To stream a looping slideshow, add OBS’s built-in Image Slide Show source to a scene, add your pictures, leave Loop enabled, connect OBS to a YouTube Live broadcast, then test the stream before your event. The steps below cover slideshow timing, YouTube settings, stream-key safety, and common problems.
Build the slideshow scene in OBS
- Open OBS Studio and select the scene you want to use, or create one in the Scenes panel.
- In Sources, select +, then choose Image Slide Show.
- Give the source a name if prompted. In its properties, use the + control to add individual image files or directories. OBS documents support for BMP, TGA, PNG, JPEG, JPG, and GIF images. The source is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. OBS Project: Image Sources.
- Arrange and size the source in the preview. If needed, right-click the source and use Transform options to fit it to the canvas.
In the source properties, choose automatic or manual/hotkey slide mode, a transition, the time between slides, and transition speed. OBS’s published defaults are automatic mode, fade, 8,000 milliseconds between slides, and 700 milliseconds for transition speed. Adjust them to suit the pace of your presentation.
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Leave Loop enabled to restart the sequence after the final image; OBS lists it as on by default. Hide when slideshow is done defaults off. With looping enabled, the slideshow restarts rather than finishing. You can also set whether it continues playing while the source is not visible and whether playback is randomized. Turn random playback off when image order matters.
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| Material | OBS source | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| A group of still images | Image Slide Show | Directly accepts multiple files or directories and has slideshow timing, transitions, and a Loop option. |
| A slideshow already rendered as one video | Media Source | Use the source’s looping option to repeat a local media file. See OBS Project: Media Sources. |
| A playlist of video files | VLC Video | Supports playlists; Loop Playlist defaults on. VLC must be installed, and 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. See OBS Project: Media Sources. |
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, open the Live Control Room and create or select the broadcast you want to use. Follow YouTube’s current prompts for broadcast setup and account eligibility; interface labels and requirements can change.
- In OBS, connect using the YouTube service integration if it is offered in your version, or enter the stream connection details YouTube provides. YouTube accepts RTMP/RTMPS encoder streams and recommends RTMPS, the secure extension of RTMP. Current encoder guidance is at YouTube Help: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
- If you use a stream key, treat it like a password: do not share it, publish it, or show it in a screenshot. If it is exposed, replace it in YouTube Studio and update OBS with the new key.
- Start streaming from OBS, then check the incoming preview and status in YouTube’s Live Control Room. Start or schedule the broadcast there according to the controls shown for your event.
A 2015 OBS Forum walkthrough describes the general connection idea, but its specific labels and timing details may no longer match current interfaces. Use current YouTube and OBS screens rather than relying on its exact click path: OBS Forums: How to stream to YouTube with OBS Studio.
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Set video and bitrate for a stable stream
Choose settings your upload connection and computer can sustain, rather than treating the highest resolution or frame rate as automatically best. YouTube recommends running a speed test, testing at the actual stream settings, and monitoring stream health during the event. Its current encoder guidance gives these example recommended bitrates:
| Resolution and frame rate | H.264 | AV1 or H.265 |
|---|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 6 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 14 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 17 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s recommended ingestion settings, not a guarantee of stability on a particular connection or computer. YouTube’s guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS; H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video; up to 60 fps; AAC or MP3 audio; CBR bitrate encoding; and a recommended two-second keyframe interval that must not exceed four seconds. Check YouTube’s encoder page for the full, current table and settings before configuring an event.
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For a mostly static slideshow, a higher frame rate may not improve the presentation. Pick a resolution and frame rate that fit the images, audience needs, and measured upload headroom. If the broadcast is interactive, latency may matter too; YouTube notes that 4K/2160 streams do not offer the “improve for low latency” option and are optimized for quality at normal latency.
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Test the loop and broadcast before the event
- Preview the OBS scene. Confirm that each image is framed as intended, the selected order is right, the slide duration is comfortable, and transitions look correct.
- Watch the sequence reach its last image and return to the first. If it stops, check that Loop is enabled and that Hide when slideshow is done is not hiding the source.
- Run a test stream with the same resolution, frame rate, codec, and bitrate planned for the event. If the program includes audio, include it in the test.
- Check YouTube’s incoming preview and stream-health messages. YouTube advises: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream. Tests should include audio and movement in the video similar to what you’ll be doing in the stream.” Monitor stream health and messages while live.
Check computer compatibility and performance
OBS’s system-requirements page, published August 25, 2021, lists Windows 10 or 11 with a DirectX 10.1-compatible GPU; macOS 11 (“Big Sur”) or later on Intel or Apple Silicon with an OpenGL 3.3-compatible GPU; and Linux/Unix with an OpenGL 3.3-compatible GPU and X Window System or Wayland. These are baseline requirements from that dated page, not a promise that a particular computer can stream reliably. OBS says performance depends on encoder, resolution, frame rate, and scene complexity. Use Tools → Auto Configuration Wizard to find settings suited to your hardware, and check the current OBS requirements at OBS Project: System Requirements.
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Troubleshoot common slideshow-stream problems
- The slideshow is blank or missing images: Confirm the files or directories were added to the Image Slide Show source, the source is visible in the scene, and the source is not hidden behind another full-screen source. Check that the files use a documented image format.
- The slideshow stops at the last image: Open the source properties and enable Loop. Check whether Hide when slideshow is done is enabled.
- The order changes unexpectedly: Disable random playback. Use manual/hotkey mode if you need to control when each slide advances.
- The stream does not appear in YouTube: Confirm that OBS is connected to the intended broadcast and that the stream key or service connection is current. Check YouTube’s Live Control Room for incoming status and follow any prompts displayed there.
- YouTube reports poor stream health or the stream drops: Compare your OBS bitrate with YouTube’s recommendation for the chosen resolution, frame rate, and codec; test your upload connection; and lower the stream load if your connection cannot sustain it. Review OBS and YouTube health messages rather than assuming the published bitrate alone ensures stability.
- The computer struggles or frames are missed: Reduce resolution or frame rate, try the Auto Configuration Wizard, and test again. Hardware requirements alone do not establish streaming capacity.
- The VLC playlist source is unavailable: Install VLC and ensure its architecture matches OBS; the OBS documentation specifies 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS.
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