To stream a prerecorded 4K video continuously with OBS, create a YouTube Live broadcast, add the video to an OBS scene as a Media Source, enable Loop, and configure the encoder for YouTube’s live-ingestion settings. Then test the stream in YouTube Live Control Room before relying on it. Looping repeats the file; it does not guarantee uninterrupted 24/7 operation. Your computer, OBS, internet connection, and YouTube broadcast must remain available.
1. Prepare YouTube Live and protect your stream key
- Enable live streaming in advance. First-time activation may take up to 24 hours, according to YouTube’s encoder setup guidance. Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
- In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or select a broadcast. Configure its details and settings, then copy the stream key and server URL shown there.
- Treat the stream key like a password: anyone who has it may be able to broadcast to your channel. If it is exposed, reset it in Live Control Room. You can also manage auto-start and auto-stop in the stream settings. See Manage live stream settings.
2. Make an OBS scene that loops one 4K video
- Open OBS and create or select the scene you want to broadcast.
- In Sources, select + > Media Source. Name the source, then choose the local video file.
- Enable Loop in the Media Source properties. Confirm the source is visible in the active scene and that the video is framed as intended on the OBS canvas.
- Check the audio meters while the video plays. If the file has no audio, decide whether silent playback is intentional; do not assume that adding a video source creates an audio track.
OBS documents support for local MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM media sources. See OBS Media Sources. A loop restarts the file at its end; it does not keep the machine, network, OBS, or YouTube session alive by itself.
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3. Loop a playlist instead of a single file
- Install VLC if it is not already installed.
- In OBS, add a VLC Video source and create the playlist from the video files you want to rotate through.
- Enable Loop Playlist and verify the order and playback in the scene.
OBS requires VLC for this source and documents that VLC and OBS should have matching architectures. For 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC. The OBS guide covers the VLC Video source and its playlist controls: OBS Media Sources.
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- In OBS, open Settings > Stream.
- Choose YouTube or YouTube RTMPS if available, then sign in or enter the stream key as prompted. Alternatively, choose a custom service and enter the server URL and key from Live Control Room.
- Use RTMPS when the service offers it. YouTube recommends RTMPS, an encrypted extension of RTMP, for encoder ingestion. Confirm that OBS is connected to the intended broadcast before starting the stream.
5. Set OBS video and output for 4K live ingestion
Resolution and frame rate
In Settings > Video, set the output resolution to 3840 × 2160 for 4K. Choose 30 or 60 fps only if that matches the source and your computer can encode it reliably. Sending a 60 fps output does not create genuine 60 fps motion from a 30 fps source.
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Encoder, rate control, bitrate, and keyframes
In Settings > Output, select the streaming encoder and configure rate control to CBR. Set the keyframe interval to 2 seconds; YouTube says not to exceed 4 seconds. Set the bitrate for the codec and frame rate you actually use. The figures below are YouTube’s live-ingestion recommendations and minimums on its encoder settings page accessed in 2026; they are not guarantees that a particular system or connection can sustain the stream.
| 4K output | Codec | YouTube recommended bitrate | YouTube minimum bitrate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2160p, 30 fps | H.264 | 42 Mbps | 11 Mbps |
| 2160p, 60 fps | H.264 | 50 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 2160p, 30 fps | AV1 or H.265 | 30 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 2160p, 60 fps | AV1 or H.265 | 35 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
YouTube accepts H.264, H.265, or AV1 video and AAC or MP3 audio for live encoding. Encoder availability depends on your operating system and hardware; use only a codec your OBS installation and computer support. For SDR, follow YouTube’s Rec. 709 guidance. YouTube transcodes live streams into multiple output formats for viewers. At 2160p, YouTube does not offer the low-latency option; 4K streams use normal latency. The current settings and bitrate guidance is at Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
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Upload bandwidth and encoding capacity
YouTube recommends keeping 20% upload-bandwidth headroom above the bitrate you send. That is a recommendation, not a substitute for testing: other devices or services can consume upload capacity, and connection performance can vary. OBS hardware encoders can move encoding work from the CPU to a specialized GPU component, reducing CPU load, but support and quality vary by GPU generation and operating system. Older hardware encoders may produce lower quality at the same bitrate, so check your own encoder options and test the result rather than assuming any computer can handle 4K.
Optional HDR
HDR is not required for 4K. YouTube’s HDR instructions describe OBS support from version 30.1 and require an HDR-capable source and device plus appropriate HEVC Main 10 and color configuration. Treat HDR as a separate advanced setup, not a setting to enable on an SDR source. The requirements are detailed in Stream HDR video on YouTube.
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6. Test the full path before starting a long session
- Use a representative section of the video, including its most demanding motion and audio.
- Start a test stream and check the preview in Live Control Room. Look for stream-health warnings, buffering, missing audio, incorrect framing, or a bitrate that cannot be sustained.
- Verify the stream on a viewer device as well as in OBS. YouTube specifically advises testing before going live; its Streaming tips also recommend monitoring stream health and maintaining upload headroom.
- Only after the test looks and sounds right should you begin the intended broadcast. For a long session, use stable power and a reliable network; these reduce common risks but cannot guarantee uninterrupted operation.
7. Troubleshoot common failures
- OBS connects, but YouTube shows no picture: confirm the intended scene is active, the Media Source is visible, the file is playing, and the stream key belongs to the broadcast open in Live Control Room.
- The video plays once and stops: reopen Media Source properties and enable Loop. For multiple files, use a VLC Video source and enable Loop Playlist.
- The playlist source is missing or fails to load: install VLC and check that its architecture matches OBS—for example, 64-bit VLC with 64-bit OBS.
- YouTube reports unstable stream health or dropped frames: check whether the chosen bitrate is within the upload connection’s sustained capacity, preserve the recommended 20% headroom, and reduce output demands if necessary. Re-test after changing bitrate, frame rate, or resolution.
- The computer struggles during 4K encoding: check CPU/GPU load and available encoder choices in OBS. A supported hardware encoder may reduce CPU load, but encoder quality varies; try a lower frame rate or a codec your hardware handles better, then test again.
- The stream stops after a disconnect or power/network interruption: OBS looping does not itself promise recovery or uninterrupted service. Restore the connection and broadcast from OBS, then check the Live Control Room status and stream key if it does not reconnect as expected.
- The stream key may have been exposed: reset it in Live Control Room, then replace the saved key in OBS before the next broadcast.
Copyright and YouTube channel rules still apply
Streaming a recording as Live does not change who owns its music, video, or other material. Use content you created or have permission to broadcast, and check any license terms for live streaming, looping, and monetization. YouTube may detect copyrighted material in a live broadcast. Separately, permission to use a work does not guarantee that a channel meets YouTube’s monetization policies: reused or repetitive content can raise monetization issues even where copyright permission is in place. Review YouTube’s current channel monetization policies and rights guidance before building a long-running channel around repeated recordings.
Or let it run in the cloud
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can OBS loop more than one video for YouTube Live?
Yes. Add a VLC Video source, make a playlist, and enable Loop Playlist; VLC must be installed and match OBS’s architecture.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesDoes a 4K YouTube Live stream support low latency?
No. YouTube does not offer its low-latency option at 2160p; 4K streams use normal latency.
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