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You can keep OBS streaming to YouTube while changing what appears in the program output, but OBS does not document a reliable way to replace a file in the VLC playlist that is already playing without disrupting playback. The cautious option is to prepare a second scene with its own playlist, update that inactive playlist, then switch scenes—after rehearsing the transition. Keep OBS’s stream running and watch YouTube Live Control Room; do not assume every playlist edit will be invisible to viewers.
What you can—and cannot—reliably change live
OBS’s Media Sources documentation describes VLC Video Source as supporting playlists, but it does not promise that editing a playlist during playback will reload its contents smoothly. A user in an OBS forum discussion reported mixed results after editing and saving a playlist during a live broadcast; another described playback resetting to the first video after changing a playlist. These are individual reports, not a guarantee of what will happen in your setup (2023 discussion; 2020 discussion).
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There are two separate things to keep in mind: the media source determines what OBS plays, while the streaming output sends OBS’s program to YouTube. YouTube describes the stream key as the credential that tells the encoder where to send the feed and allows YouTube to accept it (Manage live stream settings). Changing scenes does not require pressing Stop Streaming, but that alone does not guarantee uninterrupted video or audio during a source change.
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Prepare two scenes before the broadcast
- Install VLC. OBS requires VLC for VLC Video Source. If you use 64-bit OBS, OBS’s guide specifies 64-bit VLC.
- Create a primary scene and an alternate scene. Add a VLC Video Source to each and point each source to its own playlist file. Keep the alternate scene out of program output until you are ready to switch.
- Set and check playlist behavior. OBS documents Loop Playlist as on by default and Shuffle Playlist as off by default. Its documented default Visibility Behaviour is “Stop when not visible, restart when visible.” This setting controls whether playback continues while a source is hidden, so check it before relying on a scene switch.
- Rehearse the update. With the primary scene playing, add or replace a file in the alternate scene’s playlist and switch to it. Check the picture, audio, playback position, and YouTube Live Control Room status. The dual-scene method is a community suggestion, not a documented guarantee.
- Plan a transition. Decide whether to switch directly or show a holding scene briefly. Make sure a transition does not hide or stop the only source you need to keep playing.
Replace a video during the live broadcast
- Leave OBS’s streaming output active. Do not press Stop Streaming just to change the program scene.
- Update the playlist file belonging to the inactive scene, rather than editing the playlist currently playing. Save the playlist and confirm the new item appears as expected in your rehearsed setup.
- Switch to the prepared scene. Watch OBS’s program output for the expected video and audio, and check YouTube Live Control Room for continuing stream status.
- If playback is missing, begins at an unexpected point, or audio drops, switch back to the known-good scene if available. Avoid repeatedly changing the active playlist while viewers are waiting; reload behavior is not established by OBS’s documentation.
OBS’s visibility behavior matters during this process: the documented default stops a VLC source when it becomes hidden and restarts it when visible. A scene change can therefore affect media playback even while the encoder connection remains active.
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Active playlist edit vs. alternate scene
| Approach | What is established | Main risk | Safer use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edit the playlist that is playing | OBS documents VLC playlists, but not reliable live reloading after an edit. | Changes may not reload consistently; playback may reset or need intervention, according to forum user reports. | Test away from a public broadcast; do not depend on a seamless update. |
| Update an inactive scene’s playlist, then switch | A forum reply suggests this workaround and cautions that it may still fail. | The new scene may not load as expected, and source visibility settings can stop or restart playback. | Rehearse the playlist update, scene switch, and recovery before using it live. |
Troubleshooting a change that does not appear
- The new file is absent: Confirm you edited the playlist file used by the inactive VLC Video Source and saved it. OBS does not document live reload as dependable, so rehearse the exact file and switch sequence first.
- The video restarts or jumps to the beginning: This behavior has been reported in OBS forum discussions, but those reports do not establish a universal cause. Check the source’s visibility behavior and test the sequence before relying on it.
- The source stops when you switch away: Check VLC Video Source’s Visibility Behaviour. OBS documents “Stop when not visible, restart when visible” as the default; choose and test the behavior that fits your scene design.
- YouTube appears to lose the feed: Verify that OBS is still streaming and check stream status in Live Control Room. YouTube’s stream key identifies the encoder destination; it does not establish that every scene or playlist edit will be uninterrupted.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is an always-on YouTube channel rather than operating OBS on a computer, StreamNeo runs uploaded videos and playlists from the cloud: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it streams the video as uploaded, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. It streams to YouTube, not from a camera. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start the free day.
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