For looping a local video in OBS, MP4 and MKV both work. Choose the file in an OBS Media Source and turn on Loop; the container does not control whether playback repeats. The right format depends instead on what you are doing with the file: recording safely, uploading a finished video, or sending a live stream to YouTube.
Which format should you use?
| What you want to do | Use this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Loop one local file in an OBS scene | MP4 or MKV, with Loop enabled on the Media Source | OBS supports both formats; looping is a source setting, not a container feature. |
| Loop several files in sequence | OBS VLC Video source with Loop Playlist | It supports playlists, and Loop Playlist is enabled by default. VLC must be installed. |
| Record in OBS, then upload or edit | Record as MKV; remux to MP4 if needed | MKV is more resilient to an interrupted recording, while YouTube recommends MP4 for uploads. |
| Send the looping scene live to YouTube | Use either local container, then configure the outgoing encoder for YouTube Live | The local file format and live-stream encoding are separate parts of the workflow. |
These format and source recommendations are documented by OBS Media Sources, the OBS Standard Recording Output Guide, and YouTube’s upload encoding guidance.
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Loop one video file in OBS
- In OBS, add a Media Source to the scene, or select an existing one.
- Open the source’s properties and choose the local video file. OBS lists MP4 and MKV among its supported video formats.
- Enable Loop, then confirm the source properties. The option is off by default; when enabled, the file plays again after it finishes.
- Start playback and let it reach the end once to verify the repeat works with your particular file and setup.
Other Media Source options affect how playback behaves when the source is hidden or finished: Restart playback when source becomes active is on by default; Show nothing when playback ends is on by default; and Close file when inactive is off by default. Closing an inactive file frees memory, but may add a delay while it reloads when shown again. These controls are independent of whether the file is MP4 or MKV. See the OBS Media Sources guide (dated January 11, 2022) for the source-property descriptions.
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For a sequence of clips, use OBS’s VLC Video source rather than creating a separate looping Media Source for each file. Add the playlist in that source and use Loop Playlist, which is on by default. The source will not appear unless VLC is installed; OBS’s guide specifies 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS. Check that the playlist itself contains the intended files and order, then test the end of the list to confirm it starts over as expected. Details are in the OBS Media Sources guide.
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Recording format is a different decision
Why OBS recommends MKV for recording
For a recording made in OBS, MKV reduces the risk that a power loss or other abrupt interruption will make the entire unfinished recording unusable. OBS recommends MKV for this reason. The trade-off is that some editing applications support MKV less well, so you may need to remux it to another container.
Remux an OBS recording to MP4
OBS can change the container without requiring a separate conversion product:
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- In OBS, choose File → Remux Recordings.
- Select the MKV recording and run the remux to create an MP4 version.
- If you prefer automatic conversion after recording, enable Automatically remux to mp4 in the recording settings.
Remuxing addresses container compatibility; it is distinct from choosing the format used for live playback. OBS’s Standard Recording Output Guide (dated May 26, 2023) documents the MKV recommendation and remux options. Its Audio/Video Formats Guide (dated March 26, 2023) explains that ordinary MP4/MOV files need finalization and may not be recoverable if writing is interrupted, while MKV is resilient but less widely supported by editing software.
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Uploading a video and streaming live are not the same
Uploading a finished video
YouTube’s recommended upload container is MP4. Its upload guidance also recommends H.264 video, AAC-LC or Opus audio, and matching the uploaded frame rate to the frame rate of the recording. These are recommendations for a finished upload; they do not mean OBS cannot play an MKV file locally. See YouTube recommended upload encoding settings.
Sending a live stream from OBS
When OBS sends your looping scene to YouTube Live, YouTube receives the output of OBS’s live encoder—not the local MP4 or MKV container. Configure the outgoing video codec, bitrate, frame rate, keyframe interval, and audio to match YouTube’s current live guidance. YouTube lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 for video, supports up to 60 fps, recommends CBR, and recommends a two-second keyframe interval (not more than four seconds). For RTMP/RTMPS audio, it lists AAC or MP3. Use YouTube’s current bitrate table for your chosen codec, resolution, and frame rate rather than applying upload-file bitrate suggestions to a live stream. See YouTube’s live encoder settings.
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Test with representative motion and audio, then monitor stream health. A format list cannot guarantee that every file codec or computer configuration will play and transmit without issues. YouTube’s encoder setup guide says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; that archive guidance is separate from whether a local source loops correctly.
Common problems and fixes
- The video stops at the end. Select the Media Source and enable Loop; it is off by default. If you need multiple clips, use VLC Video and check that Loop Playlist is enabled.
- VLC Video is missing. Install VLC. Match its architecture to OBS; OBS’s guide specifies 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS.
- The source goes blank after playback. Check Show nothing when playback ends and verify that Loop is enabled. That blanking option is on by default.
- A hidden source takes time to appear again. If Close file when inactive is enabled, OBS unloads the file while it is hidden and may take time to reload it. Disable the option if that trade-off is unsuitable.
- An interrupted recording will not open in an editor. If you recorded MKV, use File → Remux Recordings to make an MP4 copy. For future recordings, keep MKV when interruption resilience matters and remux for compatibility when needed.
- YouTube reports a live-stream issue even though the local video plays. Check OBS’s outgoing encoder settings and YouTube’s stream-health feedback. Local container support does not establish that the live codec, bitrate, keyframe interval, or audio settings are suitable.
Or let it run in the cloud
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