Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsTo stream a playlist of local videos through OBS to YouTube, install VLC with the same system architecture as OBS, add a VLC Video source to a scene, configure its playlist and playback behavior, then connect OBS to YouTube with the server URL and stream key from YouTube Studio. Test the picture and audio before you go live.
What the OBS VLC Video source does
OBS’s VLC Video source plays multiple media items as a playlist inside an OBS scene. It uses VLC libraries for extended media support over OBS’s built-in Media Source, which is intended for individual media files. As OBS Project puts it, “This source type will use the VLC libraries for extended media support over the built-in Media Source.” OBS Project: Media Sources
The playlist is the content OBS plays; YouTube’s stream URL and key are separate connection details that send OBS’s encoded output to your channel. This setup is for streaming local media through OBS, not importing a YouTube playlist into VLC.
1. Install VLC and check compatibility
Install VLC before adding the source. The VLC Video source may not appear in OBS until VLC is installed, and the two applications must have matching architecture: 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. OBS lists VLC Video as available on Windows, macOS, and Linux when the VLC prerequisite is met. See the OBS Media Sources documentation.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
2. Add a scene and build the playlist
-
In OBS, create a scene or select the scene where the playlist should appear.
-
In the Sources dock, click the plus button and choose VLC Video. OBS’s Sources Guide describes adding sources to a scene from this dock.
-
Open the source properties and add the local media items to the playlist. Arrange the items in the order you want them to play.
-
Set the playlist behavior using the available controls:
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Rank #2
Anker USB-C Hub, 5-in-1 USB Hub for Laptops, 4K HDMI Multiport Adapter- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
- Loop Playlist: On by default; restart the playlist after its final item.
- Shuffle Playlist: Off by default; turn it on to randomize playback order.
- Visibility Behaviour: By default, playback stops while the source is hidden and restarts when it becomes visible. Choose a different behavior if your scene workflow requires it.
- Network caching: The documented default is 400 ms. Adjustment is an option when diagnosing buffering with network media; OBS does not provide a tuning recipe in its documentation.
- Audio Track: Track 1 is the default. Select the intended track if the media uses another one.
- Subtitles: Off by default. Enable them and select a subtitle track if you need subtitles.
These controls and defaults are documented by OBS under Media Sources.
3. Fit the playlist into the scene
Select the VLC Video source and position it in the preview. In the Sources list, items higher in the stack render over items below them, so move the playlist above backgrounds and below any overlays that should appear on top. Drag the preview bounding box to resize. For precise positioning, use Edit Transform; to crop, use Alt-drag on Windows or Option-drag on macOS. See the OBS Sources Guide.
4. Connect OBS to YouTube Live
-
Open YouTube Studio and select Create → Go Live. In Live Control Room, open the Stream tab. First-time users can create a stream; returning users may be able to reuse prior settings. Follow YouTube’s encoder streaming instructions.
-
Copy the stream URL and stream key shown in Live Control Room. In OBS, open stream settings and enter them in the server/service and stream-key fields. OBS’s streaming setup overview explains those connection fields.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Rank #3
Sale
Anker USB C Hub, 7in1 Multi-Port USB Adapter, 4K@60Hz USBC to HDMI Splitter- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
-
For a scheduled broadcast, wait until the preview appears in Live Control Room, then select Go live. Setting up OBS’s connection alone does not start the YouTube broadcast.
YouTube says enabling live streaming for the first time may take up to 24 hours, so enable it ahead of a planned broadcast. Menu labels can change; if the current interface differs, follow the latest instructions in YouTube Studio.
5. Check audio and test before broadcasting
Play the playlist and watch the OBS Audio Mixer meters to confirm that the intended audio is active. If you want to catch framing, playback, or audio problems before your first live broadcast, make a short test stream or recording. OBS recommends testing before going live; see its Quick Start Guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common problems and fixes
-
VLC Video is missing from the source list: Install VLC, then check that its architecture matches OBS. In particular, 64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Rank #4
Sale
UGREEN USB to USB C Adapter Combo 4-Pack, 10Gbps USB C Converter Space Gray- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
-
Playlist items do not repeat or play in the expected order: Check Loop Playlist and Shuffle Playlist; looping is on and shuffle is off by default.
-
Playback stops or restarts when you change scenes: Review Visibility Behaviour and whether the source is visible in the active scene.
-
The playlist is covered or badly framed: Adjust the source’s position in the Sources stack, resize its bounding box, or use Edit Transform and crop controls.
-
You cannot hear the playlist: Check the Audio Mixer meters and the VLC source’s selected audio track. Track 1 is the documented default; other routing or monitoring problems may require checking your broader OBS audio configuration.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Best Value
Anker USB C Hub, 5-in-1 USBC to HDMI Splitter with 4K Display- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
-
OBS connects but the YouTube broadcast does not start: Verify the stream URL and key against Live Control Room. For a scheduled stream, wait for the preview and select Go live.
When to use VLC Video instead of Media Source
Use VLC Video when you need a playlist or VLC-library support and are willing to install a compatible VLC version. Use Media Source when a single media file and OBS’s built-in media support are sufficient. OBS describes the distinction in its Media Sources documentation.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep uploaded videos playing on YouTube around the clock, StreamNeo is an alternative to running OBS on a computer. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; StreamNeo loops it from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. It plays uploaded videos rather than broadcasting from a camera, and streams to YouTube only.
-
Any quality up to 4K 60fps streams as uploaded, at one flat price per slot.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy. -
Automatic recovery is included if YouTube drops the stream.
-
The first day is free with no card; one free day per account.
Quick Recap
Bestseller No. 5 -
Monthly: $9.99 per month.
See StreamNeo for details, 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.
