OBS repeats the same clip when that clip is added as a looping Media Source, or when the source restarts as it becomes active. To rotate multiple files, use OBS’s VLC Video source, add every intended file to its playlist, and enable Loop Playlist. YouTube’s Loop control is for viewer playback; it does not choose or rotate the media OBS sends to a live stream.
First identify which OBS source is playing the video
OBS has two relevant source types, and their loop settings do different jobs. Media Source is for an individual media file. VLC Video can play a list of files. If a rotation contains several clips but only one appears, start by checking the source type and the files actually listed in it.
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| Source or control | What it controls | Repeat behavior | Requirement or caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| OBS Media Source | One local media file | Loop repeats that file. Restart playback when source becomes active can also start it over when it becomes active again. | It is not the playlist behavior provided by VLC Video. OBS documentation lists Loop as off and restart-on-activation as on by default; check your installed OBS version. |
| OBS VLC Video | A playlist of media files | Loop Playlist restarts the list after it reaches the end. Shuffle Playlist randomizes the order. | Requires VLC installed. OBS documents that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. |
| YouTube player Loop | Playback for a viewer watching a YouTube video or playlist | Repeats the selected item or playlist in the YouTube player. | It does not select or rotate media in the OBS broadcast. |
Set up a multi-file rotation in OBS
- Add a VLC Video source: in the OBS scene where the rotation should appear, use the Sources panel’s add control and select VLC Video. If the source type is unavailable, install VLC and ensure its architecture matches OBS—64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS.
- Populate the playlist: open the source’s properties and add each intended, distinct media file to the playlist. Check the list itself; enabling a loop cannot add files that were never included.
- Set the rotation behavior: turn on Loop Playlist to start the list over when it runs out. Leave Shuffle Playlist off if you want the clips in listed order; turn it on only if a randomized order is wanted.
- Check visibility behavior: inspect Visibility Behaviour. OBS lists Stop when not visible, restart when visible as the VLC Video default. If a scene change hides and later reveals the source, this setting can stop playback and restart it when shown again.
- Test the end of the list and scene changes: observe whether playback advances through the listed files, what happens at the final file, and whether hiding and showing the source changes its position. This distinguishes end-of-list looping from a source being restarted when it becomes visible.
If you are using a single-file Media Source
A Media Source with Loop enabled will play that file again when it ends. That is expected behavior, not a rotation among files. To make a multi-file rotation, switch to VLC Video and build its playlist.
Also inspect Restart playback when source becomes active. OBS describes this setting as restarting the file when the source is in the current scene and visible, and lists it as on by default. If the source becomes active again, playback may begin at the start even apart from reaching the file’s end.
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Why YouTube’s Loop button does not fix OBS rotation
YouTube’s Loop setting repeats playback in the YouTube player for viewers. The media selection and rotation sent in a live broadcast are controlled by OBS’s sources. Changing a viewer-side loop setting does not add files to an OBS playlist or change the source’s loop behavior. See YouTube Help’s instructions for looping videos or playlists.
Troubleshoot the repeat with these checks
- The same file starts again at its end: check whether it is a Media Source with Loop enabled. For a rotation, use VLC Video and verify the playlist contains all intended files.
- The clip restarts after a scene change: inspect Media Source’s restart-on-activation setting, or VLC Video’s Visibility Behaviour. A source becoming active or visible again can trigger a restart, depending on the setting.
- The list plays in an unexpected order: check Shuffle Playlist. It changes order; it is separate from Loop Playlist.
- The list ends and does not start over: inspect Loop Playlist on VLC Video. It controls repeating the whole playlist after the list runs out.
- VLC Video is missing: install VLC and match its architecture to OBS. OBS’s documentation specifies 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS.
- These settings do not explain it: record the source type, exact playlist contents, visibility setting, scene transitions, and OBS log before investigating further. Without those details, the specific cause on a particular setup cannot be determined.
OBS’s Media Sources documentation describes these controls; its settings can evolve, so compare the labels with your installed OBS version. A report in the OBS Project Forums describes one user’s experience with playlist edits during a running YouTube live stream, but it is anecdotal and does not establish why another setup repeats a clip.
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