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You can stream videos stored on a USB drive to YouTube Live by connecting the drive to a computer running OBS, loading the files into an OBS media source, and sending OBS’s output to YouTube with a stream URL and key from Live Control Room. Keep the drive connected and readable for the entire broadcast. The USB drive stores the videos; the computer still plays and transmits them.
Before you start
- A computer with OBS installed and internet access for the broadcast.
- A USB drive containing video files that the computer can read. The official OBS guide documents local media and playlist sources, but does not specify USB compatibility or guarantee removable-drive reliability.
- A YouTube channel eligible to live stream. YouTube Help says the channel must be verified and have no live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days; its current eligibility page also states a minimum age. Check YouTube’s current live-streaming eligibility requirements before the event, since policies can change.
- Permission to broadcast every video and audio track in the playlist. Prerecorded content is subject to YouTube’s live copyright checks.
If this is the channel’s first live stream, enable live streaming in advance: YouTube says activation may take up to 24 hours.
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Choose how OBS will loop the videos
| What you want to play | OBS source | Setting | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| One video repeatedly | Media Source | Enable Loop | Suitable for a single file; it does not create a multi-file sequence. |
| Several videos in a set order, repeating as a sequence | VLC Video source | Enable Loop Playlist | VLC must be installed. For 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC for the source to appear. |
These are the options described in the OBS media sources guide. It does not publish a performance or reliability comparison between them.
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Set up the USB playlist in OBS
Connect and check the files
- Connect the USB drive to the computer that will run OBS.
- Open the drive in the computer’s file manager and confirm that each intended video can be accessed. Leave the drive connected and available throughout the stream; OBS needs to read the local media while it plays.
- If playing multiple files, decide the order before configuring the source. Confirm the filenames and files match the sequence you want viewers to see.
Loop one video
- In OBS, select the scene for the broadcast.
- Under Sources, select + and add Media Source.
- Give the source a recognizable name, then select OK.
- In the Media Source properties, enable Local File if offered, browse to the video on the USB drive, and enable Loop.
- Select OK. Check the OBS preview and adjust the source within the canvas if needed.
Loop multiple videos in order
- Install VLC if it is not already installed. Match its architecture to OBS: 64-bit VLC is needed for 64-bit OBS.
- In OBS, select the scene, then under Sources select + and add VLC Video. If the option is missing, check that VLC is installed with the matching architecture, then restart OBS.
- Add the files from the USB drive to the source’s playlist in the order you want them played.
- Enable Loop Playlist in the source properties and confirm the playlist appears in the preview.
- Select OK. Keep the USB drive connected while OBS is using its files.
OBS documents the source types and loop settings, but does not promise that a particular USB drive or connection will remain reliable. The local-file workflow means the computer must continue to read the files during playback.
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Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Studio and go to Create > Go live to open Live Control Room. Create or select the stream and locate its stream URL and stream key. Follow the current YouTube encoder setup instructions if the interface differs.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream. Choose YouTube as the service and enter the stream key, or configure the server and key as the current OBS/YouTube workflow requires.
- Treat the stream key as a password: do not show it in a screen recording, share it publicly, or include it in the stream itself.
- Apply the settings, return to the main OBS window, and check that the intended scene, video, and audio are present.
- Start streaming in OBS. In Live Control Room, wait for the incoming preview and confirm the selected stream is receiving signal before making it public or starting the event according to the stream’s setup.
- Check the public watch page after the broadcast begins. Confirm the picture and audio are playing as expected, then monitor the stream while it runs.
YouTube’s live-streaming guidance recommends testing and monitoring stream quality. The USB-to-OBS workflow does not make the computer, OBS, or internet connection optional: they remain part of the live encoder path.
Check copyright and channel rules
YouTube scans live streams for third-party content. If its systems identify copyrighted material, the stream may be interrupted or terminated. A license by itself may not prevent interruption when the rights owner has not allowlisted the channel through Content ID. Review YouTube’s copyright guidance for live streams and YouTube’s Terms of Service; use material you are authorized to broadcast and resolve any required Content ID allowlisting with the rights owner before going live.
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Troubleshoot common problems
- The USB video is missing or will not play: Check that the drive is connected, that the file opens from the computer, and that OBS points to the current file location. Reconnect the drive and reselect the media if its path has changed.
- The VLC Video source is not available: Install VLC and make sure its architecture matches OBS; the OBS guide specifies 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS. Restart OBS after installation.
- The playlist plays once and stops: Open the VLC Video source properties and verify Loop Playlist is enabled. For a single Media Source file, verify Loop is enabled.
- YouTube does not show an incoming preview: Check that OBS is streaming, that its stream key and server configuration match the selected Live Control Room stream, and that the channel is eligible to broadcast. Do not expose the key while checking settings.
- The stream is interrupted after it starts: Check YouTube’s Live Control Room notices and copyright status. Third-party content can trigger interruption even when it is prerecorded; confirm broadcast rights and any necessary Content ID allowlisting.
- The channel cannot go live yet: Confirm verification and current YouTube eligibility, including restrictions in the previous 90 days. If live streaming was only just enabled for the first time, allow up to 24 hours for activation.
- Playback stops when the computer or drive becomes unavailable: OBS is reading local files and encoding the stream on that computer. Keep both the computer and USB drive available and the internet connection active during a DIY broadcast.
Or let it run in the cloud
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