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Freedom251 › Blog › live streaming

How to Use OBS WebSocket to Change Videos in a 24/7 YouTube Stream

By Freedom251 Team · · 5 min read

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For a fixed lineup, add the videos to OBS’s VLC Video source and enable looping; you do not need WebSocket code. Use OBS WebSocket when an external tool must trigger or schedule changes. OBS still renders and sends the stream, while the playlist source plays media and WebSocket lets a client control OBS. A WebSocket connection alone does not create a schedule or guarantee an uninterrupted 24/7 broadcast.

Choose between a looping playlist and external control

Approach Best for What to know
VLC Video playlist A fixed ordered or shuffled lineup that repeats OBS’s VLC Video source can play a playlist, shuffle it, and loop it. VLC must be installed; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
WebSocket-driven switching Changes triggered or scheduled by an external application WebSocket provides remote control of OBS scenes and sources. The exact request and fields depend on the OBS version and source type; there is no universal playlist-item command established here.

If you only need the same videos to repeat, start with VLC Video. If timing or triggers come from another system, use WebSocket to control OBS and confirm the supported requests for your particular setup.

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Set up a fixed playlist in OBS

  1. Install VLC. Install VLC on the computer running OBS. Match the architecture: 64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC.
  2. Add the source. In the scene that will go live, select Sources, choose +, and add VLC Video Source. Give it a recognizable name.
  3. Build the lineup. In the source properties, add the media files in the order you want. Enable looping for a repeating lineup; enable shuffle if you prefer randomized playback. The labels can differ across OBS versions, so use the source properties shown by your installed build.
  4. Check the scene. Confirm the video fits the canvas, the source is visible, and audio is routed as expected. Preview transitions between representative files rather than checking only the first clip.

This creates playback behavior inside OBS. It does not create a YouTube schedule, change the uploaded files on YouTube, or keep the computer, OBS process, network, and power running if they fail.

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Use OBS WebSocket for externally triggered changes

OBS WebSocket is included by default from OBS Studio 28 onward. Older OBS releases may require the separate WebSocket plugin. OBS Project’s Remote Control Guide describes WebSocket as a way to “help automate and/or control your scenes and sources with external tools.”

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  1. Check your version and server settings. In OBS, open Tools and look for WebSocket Server Settings (the exact location may vary by version). Enable the server if needed. Keep authentication enabled and set a strong password.
  2. Keep access private. Do not expose the WebSocket port to untrusted networks. Restrict access to the machine or trusted network where your automation client runs.
  3. Match the protocol to your installation. Consult the protocol documentation generated for your installed obs-websocket version. Confirm the supported request names, fields, and behavior for the source kind you intend to control.
  4. Connect and identify. The client connects to the OBS WebSocket server, receives a Hello message, and completes the Identify handshake. If the server requests authentication, the client must provide it. Only after identification should it issue supported requests.
  5. Test in a separate scene. Validate the chosen scene or source action with a test lineup before using it on air. The available evidence does not establish a universal request payload for replacing a media file or editing a VLC playlist item; do not copy a command from a different source type or protocol version without checking it.

WebSocket is the control channel, not the video player. The source must be capable of playing the media, and your automation must decide when to send supported control requests. Decide how the client detects completion or receives a trigger, and test its timing and failure behavior; a connection by itself does not implement those decisions.

Configure the YouTube encoder stream

  1. Create or open the live stream. In YouTube Live Control Room, configure the stream and use YouTube’s provided server URL and stream key in OBS’s stream settings. Treat the key like a password: do not publish it or send it to an untrusted client.
  2. Choose encoder settings for your connection. YouTube’s current encoder guidance lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1, supports up to 60 fps, recommends CBR, and recommends a two-second keyframe interval (not more than four seconds). Verify the current guidance when configuring the encoder.
  3. Set bitrate based on resolution and available upload. YouTube’s H.264 table lists 5 Mbps minimum and 14 Mbps recommended for 1080p30. That is YouTube’s guidance for that format, not a universal requirement for every stream. Choose settings your connection can sustain reliably.
  4. Test the whole path. Preview representative motion and audio, start a test stream, and monitor stream health in Live Control Room. Check transitions between videos and confirm that audio does not disappear or overlap unexpectedly.

YouTube recommends RTMPS, its secure extension to RTMP, in its encoder settings guidance. YouTube states that streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; that does not establish that a 24/7 stream will be archived as one uninterrupted video.

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Plan for unattended operation and failures

A 24/7 stream depends on more than a successful WebSocket command. OBS must remain running, the playback source must continue producing media, the computer needs power and storage, and the internet connection must sustain the encoder output. YouTube’s encoder setup guidance does not establish automatic recovery behavior for a failed local process or dropped connection.

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  • Video stops changing: Check whether the VLC source is still playing, whether looping is enabled, and whether the file paths remain accessible. For custom control, inspect the automation client and confirm it is using requests supported by your installed protocol and source type.
  • OBS cannot connect to YouTube: Confirm the stream key and server URL in Live Control Room, then check the OBS connection status and YouTube stream health. Keep the key private while troubleshooting.
  • Playback works but the broadcast drops: Check power, OBS process status, network stability, and encoder health. A WebSocket client does not by itself restart OBS or restore a dropped YouTube connection.
  • Automation cannot authenticate: Verify the server’s authentication setting and the credentials used by the client. Do not disable authentication as a shortcut on a network other people can reach.
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