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To loop a sequence of local video files in OBS, add a VLC Video source, add the files to its playlist, leave Shuffle Playlist off, and enable Loop Playlist. The built-in Media Source repeats one file; it is not OBS’s documented multi-file playlist feature. You’ll need VLC installed, with 64-bit VLC if you use 64-bit OBS. OBS’s Media Sources guide documents these controls.
First, identify what kind of playlist you want to stream
OBS handles local files and a YouTube playlist webpage differently. The reliable, documented playlist workflow is for video files stored on your computer. If you mean a playlist hosted on YouTube, don’t paste its URL into Media Source: that source is for supported media files, not a webpage URL. An OBS forum discussion describes the URL as opening a webpage/player rather than supplying a direct media file; treat that as community troubleshooting guidance, not a formal compatibility guarantee. Read the OBS forum discussion.
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OBS’s Sources Guide identifies Browser Source as the source type for displaying webpages. However, the official material cited here does not establish that a YouTube playlist will autoplay continuously and reliably inside Browser Source. Test that route with your exact playlist and browser settings before relying on it for a broadcast.
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Set up a looping playlist of local videos
1. Install VLC and check its architecture
Install VLC before adding the playlist source. VLC Video depends on VLC being installed; if OBS is 64-bit, OBS’s documentation specifies 64-bit VLC. If VLC Video does not appear in OBS, first check that VLC is installed and that the 64-bit versions match.
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2. Add a VLC Video source to your scene
- In OBS, select the scene that should show the playlist.
- In the Sources panel, click the add button and choose VLC Video.
- Name the source if prompted, then open its properties.
- Add the local video files to the playlist in the order you want them to play.
Use VLC Video for multiple files. OBS’s built-in Media Source is suited to one supported media file; its Loop option repeats that selected file, rather than looping a multi-item list. The labels and behavior are described in OBS’s Media Sources documentation.
3. Set order and looping
- Keep Shuffle Playlist off to preserve the playlist order.
- Enable Loop Playlist so playback returns to the first item after the final item.
OBS documents loop-on and shuffle-off as the VLC Video defaults, but verify the settings rather than assuming they remain unchanged.
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4. Decide what happens when the source is hidden
VLC Video’s documented default is Stop when not visible, restart when visible. If the playlist must continue while you switch to a scene where that source is hidden, select the behavior that continues playback while hidden. “Visible” refers to the source’s visibility in the active scene, not whether the OBS application window is on screen. Check the source’s visibility setting in its properties and test a scene transition before going live.
5. Test the full broadcast path
Preview every file, confirm audio and scene transitions, and let the playlist run long enough to observe it reach the end and restart. OBS documents the loop control but does not promise gapless transitions or an uninterrupted stream. Check that the broadcast is receiving the intended video and audio before relying on it for a long session.
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Choose the right OBS source for the job
| OBS source | Best fit | Playlist and looping behavior | Dependency or caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media Source | One local media file | Loop repeats the selected file; it is not the documented multi-file playlist control. | Built into OBS. |
| VLC Video | A sequence of local video files | Loop Playlist repeats the list; Shuffle Playlist controls whether order is randomized. | Requires VLC installed; use 64-bit VLC with 64-bit OBS. |
| Browser Source | Displaying a webpage | The official sources cited here do not establish reliable YouTube playlist autoplay. | Test the webpage behavior; do not treat it as equivalent to a local-file playlist. |
Troubleshoot common playlist problems
VLC Video is missing
Install VLC and restart OBS. If you are running 64-bit OBS, check that VLC is 64-bit too.
The playlist plays only one file repeatedly
Check that you added a VLC Video source and populated its playlist. Media Source’s Loop setting repeats a single file.
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The files play in the wrong order
Turn off Shuffle Playlist and confirm the order of the files in the VLC Video playlist.
Playback stops or restarts after a scene change
Review the source’s visibility behavior. The default stops playback when the source is not visible and restarts it when visible; choose the continue-while-hidden behavior if playback must carry on across scenes.
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A YouTube playlist URL does not play as a video
A YouTube playlist URL is a webpage address, not a local media file for Media Source. Browser Source displays webpages, but continuous playlist autoplay is not guaranteed by the OBS documentation cited above. Test that approach rather than assuming it will behave like VLC Video.
You need playlist controls beyond the built-in sources
An OBS forum resource lists a third-party plugin called Media Playlist Source, which uses Media Source internally and adds playlist controls. Its compatibility requirements can change; review the plugin author’s current version requirements and source before installing it. See the OBS forum resource.
Or let it run in the cloud
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