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To loop MP4 videos as a YouTube Live broadcast, add them to OBS’s VLC Video source, enable Loop Playlist, and send the OBS scene to YouTube using an encoder stream URL and stream key. VLC must be installed, and its architecture must match OBS. Test the playlist and stream before making it public: a loop setting does not guarantee gap-free transitions between every pair of files.
Before you start
- Your YouTube channel must be verified and free of live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. First-time live-streaming enablement can take up to 24 hours. Check eligibility before scheduling: YouTube’s live-streaming setup requirements.
- Install OBS and VLC. OBS’s VLC Video source relies on VLC libraries; on 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC. The source may not appear until VLC is installed. See OBS’s VLC Video Source guide.
- Put the MP4 files you want in the playlist somewhere accessible on the computer running OBS. Confirm the files play correctly and include the audio you intend to broadcast.
- Use a reliable internet connection with enough upload capacity for the selected stream settings. YouTube does not establish a minimum PC specification for this particular playlist workload; test your own machine, files, resolution, and network rather than relying on an assumed hardware baseline.
Add the MP4 folder contents to an OBS playlist
OBS’s documented local-file playlist method is a VLC Video source. Add the MP4 files as playlist items; the folder itself is not a YouTube Live playlist, and the viewer’s YouTube Loop control does not create a live broadcast.
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- Open OBS and select the scene you want to broadcast.
- In the Sources panel, select + and choose VLC Video. If this option is missing, install the VLC version matching your OBS architecture, then reopen OBS.
- Give the source a recognizable name and open its properties.
- Add the MP4 files to the playlist, in the order you want them to play. Check that every intended file appears in the list.
- Enable Loop Playlist so playback returns to the start after the final item.
- Leave Shuffle Playlist off if you want the files to repeat in their listed order. Turn it on only if randomized playback is intended.
- Confirm the source is visible in the scene. Check its audio routing and levels in OBS’s audio mixer, and make sure no other source unintentionally obscures or duplicates the video or sound.
OBS documents Loop Playlist as enabled by default, but verify the setting in the source properties rather than assuming it is on. A playlist can play through and repeat while still showing a gap at a file boundary; inspect the transition from the final item back to the first during your test.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteConnect OBS to YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Studio and go to the Live Control Room. Create or select an encoder stream.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for that stream.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream, choose the YouTube service, and enter the URL and key in the corresponding fields. YouTube describes the stream key as the encoder’s password and address; keep it private. Reset it in YouTube Studio if you think someone else has obtained it. See YouTube’s encoder stream settings guide.
- Apply the settings and start the stream from OBS when you are ready to test. Check YouTube’s Live Control Room preview and wait for the incoming video and audio to appear before starting a public broadcast.
Choose encoder settings and test the broadcast
Select resolution, frame rate, codec, and bitrate based on the video you are playing, your available upload capacity, and YouTube’s current guidance. YouTube recommends RTMPS and publishes bitrate guidance by resolution, frame rate, and codec in its encoder settings. For context, its H.264 guidance for 1080p at 30 fps gives 5 Mbps as the minimum and 14 Mbps as recommended; its AV1/H.265 guidance for the same resolution and frame rate gives 4 Mbps minimum and 10 Mbps recommended. These are YouTube recommendations, not a guarantee that your internet connection can sustain them. Check the live guidance again when configuring the stream.
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- Leave upload bandwidth headroom instead of setting the stream bitrate at the full measured capacity of your connection. Other devices and changing network conditions can reduce available upload.
- Run a brief local or unlisted test first. Watch the whole playlist cycle, especially the last-to-first transition, and listen for missing, doubled, or unexpectedly routed audio.
- Before relying on the setup, check the Live Control Room preview, audio and video, and YouTube’s stream-health indicators. YouTube recommends testing the setup and monitoring stream quality. Its live-streaming tips explain monitoring and testing.
- If you are recording locally as a backup, confirm the recording has started and that its file is growing before depending on it.
Copyright, channel rules, and repeat content
Only stream videos and audio you have the right to use. A file being on your computer, or a playlist being automated, does not establish permission to broadcast it. Check licenses and permissions for music, footage, artwork, and any other material in every MP4. YouTube may apply its copyright systems to live content; review YouTube’s current copyright guidance and live-streaming policies before broadcasting.
Separately, permission to use a video does not guarantee eligibility for monetization. YouTube’s monetization rules assess the channel and its content, including reused or repetitive material; review the current YouTube channel monetization policies rather than assuming that continuous playback qualifies. Keep the stream within YouTube’s live-streaming rules and confirm account eligibility before launch.
Rank #2
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Common problems and fixes
| What you see | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| VLC Video is missing from OBS sources | VLC is not installed, or its architecture does not match OBS. | Install VLC matching OBS (64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS), reopen OBS, and check the source list again. |
| The playlist stops at the last MP4 | Loop Playlist is off. | Open the VLC Video source properties and enable Loop Playlist. |
| Videos play in an unexpected order | Shuffle Playlist is enabled or the playlist order differs from what you intended. | Turn Shuffle Playlist off for listed order and review the item sequence. |
| YouTube preview has no video or audio | The wrong source or stream settings may be selected, the source may be obscured, or audio may not be routed into the scene. | Check the OBS scene, source visibility, mixer levels and routing, and YouTube’s selected stream preview. |
| Stream health reports problems or playback stutters | The chosen bitrate may exceed stable upload capacity, or the local setup may not sustain the workload. | Use YouTube’s current settings for the chosen codec and resolution, reduce the bitrate or output settings if needed, leave upload headroom, and test again on the actual network. |
| There is a pause or glitch between files | Loop Playlist governs playlist repetition but does not promise seamless transitions for every file combination. | Test each boundary, including the final-to-first transition. If a transition is unacceptable, revise the files or playlist and test the changed setup before going public. |
| The stream key may have been exposed | Anyone with the key may be able to send an encoder feed to the stream. | Keep the key private and reset it in YouTube Studio if compromised; update OBS with the new key. |
OBS on a computer or a cloud service?
OBS is a good fit when you want to compose a scene with production controls and can keep the computer and a stable internet connection running for the broadcast. A cloud service is more suitable when you do not want a home computer to run continuously. YouTube’s encoder guide lists Gyre as a cloud-based option for 24/7 prerecorded-video streaming; check that service’s current features and terms directly. For StreamNeo’s YouTube-only cloud option, see StreamNeo.
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StreamNeo keeps a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos, without leaving a computer or home connection running. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It streams the upload as made, up to 4K 60 fps, at one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card, once per account. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month.
Rank #3
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For this use case, it trades OBS scene production controls for cloud operation: no computer has to stay on at home, you can upload videos and make a playlist, and the service loops the material to YouTube. StreamNeo has no camera-based live input and streams to YouTube only. See current plan details, then start your free first day.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #4
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