To repeat a gaming video in an OBS broadcast, add it as a Media Source and turn on Loop. For a repeating playlist, install VLC, add an OBS VLC Video source, and leave Loop Playlist enabled. Then connect OBS to a YouTube Live stream with its stream key, preview the feed, and check stream health before and after you go live.
What looping means in a YouTube gaming stream
In this setup, looping means OBS keeps playing a local video or playlist as a source while it broadcasts the scene to YouTube. It is different from the Loop control viewers can use on a YouTube watch page to replay a published video; that viewer-side control does not configure a live encoder. YouTube documents viewer loop controls for computers and mobile devices, as well as TVs and gaming consoles: Loop videos or playlists.
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Choose the right OBS source
| Need | OBS source | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat one video file | Media Source | Built into OBS; enable its Loop property. VLC is not required for this single-file method. |
| Repeat several files as a playlist | VLC Video | Requires VLC installed; enable Loop Playlist. Shuffle is optional. |
OBS lists support for common video formats such as MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM, and audio formats such as MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV. A listed format does not guarantee every file will decode properly on every computer. See OBS Media Sources for source properties and compatibility notes.
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- Open OBS and select the scene you intend to send to YouTube.
- In the Sources dock, select + and choose Media Source. Name the source if prompted.
- In the source properties, select the local video file.
- Enable Loop. OBS lists this setting as off by default; when enabled, the file plays again after it reaches the end.
- Check the OBS preview. Confirm the picture and audio are present and that the video starts and repeats as expected.
Loop a playlist with VLC Video
- Install VLC media player if it is not already installed. OBS says VLC Video is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux when VLC is installed; for 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC.
- In the intended OBS scene, select + in the Sources dock and choose VLC Video.
- Add the gaming videos you want to the source’s playlist.
- Leave Loop Playlist enabled so the source restarts after the last item. OBS lists this setting as on by default.
- Enable Shuffle Playlist only if you want a randomized order; OBS lists shuffle as off by default.
- Review Stop when not visible, restart when visible. OBS lists this visibility behavior as the default. If you switch scenes or hide the source, playback may stop and restart when it becomes visible again, which can affect continuity.
- Watch the preview long enough to confirm the playlist order, video, and audio behave as intended.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
YouTube describes encoder streaming as a way to broadcast gameplay, share a screen, or use external audio and video hardware. To use it, your channel must be verified and must not have live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. YouTube says enabling live streaming for the first time may take up to 24 hours.
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- Open YouTube Studio and go to the Live Control Room. Create or select the stream you plan to use.
- In OBS, open Settings and select Stream. Choose YouTube as the service and enter the stream key from the Live Control Room, following the connection details shown there.
- Treat the stream key as a password: someone who has it may be able to send a feed to the configured stream. Do not share it publicly. YouTube’s setup guide is Create a live stream with an encoder; stream destinations, keys, and options are covered in Manage live stream settings.
- Use YouTube’s recommended RTMPS protocol where supported. Set resolution, frame rate, and bitrate to suit the intended output and your available upload capacity. YouTube does not give one bitrate that is right for every stream; consult its encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions guidance, and leave upload bandwidth headroom.
- Start the encoder and check the preview in the Live Control Room before making the broadcast public or sharing it. Test with motion and audio like the actual stream, then monitor stream health and audio/video quality while live. YouTube’s live streaming tips recommend testing and monitoring.
- Stop the encoder after the YouTube event has ended.
Check copyright and the suitability of the content
Looping is a playback setting, not permission to rebroadcast a game soundtrack, cutscene, tournament feed, or another creator’s video. Use footage and audio you have the right to stream, and check the applicable rights and YouTube rules for your specific material before going live. A repeating source also does not change YouTube’s channel requirements or stream-health checks.
Understand looping, DVR, and viewer playback
The OBS Loop and Loop Playlist settings repeat source media inside the broadcast. YouTube’s DVR setting is separate: it affects whether viewers can pause, resume, or rewind within a live stream. YouTube says DVR rewind may be limited or unavailable for streams longer than 12 hours. Details are in DVR on live streams.
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Troubleshoot common problems
- VLC Video is missing: Install VLC, then restart OBS if needed. Match the architecture: OBS notes that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- The video stops at the end: For a single file, check Loop in Media Source properties. For a playlist, check Loop Playlist on the VLC Video source.
- The playlist stops or restarts after a scene change: Check whether the source is hidden and review its Stop when not visible, restart when visible behavior. Keep it visible or adjust the scene/source arrangement to suit the intended continuity.
- There is no picture or sound: Confirm the source points to the intended file, check that the file decodes on the machine, and verify the source’s audio is not muted in OBS. Test the file in preview before starting the YouTube broadcast.
- YouTube does not receive the feed: Check that OBS is configured for the correct YouTube stream and current stream key, and that the channel meets YouTube’s verification and restriction requirements. Keep the key private.
- The stream is unstable or looks poor: Compare the configured bitrate, resolution, and frame rate with YouTube’s encoder guidance and the actual upload capacity. Reduce settings or improve the connection if the available bandwidth cannot sustain them, and leave headroom rather than targeting the connection’s full capacity.
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Quick Recap
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