To loop a prerecorded video as a YouTube live stream through Restream, add the local file to an OBS Media Source, enable that source’s Loop setting, connect OBS to Restream, and turn on YouTube as a destination. Start the stream in OBS, then verify the correct event and video in YouTube Live Control Room. This broadcasts an encoder-based live stream; it is not the same as using YouTube’s viewer-side Loop control on an uploaded video.
Before you start
- OBS Studio installed on a computer, with the video file available locally.
- A Restream account and a connected YouTube channel.
- A YouTube channel eligible to stream: YouTube says it must be verified and must not have had live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. Create or schedule an encoder stream in YouTube Live Control Room before broadcasting so you can confirm the intended event.
Restream and YouTube interface labels may change. If a label differs slightly, look for the equivalent stream, destination, or source setting.
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1. Add the video to OBS and enable looping
- Open OBS and select or create the scene you want to use.
- In the Sources panel, select + and choose Media Source.
- Name the source, then choose the local video file in its properties.
- Enable Loop, then select OK. OBS documents support for formats including
.mp4,.ts,.mov,.flv,.mkv,.avi,.gif, and.webm.
The Loop setting controls replay after the file finishes. Restart playback when source becomes active and Show nothing when playback ends are separate options; neither substitutes for Loop. For one local file, Media Source is the straightforward choice. OBS also offers a VLC Video Source, but that requires VLC to be installed.
2. Connect OBS to Restream
There are two ways to send OBS to Restream. The account connection is convenient; manual RTMP setup gives you direct control of the server and key.
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| Method | What to do | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Restream account connection | In OBS, open Settings > Stream, select Restream.io as the service, and connect your account. Restream associates this with the stream card marked Default RTMP. | A quicker setup when you want OBS linked to your Restream account. |
| Manual RTMP | In Restream, create or open an Encoder | RTMP stream and copy its stream key. In OBS, open Settings > Stream, choose a custom service if needed, and enter Restream’s server and key. Restream says the server can use Autodetect or a manually selected region. | When you want to choose the stream card and enter the RTMP connection details explicitly. |
Keep the stream key private: it is a credential for sending your broadcast. Do not show it in a screenshot or share it. If it is exposed, reset it in the relevant platform’s stream settings.
3. Enable YouTube and set the stream details
- Open the Restream encoder stream or stream card you are using.
- Turn on your connected YouTube channel as a destination.
- Set or confirm the stream title, description, and thumbnail. Restream may allow destination-specific titles and descriptions.
- In YouTube Live Control Room, confirm that the event you created or scheduled is the one receiving the stream.
Do not assume that connecting OBS to Restream automatically selects the intended YouTube event. Check the destination and event before going live.
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4. Check OBS output and start the broadcast
Restream’s current OBS setup guidance recommends CBR rate control and a 2-second keyframe interval. Treat these as Restream’s recommendations, not universal settings for every resolution, codec, or destination; check the current requirements shown for your YouTube event as well. Restream also gives color-format and profile guidance in its OBS setup instructions.
- In OBS, open Settings and review the stream and output settings against Restream’s current guidance and YouTube’s event requirements.
- Start the stream from OBS.
- Check the Restream stream page for incoming stream status and performance.
- Open the YouTube Live Control Room preview or watch page. Confirm the correct event, moving video, audible sound, and the expected point at which the file restarts.
An OBS connection by itself does not confirm that the right public YouTube event is selected or that viewers can hear and see the stream. YouTube advises monitoring audio and video quality during a broadcast.
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What viewers mean by “loop” is different
OBS’s Media Source Loop setting repeats your local file in the broadcast. YouTube’s player Loop control repeats an already published video for an individual viewer; it does not turn that video into a live stream. YouTube Live DVR is different again: it can let viewers pause, rewind, and resume within a live broadcast, but YouTube says DVR may be limited or unavailable for streams longer than 12 hours.
Troubleshooting
- The video plays once and stops: Open the Media Source properties and check that Loop is enabled. Restarting playback when a source becomes active is not the same setting.
- OBS says it is streaming, but YouTube shows no picture: Confirm YouTube is enabled as a Restream destination, the intended event is selected in Live Control Room, and the Restream stream page shows an incoming feed. Recheck the server and key if you used manual RTMP.
- The preview has video but no sound: Check that the Media Source includes the file’s audio and that OBS’s audio meters move during playback; verify sound again in YouTube’s preview.
- The stream goes to the wrong YouTube event: Stop and verify the selected event in Live Control Room and the destination configuration in Restream before restarting.
- The file will not load: Check that the path is correct and the format is supported by OBS Media Source. If you move or rename the file, update the source’s file selection.
- The stream drops during a long broadcast: Check the computer, OBS, and network connection, then check Restream and YouTube for the incoming feed and event status. This local-file workflow depends on the computer and connection staying available; the cited platform guidance does not establish uninterrupted operation.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep a prerecorded YouTube stream running without leaving OBS and a computer on at home, StreamNeo is the cloud alternative: upload the video, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It loops uploaded videos from the cloud, so your computer and home connection do not have to stay on. Every slot streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly is $9.99 per month. Start your free day.
Quick Recap
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