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For a playlist of multiple local videos, use OBS Studio’s built-in VLC Video source and turn on Loop Playlist. It is not a separate plugin recommendation: OBS documents the source as a playlist option, and it requires VLC installed on the computer running OBS. For a single video, use a Media Source and enable its Loop setting instead.
Choose the right OBS source
| What you want to play | OBS source | Setting to use |
|---|---|---|
| One video file repeatedly | Media Source | Loop |
| Several video files in sequence | VLC Video | Loop Playlist |
| Several files in list order | VLC Video | Leave Shuffle Playlist off |
| Several files in randomized order | VLC Video | Turn Shuffle Playlist on |
OBS lists common Media Source formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI and WebM, as well as audio formats such as MP3, AAC, OGG and WAV. VLC Video is the documented choice for playlists and supports VLC-backed media. See the OBS Media Sources documentation.
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Set up a looping playlist in OBS
- Install VLC on the computer running OBS. VLC Video depends on VLC being installed. If your OBS installation is 64-bit, install 64-bit VLC. OBS lists VLC Video for Windows, macOS and Linux, with the VLC dependency applying on each platform.
- Add a VLC Video source to the scene. In the OBS scene where the playlist should appear, add a source and choose VLC Video. Add the local media items to that source’s playlist. Use Media Source instead if you only need one file.
- Set repeat and order. Enable Loop Playlist so playback starts again when the list reaches its end. Leave Shuffle Playlist off to retain the listed order, or enable it for randomized playback. OBS documents Loop Playlist as on by default and Shuffle Playlist as off by default, but check the source settings rather than relying on defaults.
- Choose what happens when the source is hidden. OBS documents behavior options including stopping when not visible and restarting when visible, pausing and resuming, or always playing. A source hidden by a scene change may stop or pause depending on this choice; set it to match how your scenes are arranged.
- Check audio and framing. Verify that the video fits the scene as intended and that its sound reaches the intended OBS audio track and mix. The VLC Video source includes an Audio Track setting; confirm the result in OBS’s audio meters and a test recording or broadcast.
- Test before relying on it. Run the playlist through a private or unlisted test broadcast, checking the transition from the last item back to the first, audio, and behavior after changing scenes. Then connect OBS to YouTube through its current encoder workflow and Live Control Room. YouTube’s instructions can change, so follow the current YouTube encoder setup guide for the account and interface you see.
Playlist looping is not the same as ending the live broadcast
Loop Playlist controls media playback. It makes the playlist start again after its items run out; it does not itself configure the lifecycle of the YouTube broadcast. If you want a stream to stop when media finishes, treat that as a separate broadcast-control requirement and verify the behavior in a test. An OBS forum reply posted on August 28, 2021 described a setup where the broadcast did not auto-end when the playlist completed, but that historical community answer is not confirmation of current OBS or YouTube behavior. The discussion is available in the OBS forum thread.
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Troubleshooting playlist playback
- VLC Video is missing from the source menu: Install VLC on the same computer as OBS. For 64-bit OBS, OBS specifies 64-bit VLC. Restart OBS after installation and check the source list again.
- The playlist plays once and stops: Open the VLC Video source properties and enable Loop Playlist. For a single Media Source file, use its separate Loop option.
- The next item is unexpected: Check Shuffle Playlist. Turn it off for the listed order; leave it on only when randomized playback is intended.
- Playback stops after a scene change: Check the source’s visibility behavior. A setting that stops playback while hidden can interrupt it when another scene is selected; choose the documented pause/resume or always-play behavior if that better matches the layout.
- The video plays but the stream is silent: Check the VLC source’s audio track selection and OBS audio meters, then confirm the audio is present in a test recording or broadcast. Do not assume visible video means the audio is routed correctly.
- The playlist repeats but the YouTube broadcast stays live: That is a separate concern, not a failure of Loop Playlist. Verify broadcast start and stop behavior independently rather than assuming the playlist controls YouTube’s live session.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a 24/7 YouTube stream from uploaded videos, StreamNeo is the cloud alternative to try first: it keeps the stream running with the computer off, plays uploads at their original quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot, and offers the first day free with no card. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card, and the monthly option is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for YouTube streams from uploaded videos, not camera broadcasts. See StreamNeo or start the free day.
Quick Recap
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