For one video file, add it to OBS as a Media Source and turn on Loop. For a multi-video playlist, use VLC Video, which requires VLC to be installed. Then configure OBS’s stream output to match YouTube’s codec, bitrate, frame-rate and keyframe guidance, and test the broadcast before relying on it. These settings make media repeat; they do not, by themselves, guarantee recovery from a PC, OBS or network failure.
Choose the right OBS source
| What you want to play | OBS source | Loop behavior | Requirement or trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| One local video file | Media Source | Loop is off by default; enable it to repeat the file. | Uses OBS’s built-in media source. |
| Several videos in a sequence or shuffled order | VLC Video | Loop Playlist is on by default; Shuffle Playlist is off by default. | Requires VLC. With 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC. |
OBS describes VLC Video this way: “This source type will use the VLC libraries for extended media support over the built-in Media Source.” See the OBS Media Sources guide for the documented source controls and defaults.
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Set up one looping file with Media Source
- Add the source: in OBS, select the scene that will be sent to YouTube, click the + in the Sources dock, and choose Media Source. Create a new source, then select Local File and browse to the video.
- Enable repetition: turn on Loop. OBS’s default is off, so without this setting the video ends instead of repeating.
- Choose what happens when the source is hidden: Restart playback when source becomes active is on by default. Leave it enabled if showing the source again should restart the video from the beginning. Close file when inactive is off by default; enabling it unloads the file while hidden to free memory, but OBS warns it can take a short time to appear again.
- Review the remaining controls: Use hardware decoding when available is off by default and allows GPU decoding for supported file types when the GPU has a suitable decoder. It is separate from the encoder used for the outgoing stream. Speed defaults to 100% and supports 1% to 200%; YUV Color Range defaults to Partial. Show nothing when playback ends is on by default, which can prevent a last frame from remaining on screen. A correctly looping file should repeat rather than stay at its end.
- Check the scene: confirm the source is visible in the scene you intend to stream and that the video and audio play as expected.
OBS’s built-in Media Source supports video formats including .mp4, .ts, .mov, .flv, .mkv, .avi, .gif and .webm, and audio formats including .mp3, .aac, .ogg and .wav. The documented controls do not guarantee that every file will play reliably on every combination of codec, GPU and computer.
Set up a playlist with VLC Video
- Install VLC first: VLC Video depends on VLC libraries and may not appear in OBS as an available source until VLC is installed. If OBS is 64-bit, use 64-bit VLC.
- Add the source: in the intended scene, click the + in the Sources dock and choose VLC Video. Add the files in the order you want them played.
- Choose sequence or shuffle: leave Shuffle Playlist off for a fixed sequence. Turn it on only if you want playback order randomized.
- Check looping and visibility: Loop Playlist is on by default. The default Visibility Behaviour is to stop when the source is not visible and restart when it becomes visible. Change this if that behavior does not suit your scene changes.
- Leave caching at its default initially: Network caching is documented as 400 ms. OBS does not specify one universally correct value for every source or connection, so adjust only if you have a specific playback problem to address.
- Verify playback: confirm that each item plays, the intended audio track is selected (Track 1 by default), and subtitles are set as desired (disabled by default).
Match OBS stream output to YouTube
The media source controls playback; OBS’s streaming output controls what is sent to YouTube. YouTube’s current encoder guidance lists RTMP or RTMPS and H.264, H.265 (HEVC) or AV1. YouTube recommends RTMPS, CBR bitrate encoding, frame rates up to 60 fps, and a keyframe interval of two seconds, with a maximum of four seconds. Select values that your OBS encoder supports and that YouTube accepts for the chosen resolution and frame rate. See YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates and resolutions.
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H.264 recommended bitrate examples
| Output resolution and frame rate | YouTube-recommended H.264 bitrate |
|---|---|
| 720p30 | 4 Mbps |
| 720p60 | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | 17 Mbps |
| 1440p30 | 21 Mbps |
| 1440p60 | 34 Mbps |
| 4K30 | 42 Mbps |
| 4K60 | 50 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s recommendations for H.264, not universal settings for other codecs. YouTube publishes separate bitrate guidance for AV1 and H.265; check its table for those codecs rather than carrying an H.264 number over. YouTube lists AAC or MP3 audio for RTMP/RTMPS, with AAC required for 5.1 surround. Its advanced recommendations include square pixels, progressive scan, Rec. 709 for SDR, and 44.1 kHz stereo audio.
Enter the stream destination and protect the key
Use OBS’s streaming configuration to enter the stream URL and key from YouTube’s encoder workflow. A stream key functions like a password and address for the encoder: keep it private, and replace it if it is exposed. YouTube says Live Control Room can usually detect the encoder’s resolution and frame rate automatically; custom stream keys allow manual resolution settings. Latency and DVR are YouTube stream options, and YouTube notes that lower latency can lead to more playback buffering. See YouTube’s guide to setting up a live stream encoder.
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Preflight a 24/7 broadcast
- Test playback in OBS: make sure the file repeats or the playlist advances as intended, and that the source remains visible in the scene being streamed.
- Check the output configuration: verify codec, resolution, frame rate, CBR, bitrate and keyframe interval against YouTube’s guidance for your chosen output.
- Check upload capacity: YouTube recommends 20% headroom above the total stream bitrate and warns that network disruption can break a stream. If several outputs share the connection, account for their combined bitrate.
- Run a realistic test: match the intended audio and motion, check the YouTube preview, and monitor stream health and messages. YouTube advises: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.” Confirm that viewers can access the event from the channel and watch pages. See YouTube’s encoder guidance and YouTube’s live streaming tips.
- Test recovery separately: OBS lists Windows 11 as supported, but compatible requirements alone do not ensure that a particular computer can sustain the chosen workload. CPU load depends on encoder, resolution, frame rate and scene complexity. Test the setup under realistic conditions and decide how you will respond to a power loss, Windows update, OBS crash, file error or network outage.
Looping is not an unattended-recovery system. OBS’s source documentation describes playback behavior; it does not establish a complete restart policy for failures such as a PC shutdown or lost connection. A 24/7 plan should account for those risks rather than treating the Loop checkbox as an uptime guarantee.
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Using OBS to repeat a file does not grant permission to broadcast its contents. Confirm that you have the necessary rights to the video, music and other material, and check YouTube’s current copyright and live-stream requirements before broadcasting. Repeated playback also does not guarantee channel monetization: YouTube reviews channels under its monetization policies, including rules concerning reused content. A stream’s technical setup and a channel’s eligibility are separate questions.
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