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For an OBS playlist of multiple videos, use VLC Video Source: it supports playlists and has Loop Playlist enabled by default. For one video file that should repeat, use OBS’s built-in Media Source and enable Loop. Neither choice is documented as more reliable for 24/7 broadcasting; looping controls playback, not stream uptime.
Which OBS source should you choose?
| Your need | Choose | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat one local video file | Media Source | Its Loop property repeats that file after playback finishes. Loop is off by default. |
| Play several local videos in sequence or shuffle | VLC Video Source | It supports playlists. Loop Playlist is on by default and Shuffle Playlist is off by default. |
These behaviors are documented in OBS’s Media Sources guide. VLC Video Source requires VLC to be installed. If you use 64-bit OBS, OBS says to install 64-bit VLC.
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Set up a repeating single video with Media Source
- Add the source: in OBS, choose or create the scene for your broadcast, then add a Media Source from the Sources panel.
- Select the file: in the source properties, choose the local video you want to repeat. Check that the correct file is selected and plays in the preview.
- Enable looping: turn on Loop. The default is off, so without this setting the file ends rather than repeating.
- Check audio and visibility: confirm the source is visible in the scene and that its audio is routed as intended. Test playback through the end of the file to make sure it starts again.
Media Source is the simpler fit when the channel should show one repeating file. It is not a playlist manager for several separate videos.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsSet up a looping playlist with VLC Video Source
- Install VLC first: use a VLC installation that matches OBS’s architecture. In particular, 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC according to OBS’s documentation.
- Add the source: in the scene used for the broadcast, add VLC Video Source from the Sources panel.
- Build the list: use the source properties to add the media files and arrange them in the intended playback order. Open or preview each file locally before relying on the list.
- Choose sequence or shuffle: leave Shuffle Playlist off for the listed order; enable it if you want randomized playback. Shuffle is off by default.
- Confirm repeat behavior: keep Loop Playlist enabled so playback cycles through the list. It is on by default.
- Review visibility behavior: VLC Video Source defaults to stopping when it is not visible and restarting when it becomes visible. Check that behavior against your scene transitions and source visibility; do not assume a hidden source continues playing.
- Check sound, subtitles, and caching: verify the intended audio track and subtitle behavior. The documented network-caching default is 400 ms; review it if you are using network media or seeing playback issues, rather than treating the default as a reliability setting.
What looping does—and does not—guarantee
A source loop can restart a file or playlist after playback reaches its end. It does not establish that OBS will remain connected to YouTube, that a computer will stay powered, or that a home internet connection will remain available. OBS’s source documentation does not compare Media Source and VLC Video Source for extended uptime, recovery after a power or network failure, or 24/7 reliability. Choose based on whether you need one file or a playlist, and test your complete broadcast setup rather than treating a loop setting as an uptime guarantee.
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Check YouTube eligibility and children’s-audience settings
YouTube’s live-streaming getting-started guidance says a channel must be verified and must have had no live-streaming restriction in the previous 90 days. Encoder software is one supported way to stream. Live broadcasts remain subject to YouTube’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service.
If the channel or content is designated made for kids, YouTube disables or limits several features. Its policy guidance says live chat, chat replay, and Super Chat are disabled; comments on live archives and upcoming streams and reminder notifications are disabled; personalized ads are disabled, though contextual ads may appear.
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YouTube’s LiveBroadcasts API includes selfDeclaredMadeForKids for an owner’s designation and a read-only madeForKids value. Those fields describe the designation; they do not determine whether a particular channel legally or factually qualifies. See the LiveBroadcasts API reference.
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Troubleshooting common playlist problems
- The playlist will not load: confirm VLC is installed and, for 64-bit OBS, that VLC is 64-bit. Recheck file paths and test each media file outside the playlist.
- The video plays once and stops: for a single file, enable Loop in Media Source; for a list, enable Loop Playlist in VLC Video Source.
- Files play in the wrong order: check the VLC Video Source playlist order and ensure Shuffle Playlist is off if you want a fixed sequence.
- Playback stops after a scene change: inspect source visibility behavior. VLC Video Source is documented to stop when hidden and restart when visible by default.
- There is no expected sound or subtitle: inspect the selected audio track and subtitle settings, and confirm the source is routed correctly in the scene.
- The YouTube stream ends or disconnects: a playback loop does not itself reconnect a dropped broadcast. Check the encoder, computer power, network connection, and YouTube stream status; OBS’s source documentation does not establish automatic recovery from these failures.
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