What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
First identify what is missing: a YouTube playlist, an OBS scene or source setup, an external playlist file, or the video and audio files themselves. Each has a different recovery path. If the only copy of an external playlist or its media is gone, YouTube and OBS cannot reconstruct it; you will need another surviving copy or must rebuild the list from your own records.
Identify which playlist or file disappeared
“Playlist” can refer to several different things in a 24/7 bedtime-story setup. Work out which one is missing before changing the running stream:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- A YouTube playlist: a playlist managed on YouTube, separate from the files your encoder plays.
- An OBS scene collection or source: the saved OBS arrangement that may contain a Media Source or VLC Video source.
- An external playlist file: a list used by your streaming software to locate and sequence media.
- Source media: the actual story recordings, narration, music, or sound effects referenced by the playlist.
If you are unsure, note what still appears in YouTube Studio and OBS, what is missing from the computer, and whether the stream is still live. The recovery path depends on the software, operating system, source type, and whether another copy exists; YouTube and OBS do not document a universal recovery procedure or guaranteed file location.
The Tool Desk
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 a YouTube playlist disappeared
Check YouTube’s playlist controls and your library to see whether the playlist is simply no longer saved there. YouTube Help explains playlist management and deletion behavior, but saving a playlist to your library is for finding it later, not a documented way to restore a deleted playlist. YouTube says a deleted playlist’s URL and title stop appearing or being searchable in Analytics, although the old playlist may still appear in viewers’ watch histories. See Create & manage playlists and Save playlists.
#1 Best Overall
- USB-C 2-in-1 storage OTG: The Lexar JumpDrive Dual Drive D40E features USB Type-A and Type-C connectors in a slim, portable form factor for easy device compatibility
- Transfer speeds up to 100MB/s: Based on internal testing, performance may vary depending upon the host device, interface, and usage conditions. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes
- Plug and Play: Widely compatible with USB Type-C smartphones, tablets, laptops, Macs, and traditional Type-A devices, no software installation required. The 360° swivel design allows for easy switching between connectors without the hassle of losing a cap
- Durable & Compact: The Lexar D40E USB memory stick features a metal enclosure, withstands temperatures from 0° to 50° C (32°F to 122°F), and is lightweight at 26g with dimensions of 70.4 x 16.9 x 11.7mm
- Security & Warranty: Securely protects files using an advanced security software solution with 256-bit AES encryption. Backed by a Lexar 3-year limited warranty
If an OBS source or external file disappeared
In OBS, distinguish a single-file Media Source from VLC Video, which can hold multiple media items and loop a playlist. Inspect the scene collection used for the stream and check which source type and media paths remain. OBS describes these source behaviors in its Media Sources documentation.
Protect a stream and configuration that still work
If the live stream is still running, do not reload OBS, change the active source, or restart the stream just to investigate. First record or preserve what remains. This is cautious troubleshooting judgment, not a recovery step promised by YouTube or OBS.
Rank #2
- High-speed USB 3.0 performance of up to 150MB/s(1) [(1) Write to drive up to 15x faster than standard USB 2.0 drives (4MB/s); varies by drive capacity. Up to 150MB/s read speed. USB 3.0 port required. Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device, usage conditions, and other factors; 1MB=1,000,000 bytes]
- Transfer a full-length movie in less than 30 seconds(2) [(2) Based on 1.2GB MPEG-4 video transfer with USB 3.0 host device. Results may vary based on host device, file attributes and other factors]
- Transfer to drive up to 15 times faster than standard USB 2.0 drives(1)
- Sleek, durable metal casing
- Easy-to-use password protection for your private files(3) [(3)Password protection uses 128-bit AES encryption and is supported by Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Mac OS X v10.9 plus; Software download required for Mac, visit the SanDisk SecureAccess support page]
- Record the current state: note the active scene, source names, source type, visible playlist entries, and any media paths you can see.
- Preserve the scene collection: export or otherwise copy any surviving OBS scene collection before editing it. OBS says scene collections save scenes and sources and can be imported later. See Scene Collections.
- Preserve the OBS profile separately: output settings are stored in profiles, not in scene collections. Keep the profile and relevant stream settings too.
- Avoid overwriting possible backups: if you find an older copy, duplicate it before opening or editing it.
A scene collection may retain useful source setup, but OBS documentation does not promise it contains a restorable external playlist file or the missing media itself.
Look for surviving playlist data, media, and archives
Inspect the remaining OBS collections and sources
Open the collection associated with the stream and inspect the relevant source. A surviving VLC Video source may still show configured entries. A scene collection may preserve source setup or paths, but those paths do not guarantee that the files still exist. An OBS plugin cannot recreate playlist data that has disappeared.
Rank #3
- What You Get - 2 pack 64GB genuine USB 2.0 flash drives, 12-month warranty and lifetime friendly customer service
- Great for All Ages and Purposes – the thumb drives are suitable for storing digital data for school, business or daily usage. Apply to data storage of music, photos, movies and other files
- Easy to Use - Plug and play USB memory stick, no need to install any software. Support Windows 7 / 8 / 10 / Vista / XP / Unix / 2000 / ME / NT Linux and Mac OS, compatible with USB 2.0 and 1.1 ports
- Convenient Design - 360°metal swivel cap with matt surface and ring designed zip drive can protect USB connector, avoid to leave your fingerprint and easily attach to your key chain to avoid from losing and for easy carrying
- Brand Yourself - Brand the flash drive with your company's name and provide company's overview, policies, etc. to the newly joined employees or your customers
There is also a third-party OBS Media Playlist Source plugin whose documentation describes playlist settings and inspecting source settings in a scene-collection JSON file. It is optional, has version compatibility requirements, and is not an official OBS recovery utility. It may help inspect surviving configuration; it is not evidence that lost data can be restored. See the Media Playlist Source plugin page.
Check copies you already maintain
Search places where you may have stored a copy: the computer’s recycle bin or trash, backups, synced-folder version history, exported scene collections, or an older machine. These are practical places to look, not guaranteed recovery methods. If you find a playlist, configuration, or media files, make a separate copy before testing them.
Rank #4
- GOOD VALUE PACKAGE - 1 Pack 32GB Memory Stick USB 2.0 Flash Drives with great cost performance and high quality.
- BIG CAPACITY - The available capacity: 29.10GB-29.8GB, You can save the data of movies, music, photos, designs, programs, manuals, handouts in a high speed.Good performance in digital data storing, transferring and sharing with families, friends, workmates, clients and machines.
- EASY TO USE & PLUG AND WORK - Support windows 7 / 8 / 10 / Vista / XP / 2000 / ME / NT Linux and Mac OS, Compatible with USB2.0 and below.
- TWISTTURN DESIGN & EASY CARRY - The metal clip rotates 360° round the ABS plastic body which with rubber oil skin feeling finish. The capless design can avoid lossing of cap, and providing efficient protection to the USB port.
- WARRANTY & SUPPORT - SIMMAX logo is laser printed on the USB connector surface, our products are of good quality and we promise that any problem about the product within one year since you buy.
Use YouTube archives only as recordings
YouTube Help says it can automatically archive live streams that are less than 12 hours long, while a stream exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all. YouTube also says, “We recommend recording a local archive as a backup.” See Archive live streams.
Recommended Free Tools
An available archive may provide a recording to consult, but YouTube’s documentation does not say it can restore an encoder’s playlist, source configuration, or a complete 24-hour history. DVR is not a substitute: YouTube says viewers cannot seek back before a stream went live, and DVR rewind may be limited or unavailable for streams longer than 12 hours. See Turn on DVR on live streams.
Best Value
- 【16GB Flash Drive】USB flash drives with 16GB capacity, meet your needs of daily use on work, school, home and travelling for photos, music, videos, files storage and transfer. IMEASON thumb drives can be used to store different files, easy to data backup.
- 【Metal Swivel Cap Design】USB thumb drive is metal swivel cover provides extra protection for the usb thumbdrive connector, no usb drive cap to lose; keychain design makes it easier to carry without worrying lose it.
- 【Wide Compatibility】USB drive supports Windows 7/8/10/11 / Vista / XP / Unix / 2000 / ME / NT Linux and Mac OS, also Supports USB 2.0 and 1.1 ports. USB Stick support TV, desktop, notebook computer, car, audio and other device. The USB Memory Stick is your great data storage and transfer companion with traveling and working.
- 【Easy to use】usb memory stick is plug and play without any software installation. Just simply plug the Flashdrive into the port of your USB-compatible devices such as computer, laptop to start data storage or transmission.
- 【What You Get】16 GB USB Flash Drive Thumb Drive, The default format of the usb storage flash drive is FAT32.
Rebuild the list and resume safely
If a surviving playlist, configuration, or backup exists, rebuild from that copy. If none survives, YouTube and OBS cannot recreate the missing source playlist for you. Rebuild it manually from reliable records, such as your own catalog or project notes, and locate the media files you are entitled to stream.
- Make a working copy: keep the original surviving configuration and media untouched while you assemble a replacement.
- Verify every item: confirm each referenced file exists, opens, and contains the expected story or audio. Remove broken paths rather than assuming the encoder will skip them correctly.
- Configure the source deliberately: add the intended files to the appropriate OBS source, then confirm order and loop behavior. OBS distinguishes a single-file Media Source from VLC Video’s multiple-item playlist and looping options.
- Test locally: play through enough of the sequence to confirm that items start, finish, and loop as intended before returning to continuous streaming.
- Resume with the correct YouTube settings: YouTube supports reusing previous stream settings in Live Control Room. It also allows resetting a stream key there. Treat the key as secret: YouTube describes it as the stream’s password and address. See Manage live stream settings.
Verify rights before restoring a bedtime stream
Bedtime content can include copyrighted stories, narration, music, or sound effects. YouTube says it scans live streams for third-party content; unresolved matches can interrupt or terminate a stream. If you have a licence, the rights owner may need to allowlist your channel. Check the rights for every item before putting the rebuilt playlist back on air. See Copyright issues with live streams.
Prevent another missing-playlist failure
Keep independent copies of both the source list or configuration and the media it references. A playlist backup without its source files may not be enough to restart the stream; media files without the intended order may leave you reconstructing the sequence.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
- Export or copy the OBS scene collection and preserve its matching profile separately.
- Keep a documented source list with file names, order, and any relevant paths.
- Back up the source media as well as the playlist or configuration, preferably somewhere separate from the streaming computer.
- Keep copies current and periodically verify that you can open the playlist or configuration and access the media.
- Record a local archive when appropriate. YouTube recommends a local archive as a backup, but it is a recording—not a playlist-restore feature.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you would rather not depend on a home computer staying on, StreamNeo runs uploaded videos as a continuous YouTube stream from the cloud. The setup is: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, then go live. Your computer can be off; StreamNeo loops the uploaded videos and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. It plays uploaded video, not a live camera feed.
Quick Recap
- One flat price per slot for any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
- The first day is free, with no card required.
- Monthly: $9.99 per month.
See StreamNeo or start your free day.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
