks before going live
- Confirm your channel can stream. YouTube requires a verified channel and no live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. Check eligibility and enable live streaming through YouTube’s live-streaming setup guidance.
- Add the file as an OBS Media Source. In the scene, add a Media Source and select the local video. Enable looping if the recording should repeat. Check the source’s restart or hide behavior so the scene behaves as intended when playback ends.
- Set the outgoing stream to match your target. Choose the resolution and frame rate you need, then use YouTube’s recommended bitrate for the selected codec and mode. For H.264, YouTube recommends 14 Mbps at 1080p30 or 17 Mbps at 1080p60. Use CBR and a 2-second keyframe interval for RTMP/RTMPS.
- Check the upload connection. Run an upload speed test, account for the stream bitrate plus roughly 20% headroom, and avoid competing uploads or downloads during the stream where possible.
- Run a test stream. Confirm the video plays without stutter, check YouTube’s stream health indicators, and verify any local recording is intact and its file size continues to grow. YouTube recommends testing before starting and monitoring stream health.
Copyright and content checks
Using OBS to play a recording does not make the recording exempt from YouTube’s rules. Before streaming, make sure you have the necessary rights to the video, music, and other material in it, and review YouTube’s applicable live-stream and copyright requirements. YouTube’s account eligibility rules also apply regardless of whether the stream uses a camera or a pre-recorded source.
Common problems and fixes
- Playback stutters or freezes: Check that the computer can decode the source smoothly, close unnecessary applications, and test the same file and scene before going live. A local playback problem is different from a YouTube file-size limit.
- YouTube reports poor stream health: Check the outgoing bitrate against available upload capacity, leave headroom, and reduce competing network traffic. Verify the encoder settings against YouTube’s recommendations.
- The stream ends when the video ends: Enable looping in the Media Source if you want continuous playback, and confirm the source’s end-of-playback behavior.
- The live archive is missing or incomplete: Streams longer than 12 hours may not be captured automatically. Keep a local recording if you need a dependable copy, and confirm that the local archive is being written and growing during the stream.
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