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To stream videos saved in a Windows folder as a YouTube Live broadcast, add them to OBS as a VLC Video playlist, connect OBS to YouTube with your stream URL and key, then preview the feed and make the event live in YouTube Studio. VLC must be installed for the playlist source. For a single video, OBS’s built-in Media Source is the simpler choice.
Before you start: check channel eligibility and prepare the PC
- Your YouTube channel must be verified and must not have had a live-streaming restriction in the previous 90 days. If this is your first time enabling live streaming, YouTube says activation can take up to 24 hours, so enable it well before the event. See YouTube’s live-streaming requirements.
- OBS lists Windows 10 and Windows 11 among its supported operating systems. Meeting the operating-system requirement does not guarantee that a PC can encode every resolution or frame rate smoothly; use OBS’s Auto-Configuration Wizard as a starting point. See the OBS Quick Start Guide and OBS system requirements.
- For an ordered playlist, install VLC as well as OBS. The VLC Video source appears in OBS only when VLC is installed, and 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. Check the architecture of your OBS installation before downloading VLC.
- Put the videos you intend to use in an easy-to-find folder and test the actual files on the streaming PC. A familiar file extension does not guarantee that every codec inside it will decode correctly on that Windows installation.
Choose the right OBS source
| OBS source | Best for | What it does | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| VLC Video | A folder’s worth of files or another multi-video playlist | Plays a list of videos in a chosen order, with options to shuffle or loop the playlist. | VLC installed; its architecture must match OBS. |
| Media Source | One local video file | Plays an individual file and provides per-file playback and loop options. | Built into OBS; VLC is not required. |
OBS documents common containers such as MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF and WebM, but the container name alone does not establish that a particular file’s video and audio codecs will work. Test each representative file in OBS before broadcasting. See OBS Media Sources documentation.
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Add and configure the folder playlist in OBS
- Create or select a scene. In OBS, choose the scene you want to use, or create one in the Scenes dock. The scene is the layout that YouTube viewers will receive.
- Add the playlist source. In the Sources dock, click + and select VLC Video. If it is not in the menu, install VLC and confirm that its 32-bit or 64-bit architecture matches OBS.
- Add the video files. In the source’s properties, add the files to its playlist. Arrange them in the order you want them to play.
- Set playlist behavior. Turn Shuffle Playlist off for a fixed sequence. Turn Loop Playlist on if the sequence should start over after its final file; leave it off if it should stop at the end.
- Check visibility behavior. Review the source’s Visibility Behaviour setting. If it is configured to stop playback when hidden, hiding the source can interrupt playback rather than letting it continue in the background.
- Fit the video to the scene. Make sure the source is visible in the preview and positioned and sized as intended. Confirm that the video is not cropped or hidden behind another source.
- Check sound. Play a representative file and watch the OBS Audio Mixer meters. Listen to the output if possible; visible meter movement confirms audio is reaching the mixer, but not by itself that the level or sound is appropriate.
For one file instead of a list, click + in Sources and choose Media Source, select the local file, and configure its loop and visibility options. OBS’s Sources Guide explains how sources fit into a scene.
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Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. Create an encoder stream or select the scheduled stream you plan to use. Choose the intended privacy setting—public, unlisted or private—in YouTube Studio.
- Copy the stream details. Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for that stream. In OBS, open Settings → Stream, select YouTube as the service when available, and enter the connection details as prompted. YouTube describes the key as the credential that allows an encoder to send its feed; treat it like a password. Do not publish it or share it.
- Prefer RTMPS when available. YouTube recommends RTMPS, which encrypts the connection to its ingest service. Use YouTube’s service option or its RTMPS ingest settings when supported by your OBS setup. See YouTube’s encoder setup guidance and live-streaming tips and encoder settings.
- Start sending the feed from OBS. Start streaming in OBS, then check the Live Control Room for the incoming preview and stream health. Sending a feed from OBS and making a scheduled broadcast available to viewers are separate actions.
- Go live when ready. For a scheduled stream, review the preview and use YouTube’s Go live control when you are ready to begin. Follow the controls shown for the selected stream because YouTube’s interface can change. YouTube’s current encoder instructions are at Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
Choose output settings and test the complete stream
There is no one correct bitrate for every Windows PC and internet connection. Output settings need to suit the resolution and frame rate you choose, the encoder and the available upload capacity. Start with OBS’s Auto-Configuration Wizard, then compare the settings with YouTube’s current recommended encoder settings, bitrates and resolutions. Avoid selecting a high output target that your upload connection cannot sustain.
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- Run a private or unlisted test when appropriate, before the public event.
- Use the actual playlist and representative video and audio, rather than testing only an empty scene.
- Confirm that the first file, order, loop behavior, picture framing and audio are correct.
- Check the YouTube preview and stream-health indicators before and during the event.
- If video stutters or the connection struggles, revisit the OBS output configuration, test upload capacity and consult YouTube’s stream-health feedback before changing resolution or bitrate.
Protect your stream key and respect content rights
Only broadcast video and audio you own or are authorized to use. YouTube’s setup guidance warns creators to ensure their content follows platform rules, but a file being on your computer—or being available online—does not establish that you have permission to rebroadcast it. Check the rights for both picture and sound before streaming.
If your stream key is exposed, reset it in YouTube’s Live Control Room and update OBS with the replacement. YouTube’s live stream settings guidance covers managing stream settings.
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Troubleshooting OBS-to-YouTube playback
| Problem | Likely cause | What to check or do |
|---|---|---|
| VLC Video is missing from Sources | VLC is not installed or its architecture does not match OBS. | Install VLC in the architecture matching OBS (64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC), then reopen or check OBS. |
| A file will not appear or play | The file path may be wrong, or its codec combination may not decode on this PC. | Confirm the file is accessible and test it in OBS. Try another known-good file; do not assume the extension alone guarantees compatibility. |
| The playlist stops after one video | Loop Playlist may be off, or the sequence may have reached its end. | Enable Loop Playlist if it should restart after the final item. |
| Playback stops when changing scenes or hiding the source | Visibility Behaviour may be set to stop playback when the source is hidden. | Review that setting and keep the source visible if it must continue playing. |
| YouTube shows no incoming signal | OBS may not be sending, or the server URL or stream key may be incorrect. | Check that OBS is streaming and confirm the stream URL and key against the selected YouTube stream. Reset an exposed key and update OBS. |
| The channel cannot start a live stream | The channel may not be verified, may have a recent live restriction, or first-time activation may still be pending. | Check YouTube’s eligibility guidance and allow up to 24 hours for initial activation. |
| Stream health reports connection or quality issues | The chosen output may exceed what the encoder or upload connection can sustain. | Use OBS’s configuration wizard, test upload capacity and consult YouTube’s stream-health feedback and encoder recommendations. There is no universal bitrate that fits every connection and target. |
End the broadcast cleanly
When the event is over, end the broadcast in YouTube’s Live Control Room as applicable, then stop streaming in OBS. YouTube says encoder streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived; this duration applies to encoder streams and does not guarantee an archive for longer broadcasts. Check the resulting video in YouTube Studio.
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