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Use OBS Studio’s VLC Video source for a playlist of multiple files. Add the videos to its playlist, arrange them, and enable Loop Playlist if you want the sequence to repeat. You can change or switch the content OBS sends while the YouTube stream remains active; you do not need to stop OBS just to change a media source. Switching without a visible gap is not guaranteed, so preview the change before relying on it.
Choose the right OBS source
| Source | Best for | Repeat and ordering |
|---|---|---|
| VLC Video | A playlist of multiple files | Can loop the playlist or shuffle its order. |
| Media Source | A single video file | Can loop that file; it is not the multi-file playlist source. |
OBS’s source documentation describes VLC Video playlist settings, including Loop Playlist and Shuffle Playlist. The documentation page is dated January 11, 2022, so labels or controls in your installed version may differ.
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Set up a rotating playlist in OBS
- Install VLC Media Player. VLC Video depends on VLC being installed. Match its architecture to OBS: OBS documentation specifies 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS.
- Choose the scene. In OBS, select the scene where the playlist should appear. Add a VLC Video source to that scene. If several scenes should show the same playlist, add or configure the source for the scenes as needed.
- Add and order your files. Open the VLC Video source’s properties, add the video files to its playlist, and arrange them in the desired sequence. Leave Shuffle Playlist off for a fixed order; turn it on for randomized playback.
- Choose whether the playlist repeats. Turn on Loop Playlist to start again after the final item. Leave it off to play through the queue once.
- Set behavior when the source is hidden. Choose whether playback stops and restarts, pauses and resumes, or continues playing while hidden. If the playlist must keep advancing as you switch scenes, select the behavior that keeps it playing while hidden. Check the result in your OBS version.
- Start or keep running the YouTube stream. YouTube’s encoder workflow uses a stream URL and stream key in OBS; preview the incoming feed in YouTube before going live. Keep OBS streaming while you change the source or visible scene. YouTube says to stop sending content from the encoder to finish a stream, so do not use that end-stream action merely to change playlist content.
OBS’s media source guide documents the source settings. YouTube’s encoder setup instructions explain connecting the encoder, while its stream-ending guidance covers stopping the encoder feed. The conclusion that a source change does not require ending the stream follows from those separate workflows; it is not a promise that every switch will be gap-free.
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Rotate automatically or choose an item manually
Automatic rotation
With multiple files in VLC Video, OBS advances through the playlist. Loop Playlist repeats the queue; Shuffle Playlist changes the ordering. This is the simplest option when you want videos to cycle without manually selecting each one.
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Manual selection
If by “rotate” you mean jumping to a particular item or moving to the next or previous one on demand, the VLC source implementation exposes playlist navigation controls. Their exact placement and availability may vary by OBS version. A controller or macro keypad is optional, not required for automatic playback.
Keep the YouTube stream intact while changing content
OBS composes the scene and sends its output through the encoder connection. YouTube receives that feed using the stream URL and key configured in OBS. Changing which source or scene is visible changes the content being composed; ending the encoder feed is a separate action. Before making a live change, check the OBS preview and YouTube’s stream preview so you can catch a missing source or playback problem. Neither the documented source workflow nor YouTube’s encoder guidance guarantees frame-accurate, seamless switching.
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What YouTube Live Redirect does—and does not do
Live Redirect is a handoff after a stream ends, for sending viewers to a Premiere or another live stream. It does not rotate files inside an OBS stream that is still running. YouTube lists eligibility for channels sending redirects as more than 1,000 subscribers and no Community Guideline strikes; see its Live Redirect requirements.
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- VLC Video is missing or unavailable: Install VLC Media Player, then confirm its architecture matches OBS. For 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC.
- Only one file plays: Check that you added a VLC Video source and populated its playlist. Media Source is intended for an individual file.
- The playlist stops at the last file: Enable Loop Playlist if you want playback to begin again at the start of the queue.
- Items appear in an unexpected order: Check whether Shuffle Playlist is enabled. Disable it for a fixed sequence, then arrange the files in the playlist.
- Playback stops or restarts after changing scenes: Review the source’s visibility behavior. Choose the mode that keeps playback active while hidden if the playlist should progress off-scene.
- The YouTube stream ends when you change content: Avoid the action that stops sending content from the encoder. Change the OBS source or visible scene instead, and verify YouTube still shows the incoming feed.
- A video does not play as expected: The cited OBS guidance does not establish a complete codec-compatibility matrix for every operating system. Test each file in the actual setup before using it in a live stream.
- You cannot start your first YouTube livestream yet: YouTube says enabling livestreaming for the first time can take up to 24 hours. Check the channel’s live-streaming setup before scheduling the broadcast.
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