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To loop a prerecorded video into YouTube Live from Linux, add it to an OBS Studio scene as a Media Source, enable Loop, and stream to YouTube over RTMPS. Set the encoder to constant bitrate (CBR), use a two-second keyframe interval, and choose a resolution and bitrate your connection can sustain. This loops the file while OBS is running; it does not protect the broadcast from a power cut, internet outage, or YouTube ingest interruption.
Install OBS and prepare the video
Install OBS Studio using the route supported for your distribution. OBS Project documents Flatpak and Ubuntu builds, and recommends Flatpak for non-Ubuntu distributions: OBS Studio Linux installation.
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Have the local video file ready and make sure the machine can read it. OBS Media Source supports common formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. If the file’s format or playback is uncertain, test that exact file in OBS before scheduling a long stream.
Set up a single video or playlist
Repeat one file with Media Source
- In OBS, create or select a scene.
- In the Sources panel, choose + and add Media Source.
- Name the source, then browse to the local video file.
- Enable Loop in the source properties and confirm. When playback reaches the end, OBS restarts the file.
OBS’s Media Sources guide documents supported formats and source options: Media Sources.
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Play a playlist with VLC Video
Use VLC Video when the broadcast should move through several files rather than repeat one clip. VLC must be installed for this source type to appear, and the OBS documentation specifies that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. Add the source, choose the playlist files, and check the playlist options: Loop Playlist defaults to On and Shuffle Playlist defaults to Off. Turn shuffle on only if you want the order randomized.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, open the channel’s live control room and create or select the stream. Copy its stream key; keep it private because anyone with the key may be able to broadcast to your stream.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream. Select YouTube – RTMPS if offered, then connect your account or enter the stream key as prompted. If configuring the server manually, use the RTMPS endpoint and application path supplied by YouTube rather than a guessed address.
- Confirm the stream is configured for RTMPS. YouTube recommends RTMPS; its ingest guidance specifies an RTMPS protocol URL, a valid endpoint and application path, and port 443. See YouTube’s encoder settings and RTMPS ingestion guidance.
- When ready to begin, click Start Streaming in OBS and check YouTube Studio for the incoming preview and stream status before making the broadcast public or sharing it.
Choose output settings the connection can sustain
In OBS, open Settings > Output, select Advanced output mode if needed, and configure the streaming encoder. YouTube’s current guidance supports RTMP/RTMPS ingest, H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 video, up to 60 fps, and AAC or MP3 audio. Use CBR and a two-second keyframe interval; YouTube says not to exceed four seconds. For broad compatibility, H.264 with AAC is a practical baseline. See YouTube encoder settings.
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Use resolution, frame rate, and bitrate as a matched set
The following are YouTube H.264 bitrate recommendations; the page does not state a publication year. They are platform guidance, not a guarantee that a particular Linux computer or network can sustain the stream.
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| Output | Recommended video bitrate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | YouTube H.264 recommendation; year not stated |
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | YouTube H.264 recommendation; year not stated |
| 720p at 60 fps | 8 Mbps | YouTube H.264 recommendation; year not stated |
Set OBS’s output resolution and frame rate to suit the source and target quality, then select the matching YouTube recommendation where available. A higher frame rate or resolution needs more sustained upload capacity. YouTube also recommends stereo audio at 128 Kbps and a 44.1 kHz sample rate in its advanced settings: YouTube encoder settings and advanced settings.
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For a stable broadcast, assess upload capacity over time rather than relying on a brief peak. Leave headroom for network variation and other household or office traffic; if the stream drops frames or YouTube reports an unstable connection, lower the video bitrate, resolution, or frame rate and test again.
Test before committing to a long broadcast
- Use the actual video or playlist, intended OBS output settings, and the network that will carry the stream.
- Start a test broadcast and watch both OBS’s stats and YouTube Studio’s incoming preview for dropped frames, buffering, audio problems, and connection warnings.
- Let the test run long enough to catch playback transitions and confirm that a single-file loop restarts or that the playlist behaves as intended.
- Make one change at a time if the test is unstable, then repeat it. OBS recommends testing settings and stream performance before the first live stream: OBS streaming guide.
What “nonstop” does—and does not—mean
The OBS loop setting restarts the media source; it does not keep the whole broadcast online if the computer loses power, OBS stops, the internet connection fails, or YouTube stops receiving the stream. Plan for those separate failure points if uninterrupted viewing matters.
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Do not treat an indefinitely long YouTube broadcast as a guaranteed archive. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived, while streams exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all. It recommends making a local recording as a backup. For an archive you need to keep, plan periodic stream endings before the 12-hour threshold and maintain a local recording. YouTube also says rewind/DVR capabilities may be limited or unavailable on streams longer than 12 hours. See YouTube live stream archiving and YouTube DVR controls.
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You are responsible for having the necessary rights to stream the video and music, including rights for any resulting archive. Review YouTube’s live streaming terms and confirm that your permissions cover both live transmission and retained copies: YouTube Terms of Service.
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Technical ability to loop a video does not make it eligible for monetization. YouTube’s July 15, 2025 clarification renamed “repetitious content” as “inauthentic content” and says repetitive or mass-produced content is ineligible for monetization. Review the policy and assess the channel’s actual content rather than assuming a loop qualifies: YouTube channel monetization policies.
Or let it run in the cloud
For a YouTube-only prerecorded stream that should not depend on a Linux computer staying on, StreamNeo runs the uploaded video from the cloud. Upload the recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. There is no computer or home connection to keep running; it supports the uploaded quality up to 4K 60 fps at one flat price per slot, automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream, and the first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo or pricing. Start your free first day on StreamNeo.
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