To play a sequence of prerecorded local videos as a YouTube live stream, use OBS’s built-in VLC Video source: add the files in order, set looping and shuffle behavior, then connect OBS to a YouTube Live Control Room event with its server URL and stream key. VLC must be installed, and its architecture must match OBS (64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC).
What this setup does—and what it does not
OBS plays local video files in a scene and sends the scene as an encoder feed to YouTube. The playlist is a list of files on the computer running OBS; it is not a YouTube website playlist. OBS’s VLC Video source is the built-in option for multiple media items, while Media Source is intended for one file. OBS Media Sources documentation
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The playlist automates playback, not the entire broadcast. You still need a YouTube live event, an active encoder connection, and a computer and internet connection capable of running the stream. The documentation does not establish that every computer can reliably decode any particular set of files while encoding live output.
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Prepare OBS, VLC, and your video files
Check the files and their order
Put the video files somewhere accessible to the computer that will run OBS, and decide the intended sequence before adding them. OBS lists common supported video types including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. Play each file locally first to check its picture and audio. OBS Media Sources documentation
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Install the matching VLC version
Install VLC before setting up the playlist: OBS’s VLC Video source will not appear unless VLC is installed. Match the software architecture—64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. OBS Media Sources documentation
Create and configure the playlist in OBS
- Add the source: In the OBS Sources dock, click the + button and choose VLC Video. Add the files in the order you want them played in the source properties. OBS describes VLC Video as supporting a playlist, unlike Media Source, which handles individual media items. OBS Media Sources documentation
- Choose repeat and order: Turn on Loop Playlist if playback should return to the beginning after the last item. Leave Shuffle off for the listed order; turn it on only if randomized playback is intended. OBS documents loop on and shuffle off as VLC Video defaults. OBS Media Sources documentation
- Set visibility behavior: OBS documents the default as stopping the source when it is not visible and restarting it when it becomes visible. Check this behavior against your scene-switching plan; hiding and showing a source can affect whether playback continues or restarts. OBS Media Sources documentation
- Fit and layer the video: Resize and position the source in the OBS preview. Arrange titles, overlays, and other sources as needed: sources higher in the Sources list appear above sources beneath them and can cover them. OBS Sources Guide
Create the YouTube event and connect OBS
- In YouTube Studio, open Create → Go Live. In Live Control Room, create a stream or schedule one. YouTube says first-time live-stream enablement may take up to 24 hours, so do not leave activation until shortly before a planned broadcast. YouTube: Create a live stream with an encoder
- Check that the channel is eligible. YouTube’s general guidance says the channel must be verified, have no live-streaming restrictions in the past 90 days, and the person livestreaming must be at least 16. Confirm the current status in YouTube Studio. YouTube: Get started with live streaming
- In OBS stream settings, select YouTube if it is available. Otherwise, copy the server or stream URL from YouTube into OBS’s server field. Copy the stream key into OBS’s key field. Treat the key as a credential: YouTube describes it as the stream’s password and address. Do not show it in screenshots or share it; reset it using YouTube’s controls if it is exposed. YouTube: Manage live stream settings
- Start the encoder output and wait for the incoming preview in Live Control Room. For a scheduled stream, click Go live after the preview appears. YouTube: Create a live stream with an encoder
Test and monitor before relying on the stream
Run a private or unlisted test before a public or long broadcast. Confirm that the first file starts correctly, transitions between files work, audio is present and at a suitable level, and looping or end behavior matches your plan. Check what happens when the source becomes hidden if you use multiple scenes. YouTube recommends testing the encoder setup ahead of an event and monitoring audio and video quality during the stream. YouTube: Streaming tips
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When the broadcast is finished, click End Stream in Live Control Room and stop sending content from OBS. YouTube: Create a live stream with an encoder
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| Option | Best for | Important behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Media Source | One local media file | Its Loop property repeats that file. It also has options for restarting on visibility, hiding when playback ends, and closing the file while inactive. OBS Media Sources documentation |
| VLC Video | A sequence of local files | Built-in OBS playlist source with loop, shuffle, visibility, audio-track, and subtitle controls. Requires VLC installed with matching architecture. OBS Media Sources documentation |
| Media Playlist Source plugin | Users who need additional playlist editing behavior | The OBS forum listing describes editing while a video plays, retaining the current file on OBS restart, choosing files or folders, and shuffling. It states a minimum OBS version of 30.0.0 and lists Windows, macOS, and Linux. The listing and repository reflect different version eras and note limitations, including manual folder refresh and no audio-track or subtitle selection; verify current release compatibility before installing. OBS Forums: Media Playlist Source |
Troubleshooting common playlist problems
- VLC Video is missing: Install VLC, then confirm that its architecture matches OBS. Restart OBS after installation if the source still does not appear. OBS Media Sources documentation
- Files play in the wrong order or keep repeating: Review the playlist sequence, make sure Shuffle is off for fixed order, and set Loop Playlist according to whether you want the sequence to restart after its last item. OBS Media Sources documentation
- Playback restarts or stops after changing scenes: Check the VLC Video visibility behavior. The documented default is to stop when not visible and restart when visible; change it if that does not suit your scene design. OBS Media Sources documentation
- The YouTube preview does not appear: Check that the event is ready, OBS is sending output, and the server URL and stream key were copied into the correct fields. If the key may have been exposed, reset it in YouTube rather than continuing to use it. YouTube: Manage live stream settings
- The preview appears but picture or sound is wrong: Check the scene layout and source layering, then test the file and audio transitions locally and in a private or unlisted stream. Monitor stream quality during the broadcast; YouTube recommends checking audio and video. YouTube: Streaming tips
- Live streaming is not enabled: YouTube says first-time enablement can take up to 24 hours. Check channel verification and any live-streaming restrictions in YouTube Studio. YouTube: Create a live stream with an encoder YouTube: Get started with live streaming
Copyright and reused-content checks
Having permission to play a file locally does not by itself establish that you can broadcast it. Before streaming, confirm that you have the necessary rights for the video and audio and that your planned use complies with YouTube’s rules. A playlist source automates file playback; it does not grant rights or determine whether a channel’s content meets YouTube’s monetization policies. Review YouTube’s current rules for your content and channel before going live.
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