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To loop an MP4 from a USB drive on YouTube Live, connect the drive, add the video to an OBS scene as a Media Source, enable Loop, then connect OBS to a YouTube encoder stream with its server URL and stream key. Keep the drive connected and mounted for the entire broadcast. For a scheduled stream, start OBS first, check the preview in YouTube Live Control Room, then select Go live.
Before you start: check channel eligibility and the USB file
- Your YouTube channel must be verified and must not have had live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. YouTube’s current help page states that you must be at least 16 to live stream. Check YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility requirements if the channel is new or you are unsure about its status.
- Connect the USB drive and confirm that the MP4 opens from it. Leave the drive connected throughout the broadcast. Since OBS will read a local file, disconnecting the drive or changing its mounted path can make the selected file unavailable.
- Check that the video has the audio and picture you intend to broadcast. If continuity matters, test the exact file, drive, USB port and computer power settings for the full expected duration; a USB drive by itself does not guarantee an uninterrupted stream.
Set up one MP4 to repeat in OBS
- Open OBS and create or select the scene you want to use.
- In the Sources box, select + and choose Media Source. Give the source a name if prompted.
- In the source properties, select the local-file option, browse to the MP4 on the USB drive and select it.
- Turn on Loop. It is off by default; when enabled, OBS repeats the file after playback finishes. The OBS Project documents this option in its Media Sources reference.
- Check the preview and listen to the audio. If the video does not fit the canvas, select the source and use OBS’s transform controls to fit it to the scene; confirm that important text and edges remain visible.
Loop a playlist of MP4 files instead
For multiple files, add a VLC Video source rather than creating a separate Media Source for each video. In its properties, add the files to the playlist and leave Loop Playlist enabled if you want the list to repeat. OBS documents playlist looping as enabled by default for this source. VLC must be installed for VLC Video to appear; match VLC’s architecture to OBS—for example, 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. A single MP4 generally needs only the built-in Media Source.
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Create the YouTube stream and connect OBS
- In YouTube Studio, select Create > Go Live, then create a stream or schedule one in Live Control Room. Use YouTube’s encoder setup guide for the current stream-creation flow.
- Copy the stream server URL and stream key shown for that stream. In OBS, open Settings > Stream, select YouTube or the applicable YouTube ingest option, and enter the server and key. YouTube’s stream key functions like a password: do not show it in a screen capture, share it publicly or reuse a key you believe has been exposed. See YouTube’s live-stream settings guidance.
- In OBS, open Settings > Output and Settings > Video to choose encoding and video settings appropriate to the source and your connection. For YouTube encoder streams, its current guidance recommends RTMPS, constant bitrate (CBR), and a two-second keyframe interval (not more than four seconds). YouTube supports H.264, H.265/HEVC and AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS. Use the current encoder settings, bitrate and resolution table to select a bitrate for your codec, resolution and frame rate; there is no one bitrate that fits every setup.
- Keep the stream within the upload capacity available to the computer. YouTube recommends 20% upload-bandwidth headroom, and notes that other users or devices sharing the network can reduce what is available to the stream.
Test, preview and go live
- For a scheduled event, YouTube recommends setting up at least two hours ahead and starting the encoder at least 15 minutes before the event. These are preparation recommendations, not guarantees of a successful broadcast.
- Start the OBS stream and check that the video preview appears in YouTube Live Control Room. Confirm both picture and audio, then monitor YouTube’s stream health and OBS while it runs. YouTube’s streaming tips recommend testing, checking the preview and monitoring audio and video quality.
- If the stream is scheduled, select Go live in Live Control Room when the preview is ready. Starting the encoder alone does not complete that scheduled-stream step.
- When finished, end the stream in Live Control Room and stop sending content from OBS. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; do not assume an archive will be available for a longer stream.
Copyright and YouTube policy checks
Only stream video and audio you have the rights or permissions to use. A file being stored on your USB drive does not grant broadcasting rights. Copyrighted songs, performances, films or other protected material can lead to claims, blocks or other enforcement. Review YouTube’s Community Guidelines and policies and the copyright information available in YouTube Studio before broadcasting.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →If you plan to monetize the channel, looping a file does not make the content original or ensure monetization eligibility. YouTube reviews channels under its monetization policies, including rules concerning reused content; repeated broadcasts should provide content you are authorized to use and that meets applicable policies. Check the current YouTube channel monetization policies rather than assuming a live format changes the rules.
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Troubleshooting common problems
- The video stops at the end: Open the Media Source properties and enable Loop. For a playlist, check Loop Playlist in the VLC Video source.
- The file cannot be found or playback stops after a USB change: Check that the drive is still connected and mounted at the same location. Re-select the file in the source properties if its path changed.
- VLC Video is missing: Install VLC, then restart OBS. Ensure that VLC and OBS use matching architectures; 64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC.
- YouTube receives no picture or audio: Check the OBS preview and audio meters, confirm the intended scene and source are active, then check the stream preview in Live Control Room. Verify that OBS is using the server URL and stream key for the correct YouTube stream.
- The stream is unstable or YouTube reports poor health: Check available upload speed and other network use, preserve YouTube’s recommended 20% headroom, and use a bitrate from its current settings table that the connection can sustain. Recheck CBR and the recommended keyframe interval.
- The scheduled broadcast is not public: Confirm the encoder preview has arrived and select Go live in Live Control Room for the scheduled stream.
- The stream ends unexpectedly during a long session: Check computer sleep and power settings, USB stability, OBS status and network conditions. The official guidance cited here does not promise recovery from USB removal, sleep or a prolonged outage; test the whole setup in advance.
Cost and continuity options
The OBS method uses a computer to read the USB file and send the stream, so the computer, drive and network must remain available during the broadcast. YouTube also describes a specialized computer-free encoder option, AJA HELO Plus with optional PlayToStream functionality, for scheduling prerecorded media; it is not required for this OBS setup. For a long event where interruptions are costly, compare the cost of keeping your own equipment running with a cloud service.
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