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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Use Media Source to repeat one local video in OBS: add the file and turn on Loop. Choose VLC Video for a playlist: add the files, enable Loop Playlist, and leave Shuffle Playlist off if you need a fixed order. VLC must be installed, with its architecture matching OBS. These settings control playback within OBS; YouTube’s stream connection and go-live controls are separate.
Which OBS source should you choose?
| What you want to do | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat one local video file | Media Source | Its per-file Loop property repeats the selected media. It is built into OBS and does not require VLC. |
| Play multiple files as a sequence and repeat them | VLC Video | Its playlist properties include Loop Playlist and Shuffle Playlist. |
| Control playback when the source is hidden by a scene switch | Either | Both have visibility-related behavior to configure, but their controls differ. Check the behavior before going live. |
OBS documentation lists Media Source support for video formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM, as well as audio formats such as MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV. The specific formats available can depend on the media and installed environment; test your file in the OBS version you use. OBS Media Sources documentation (dated January 11, 2022) lists Loop as off by default for Media Source and Loop Playlist as on by default for VLC Video. Defaults and labels may change, so verify the properties in your installed version.
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How to loop one video with Media Source
- In OBS, open the scene that should show the video.
- In the Sources dock, select + and choose Media Source. Create a new source or select an existing one.
- In the source properties, enable Local File if needed, then browse to the video file.
- Enable Loop. This repeats the file when playback reaches its end.
- Set any other playback options deliberately. Restart playback when source becomes active starts the file again when the source becomes active. Close file when inactive closes it when hidden; decide whether that is appropriate for your scene changes.
- Select OK, then preview the scene. Confirm that video moves and that the audio, if any, is audible and at a suitable level.
Media Source is the simpler choice when one file is enough. It has no VLC installation requirement. Its Loop property concerns that source’s file playback, not whether YouTube is connected or live.
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How to loop a playlist with VLC Video
- Install VLC if it is not already installed. OBS documents that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC; match the architecture of your OBS installation.
- In OBS, open the target scene and select + in the Sources dock, then choose VLC Video. If the source is missing, check the VLC installation and architecture.
- In the source properties, add the media files to the playlist in the order you want them played.
- Enable Loop Playlist to repeat the playlist after it reaches the end.
- Leave Shuffle Playlist off when sequence matters. Turn it on only if you want the playlist order randomized.
- Choose the visibility behavior that suits your scene: VLC Video can stop and restart, pause and resume, or continue playing while not visible. Test the chosen behavior by switching scenes before the broadcast.
- Select OK, preview the scene, and verify that the files play in the intended order, repeat as expected, and have the intended audio.
OBS’s Media Sources page lists 400 ms as the default Network caching value for VLC Video. That is a configuration default documented by the OBS Project, not a guarantee of performance or a recommended value for every network or file. Check the OBS documentation and test network-based media under your actual conditions.
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Source playback is separate from YouTube Live
A source determines what OBS plays into a scene. It does not start or stop the YouTube broadcast. For an encoder stream, YouTube’s workflow is to configure the encoder with the server URL and stream key. For a scheduled event, check the Live Control Room preview and select Go live when you are ready. See YouTube’s encoder setup instructions and live stream settings guidance.
- In YouTube Live Control Room, create or select the stream and obtain its server URL and stream key.
- In OBS, enter the YouTube connection details in the streaming settings, not in the Media Source or VLC Video properties. Keep the stream key private.
- Start streaming from OBS and wait for the Live Control Room preview. For a scheduled event, select Go live there when the preview and stream are ready.
- Test both audio and video movement, then monitor stream health during the broadcast.
OBS source properties do not establish whether a live session will remain uninterrupted, preserve a session through source edits, or make a scheduled stream public at a particular moment. Test the full workflow before relying on it.
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Video, bitrate, and stream-health checks
Media Source and VLC Video choose how media enters an OBS scene; they do not determine the appropriate YouTube encoder output settings. YouTube’s recommendations for resolution, frame rate, and bitrate vary with resolution, frame rate, and codec. Choose settings your upload connection can sustain, then verify the actual preview and health indicators rather than assuming that a looping source guarantees a continuous stream. Consult YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrate, and resolution guidance.
- Check that the OBS preview shows movement rather than a frozen frame.
- Listen for audio in the preview or a test broadcast, especially at file transitions and playlist loop points.
- Confirm the playlist order and scene visibility behavior before the public transition.
- Watch YouTube’s stream-health indicators and respond to warnings; source playback and encoder connection are separate parts of the setup.
Common problems and fixes
The video plays once and stops
For Media Source, open its properties and enable Loop. For a multi-file VLC source, enable Loop Playlist. Do not assume the default is still active; check the property in your installed OBS version.
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VLC Video does not appear as a source
Install VLC and ensure its architecture matches OBS. OBS documents that 64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC. Restart OBS after installation if the source still is not listed.
The playlist plays in a different order
Disable Shuffle Playlist if you need a fixed sequence, and review the order of the files in the source properties.
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- MEDIA FORMAT SUPPORT - Videos: MKV, MP4/M4V, AVI, MOV, MPG, VOB, M2TS, TS files encoded with H.265/HEVC, H.264/AVC, MPEG1/2/4, VC1, up to 2560x1440, 60fps, 100mbps. Subtitles: SRT, PGS, IDX+SUB. Music: MP3, WAV, FLAC. Photos: JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG
Playback changes when switching scenes
Inspect the source’s visibility behavior. Media Source includes Restart playback when source becomes active and Close file when inactive; VLC Video offers stop/restart, pause/resume, or always-play behavior while hidden. Choose and test the intended option before going live.
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Looping only controls source playback. Check that OBS is connected using YouTube’s server URL and stream key, and use the Live Control Room preview and scheduled-event controls as appropriate. A looping preview alone does not prove the broadcast is live.
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- MEDIA FORMAT SUPPORT - Videos: MKV, MP4/M4V, AVI, MOV, MPG, VOB, M2TS, TS files encoded with H.265/HEVC, H.264/AVC, MPEG1/2/4, VC1, up to 4096x2304, 30fps, 200mbps. Subtitles: SRT, PGS, IDX+SUB. Music: MP3, WAV, FLAC. Photos: JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG
Video or audio is missing in the preview
Confirm the correct file or playlist is selected, verify the source is visible in the scene, and test playback and audio levels in OBS. If using a network-based VLC item, test connectivity and caching under the conditions in which you plan to broadcast.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When OBS looping is not the right operational fit
OBS is a do-it-yourself option that depends on your computer, OBS, the media source, and the internet connection remaining available for the broadcast. If your goal is to keep uploaded videos looping on YouTube without leaving a home computer running, StreamNeo is a cloud alternative: upload a video or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It plays uploaded videos, not a camera feed, and streams to YouTube.
Or let it run in the cloud
Upload your video or playlist, add the YouTube stream key, and go live. Your computer and home connection do not have to stay on. StreamNeo streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with no re-encode or quality tiers, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card, one free day per account; the monthly option is $9.99 per month.
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