For a repeating playlist of local videos, use OBS’s VLC Video Source; for one local video, use Media Source and enable its Loop option. VLC Video Source is built to play a list and has Loop Playlist enabled by default, but it requires VLC to be installed and to match OBS’s architecture. Neither source guarantees that OBS, your computer, internet connection, or YouTube stream will stay online continuously.
Which OBS source fits your playlist?
| Need | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Play several local files in sequence and repeat the list | VLC Video Source | It supports a playlist and a Loop Playlist setting. |
| Repeat one local file | Media Source | It adds an individual media file and has its own Loop control. |
| Edit a playlist without restarting the video or select an item directly | Third-party Media Playlist Source plugin, if compatible | The plugin listing describes these workflow features; it is not an official built-in OBS source. |
OBS describes the distinction this way: “Unlike Media Source, you can create a playlist of items, similar to an Image Slideshow.” (OBS Project: Media Sources)
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What the two built-in sources do
VLC Video Source: a playlist of local files
VLC Video Source uses VLC libraries for extended media support and lets you add multiple playlist items. Its documented controls include Loop Playlist (on by default), Shuffle Playlist (off by default), visibility behavior, network caching, audio-track selection, and subtitle controls. VLC must be installed for the source type to appear in OBS. OBS also requires matching architecture: 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. See the OBS Media Sources documentation.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteMedia Source: an individual file
Media Source adds an individual local file. OBS lists video formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM, and audio formats including MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV. Its controls include Loop (off by default), Restart playback when source becomes active (on by default), optional hardware decoding, hiding the source at the end of playback, unloading it while inactive, playback speed, and color-range controls. These options are useful when playback behavior for a single file matters.
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Set up a repeating playlist with VLC Video Source
- Install VLC and check its architecture. Use the VLC installation that matches OBS; for 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC. Reopen OBS and check that VLC Video Source appears in the Add Source list.
- Add the source and build the list. In your OBS scene, use Add Source to add VLC Video Source, then add your local video files in its properties.
- Choose the playback order. Leave Shuffle Playlist off for a fixed sequence. Leave Loop Playlist on to repeat the list after the final item.
- Check Visibility Behaviour. The documented default is “Stop when not visible, restart when visible.” If the source may be hidden or another scene may become active while playback should continue, select a behavior that keeps playback going. This setting controls the media source, not whether OBS ends the outgoing livestream.
- Test the entire sequence. Confirm that the files play in the intended order, that the last item returns to the first, and that the source behaves as intended when you switch scenes or hide it.
OBS documents these source controls, but does not promise continuous operation of the source, computer, network, encoder, or YouTube ingest. Treat playlist looping and stream continuity as separate concerns and plan to monitor and recover the broadcast if needed.
Set up one looping file with Media Source
- Add Media Source to the scene and select the local video file.
- Enable Loop in the source properties; it is off by default.
- Review Restart playback when source becomes active. This is separate from Loop. It is on by default and affects what happens when the source becomes active, such as after a scene change.
- Test playback and scene changes before relying on the scene for a live broadcast.
Does VLC Video Source work with YouTube playlist URLs?
OBS’s source documentation describes local-file controls and VLC’s extended media support, but does not establish that YouTube playlist pages or video URLs can be used as a durable nonstop program. It also does not recommend a network-caching value for YouTube playlist URLs or say VLC Video Source is more reliable than Media Source for them. Treat URL-based playback as version- and service-dependent: verify it in your actual OBS and VLC setup rather than assuming the cache field means the workflow is supported.
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When a third-party playlist plugin may fit
The OBS forum’s Media Playlist Source resource is a community plugin alternative that uses Media Source internally. Its listing describes editing a playlist without restarting the video, remembering the current file across OBS restarts, and selecting an item directly. The listing says current versions require OBS 31 or later and do not support audio-track or subtitle selection. Plugin versions and compatibility may change, so verify the current release before installing it.
What looping a source does—and does not—solve
- It solves playback repetition: VLC Video Source can loop a list, while Media Source can loop one file.
- It does not ensure a 24/7 broadcast: Source documentation does not guarantee uninterrupted OBS operation, host-computer availability, internet access, encoding, or YouTube ingest.
- It does not establish YouTube URL support: The documented local-file settings are not a guarantee for YouTube playlist pages or video links.
- It does not establish comparative performance: OBS’s documentation provides no CPU, stability, or YouTube-uptime benchmark comparing these sources.
Or let it run in the cloud
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- 【READS USB DRIVES AND SD CARDS】- Reads USB flash drives and hard drives up to 8TB and SD cards up to 1TB. Supports FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS file systems. Automatic playback, continuous looping and repeat, and the ability to resume video playback from the last stop point.
- 【TRIGGER SENSOR INPUT】- Ability to loop one video continuously and play a different video when triggered by an optional push-button or motion sensor. Build an interactive digital signage display, art gallery or museum on-demand video player, or a Halloween special effect in just a few steps. Push-button and motion sensors sold separately.
- 【MEDIA FORMAT SUPPORT】 - Video: MP4, MKV, AVI, TS/TP, MOV, VOB, and M2TS files using H.265/HEVC, H.264/AVC, VC1, or MPEG2/4 codecs, up to 4096x2304p@30fps, 10-bit color, and 200mbps. Photos: JPG, JPEG, BMP, GIF (non-animated), PNG. Music: MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, APE, AAC
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