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OBS has no documented built-in setting that detects new YouTube uploads and adds them to a YouTube playlist. To do that, you need a separate automation that identifies each eligible video and adds it with the YouTube Data API. If you mean playing local files in an OBS scene, use OBS’s VLC Video source instead; that is a different kind of playlist.
First, decide what you mean by “live playlist”
There are three separate things that can be confused here: a local list of media files played by OBS, a YouTube playlist that viewers can open, and a YouTube live broadcast. They use different features and are not interchangeable.
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| What you want | Use | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Play local video files as part of an OBS scene | OBS VLC Video source | Plays a local media list, with loop and shuffle options. It does not change YouTube playlist membership. |
| Add uploaded YouTube videos to a playlist | A separate automation using the YouTube Data API | Adds a video to a YouTube playlist when the automation has its video ID and authorization. |
| Create or renew a YouTube live broadcast | YouTube Live Streaming API or a broadcast-management tool | Manages a broadcast; it does not by itself add newly uploaded videos to a playlist. |
OBS’s local VLC source requires VLC to be installed. Its playlist is a playback list of local media, not a YouTube playlist. See the OBS Media Sources guide.
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Automatically add new uploads to a YouTube playlist
The supported building block is YouTube Data API’s playlistItems.insert method. The method can add a video when your automation knows the destination playlist ID and the video ID, and has OAuth authorization to make the change. YouTube’s playlist implementation guide explains playlist insertion; the YouTube Data API reference documents playlist and playlist-item resources.
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1. Choose the destination playlist
Use the playlist you want to populate and obtain its playlist ID. The API supports listing playlists for the authenticated channel; the automation must use the ID of the intended destination rather than relying on the playlist’s visible title.
2. Decide which uploads qualify
A separate script or service must discover new uploads, obtain each video ID, and decide whether that upload should be added. The API insertion documentation does not provide a turnkey upload-monitoring trigger, polling schedule, or filtering rule. Do not assume OBS will watch the channel for you.
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For a reliable workflow, define the eligibility rule before automating—for example, which channel’s uploads count and whether private, unlisted, scheduled, or otherwise unsuitable videos should be excluded. The discovery mechanism and timing depend on the separate automation you build; they are not configured by playlistItems.insert.
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Adding a playlist item is a write operation and requires OAuth 2.0 authorization. The account granting access must have permission to edit the destination playlist. A public playlist ID alone does not authorize your program to modify it.
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4. Insert the video using its ID
Once the automation has the target playlist ID and a qualifying video ID, submit a playlist item containing snippet.playlistId and snippet.resourceId. Set the resource kind to youtube#video and provide the video ID. The API operation is playlistItems.insert; consult Google’s implementation guide for the request format and authorization details.
Your automation should treat discovery and insertion as distinct steps: finding a video does not add it, and a successful insertion requires the authorized API request. Build in a way to recognize items already present so a repeated discovery does not lead to unwanted duplicate entries.
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Does OBS need to be part of the automation?
Usually, not for playlist membership. OBS can be extended with Python or Lua scripts, and external applications can interact with it through its built-in WebSocket endpoint. Those are integration points for controlling or coordinating OBS; they do not replace the YouTube API request that edits a YouTube playlist. See the OBS Developer Guide.
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If you meant a local OBS playback playlist
For a sequence of files stored on your computer, add a VLC Video source to the scene and configure its media playlist. OBS documents loop and shuffle behavior for this source. The source plays local media; it does not monitor YouTube uploads or update a YouTube playlist. Follow the current OBS Media Sources instructions for your OBS version.
Why a broadcast plugin is not the playlist solution
The OBS forum listing for Live Stream Segmenter describes broadcast automation, including renewing broadcasts through YouTube APIs. Its listing does not claim to detect new uploads and insert them into a YouTube playlist, so it should not be treated as a substitute for the playlist-item API workflow.
The listing identifies version 1.1.4, created January 13, 2026, for OBS Studio 31.1.1 or later on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It also lists requirements including livestream permission, a Google Cloud project with YouTube Data API v3 enabled, and an OAuth 2.0 desktop client. Check the plugin listing for current compatibility and requirements before installing it.
Common problems and what to check
- OBS plays files, but the YouTube playlist does not change: you configured local VLC playback. Playlist insertion requires a separate authorized YouTube Data API request.
- The API request cannot add the video: verify the destination playlist ID, video ID, resource kind (
youtube#video), request fields, and OAuth authorization for the account that can edit the playlist. - New uploads are not appearing automatically: playlist insertion only acts on videos supplied to it. Check that your separate discovery step is finding the right channel’s uploads and passing qualifying video IDs to the insertion step.
- A broadcast renews, but no upload is added: broadcast renewal and playlist editing are different operations. Configure playlist insertion separately.
- The same upload is added more than once: make the automation check existing playlist items or keep its own record of processed video IDs before inserting.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your real goal is to keep uploaded videos playing on a YouTube channel around the clock, StreamNeo is a separate cloud option—not a tool for automatically editing YouTube playlist membership. Upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded videos from the cloud, so your computer and home connection do not need to stay on.
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