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To stream videos from a folder on a Windows PC as a YouTube Live broadcast, use OBS Studio with its VLC Video source: install VLC, add the files you want to play to the source playlist, then connect OBS to a stream created in YouTube Studio. The source can play a playlist in order, shuffle it, or loop it; it does not automatically watch a folder for new files.
Before you start: check YouTube access and prepare the files
You need a Windows PC with the video files, OBS Studio, VLC installed, a reliable internet connection, and a YouTube channel eligible to stream. YouTube says a channel must be verified, have no live-streaming restrictions in the past 90 days, and meet its stated minimum age of 16. Check access in YouTube Studio before planning an event; eligibility and interface details can change. YouTube’s live-streaming getting-started requirements
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- Choose the exact videos you intend to broadcast and confirm they play with sound locally.
- Use media you have the right to stream. A file being on your computer does not establish permission to broadcast it; copyright claims or restrictions can interrupt a stream.
- For a long playlist, arrange the files in the intended order and account for how long the playlist runs before it repeats or ends.
- Keep the YouTube stream key private. Anyone with the key may be able to send video to that stream.
Create the YouTube stream and get its connection details
- In YouTube Studio, select Create and then Go live to open Live Control Room.
- Create an encoder stream or select a scheduled one. Set its title, audience/privacy choice (public, unlisted, or private), and schedule as needed.
- In the stream settings, locate the stream URL/server URL and stream key. Copy both for OBS, and do not share the key publicly.
- Decide whether to enable auto-start and auto-stop. If you want to inspect the incoming picture before viewers can see the event, leave the manual preview-and-start workflow in place.
YouTube’s encoder setup and live-stream settings explain the available workflow and controls: encoder setup and live stream settings.
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Build a playlist from the Windows folder in OBS
- Install OBS Studio and VLC. OBS’s VLC Video source depends on VLC being installed; if you use 64-bit OBS, the OBS documentation specifies 64-bit VLC.
- Open OBS and choose or create the scene that will carry the video. Under Sources, select +, then VLC Video. Give the source a recognizable name.
- In the source properties, add the video files from the folder to the playlist. Select the files you actually want; the documented source adds media files and does not establish automatic folder monitoring.
- Arrange playlist order, then choose whether to shuffle and whether to loop. Enable looping if the stream should continue after the last item; otherwise playback can end when the list is exhausted.
- Confirm the video appears in the OBS canvas and that its audio meters move. Play representative files, especially if the folder contains different formats or audio levels.
OBS documents supported media sources and the VLC playlist source on its Media Sources page. For a single clip rather than a playlist, OBS’s built-in Media Source is simpler and has a per-file loop option. The documented video formats include MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM; audio formats include MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV.
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Connect OBS to YouTube and choose output settings
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream. Select YouTube if offered, or choose the custom server option and enter the stream URL and key from Live Control Room.
- In OBS output settings, configure a compatible encoder and bitrate. YouTube recommends RTMPS, CBR, up to 60 fps, and a keyframe interval of 2 seconds (not more than 4 seconds). For RTMP/RTMPS audio, YouTube recommends AAC or MP3.
- For a straightforward SDR setup, use H.264 unless you have a reason and compatible workflow for another codec. Let YouTube detect resolution and frame rate by default, or choose values deliberately and set the bitrate to match them.
- Check that the bitrate is sustainable on your actual upload connection. YouTube advises leaving 20% headroom above the total streaming bitrate rather than using all available upload capacity.
These are YouTube’s operational recommendations, not a guarantee of a particular result. Its encoder table varies by codec, resolution, and frame rate. For H.264, YouTube lists 1080p at 30 fps at 5 Mbps minimum and 14 Mbps recommended, and 720p at 30 fps at 3 Mbps minimum and 8 Mbps recommended. The retrieved YouTube Help page displayed no publication year; these figures are recommendations, not independent measurements. See YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
Test, go live, monitor, and end the broadcast
- Start the OBS stream or start playback so YouTube receives the feed. Use a representative clip with movement and sound rather than checking only a static frame.
- In Live Control Room, wait for the preview. Check picture, audio, and stream health before clicking Go live for a scheduled event if you want a manual approval step.
- While live, keep OBS and the PC running, and monitor YouTube’s stream-health and audio/video indicators. YouTube recommends testing the complete setup and monitoring stream quality.
- When finished, stop the broadcast through the Live Control Room/encoder workflow. YouTube says encoder streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; longer streams may not be archived automatically, so do not rely on an automatic replay for a longer event.
For test and monitoring guidance, see YouTube’s live-streaming tips.
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Choose the playback and start behavior that fits the event
| Need | OBS/YouTube choice | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| One file, repeated | OBS Media Source with its Loop option | Simpler than a playlist; the selected file repeats. |
| Several files in a chosen sequence | OBS VLC Video playlist | Add files and set their order; enable playlist looping if it should repeat. |
| Varied playback order | VLC Video playlist with shuffle | Use shuffle when you do not require a fixed sequence. |
| Inspect before public broadcast | Wait for YouTube preview, then click Go live | Provides a deliberate preview gate for a scheduled encoder stream. |
| Start/stop with less manual intervention | YouTube auto-start/auto-stop settings | Enable only if that behavior fits the event; confirm the selected stream settings in Live Control Room. |
Troubleshooting common problems
- VLC Video is missing or cannot load media: install VLC and check that its architecture matches OBS; the OBS documentation calls for 64-bit VLC with 64-bit OBS. Reopen OBS after installation and add the source again.
- The folder’s files do not appear automatically: add the intended files to the VLC Video playlist yourself. The documented source does not establish automatic folder watching or adding future files.
- YouTube receives no video: check that OBS is streaming, the correct YouTube stream URL and key are entered, and the source is visible in the active scene. If the key was exposed, replace it in YouTube and update OBS.
- Preview is delayed, unstable, or reports poor health: verify your upload connection and reduce the output bitrate or resolution until the connection has headroom. Keep the recommended 20% margin above the total bitrate.
- Video works but audio is silent: verify the source’s audio meters in OBS, check Windows playback/output settings and OBS audio routing, and confirm the chosen audio codec is AAC or MP3 for RTMP/RTMPS.
- The stream stops after the last clip: enable playlist looping in the VLC source. If it is a single file, use the Media Source loop option.
- The stream is live but viewers cannot access it: check the stream’s privacy setting and whether you have clicked Go live after preview when using a manual scheduled workflow.
- A video is blocked or interrupted: review rights and YouTube notifications in Live Control Room. Do not assume that local ownership of a copy grants streaming rights.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is to keep pre-recorded video playing on YouTube without leaving this Windows PC on, StreamNeo is a cloud service for YouTube streams: upload the recording or build a playlist, add the YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay running at home; it loops uploaded video, supports any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. It does not stream from a camera. The first day is free with no card, one free day per account. Monthly: $9.99 per month. Start at StreamNeo’s free trial.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Can OBS play every video format in a folder?
OBS’s documented Media Sources page lists common video and audio formats, but compatibility can depend on the installed software and file encoding. Test each intended file in the scene before going live.
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Does this method stream a live camera feed?
No. The VLC Video playlist method plays local video files; it is for pre-recorded media.
Quick Recap
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