For an OBS browser overlay that should retain its state while you switch scenes, leave Refresh browser source when scene becomes active and Shutdown source when not visible turned off. The first reloads the page on scene activation; the second unloads it while hidden or inactive. Neither setting is a periodic refresh timer.
Recommended settings for a nonstop overlay
- Refresh browser source when scene becomes active: Off. Scene activation reloads the browser page, which may reset in-memory state such as an overlay session or previously displayed alerts.
- Shutdown source when not visible: Off. This keeps the page loaded when its source is hidden or its scene is inactive, rather than unloading it during a scene switch.
These are the OBS Browser Source defaults. The guidance is useful for overlays whose state should persist across scene changes; test your particular overlay, because its behavior depends on the loaded page or service.
What each refresh control actually does
Refresh browser source when scene becomes active
OBS describes this option as refreshing the page when it becomes active—that is, when its scene is switched to. It is event-triggered, not a recurring timer, and is off by default. Enabling it can make the content fresher when you return to a scene, but the reload may lose page state. OBS does not document a periodic interval for this checkbox. OBS Browser Source documentation
Shutdown source when not visible
This option unloads the browser page when the source is no longer visible, including when it is not in the active scene. It is off by default. Leave it off if you want the page to remain loaded while you switch away; enabling it unloads the page during inactive periods. OBS does not quantify resource savings for this use case. OBS Browser Source documentation
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Refresh cache of current page
This is a manual action that immediately refreshes the current page and reloads its content. Use it when an overlay is stale and you deliberately want to reload it, rather than enabling a reload on every scene activation. A reload can reset state, depending on how the overlay is built. OBS Browser Source documentation
How to check or change the settings in OBS
- In OBS, select the scene containing the overlay and select its Browser Source in the Sources list.
- Open the source properties. Check Refresh browser source when scene becomes active and Shutdown source when not visible; leave both unchecked if the overlay should stay loaded across scene switches.
- When you intentionally need to reload the page, use Refresh cache of current page in the Browser Source controls.
- Switch to another scene and back, then verify the specific overlay behaves as expected. Check whether its state persists and whether it reconnects or updates as intended.
OBS Browser Source embeds a web page in a scene and is commonly used for alert overlays and chat boxes. It uses the Chrome Embedded Framework (CEF). Whether the page polls for updates or maintains a connection is determined by that page or overlay service, not by the scene-refresh checkbox. OBS Sources Guide · OBS obs-browser project documentation
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When you might choose different settings
| Need | Scene activation refresh | Shutdown when not visible | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preserve overlay state between scene switches | Off | Off | The page is not reloaded on return and stays loaded while its scene is inactive. |
| Reload the page when returning to its scene | On | Off | Reloads on scene activation; any page state may be lost. |
| Unload the page while its source is hidden or inactive | Off | On | The page unloads while not visible; its state may not persist. |
These settings do not establish a universal best configuration for every overlay. A provider-specific help article updated September 4, 2026, warns that reloading its alert overlay can make it forget what it already showed and miss alerts received while its scene was away. That is guidance for that provider’s overlay, not a guarantee about all browser sources. Kulhad’s OBS overlay instructions
Troubleshoot a stale or reset overlay
The overlay resets when you return to its scene
Check whether Refresh browser source when scene becomes active is enabled. If preserving page state matters, turn it off and test another scene switch. The overlay itself may also reset state independently of OBS.
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The overlay appears to start over after being hidden
Check Shutdown source when not visible. If enabled, OBS unloads the page when it is hidden or its scene is inactive. Turn it off if the page should remain loaded, then test with the overlay provider’s expected behavior.
The overlay content is stale
Use Refresh cache of current page for a deliberate reload. Since this reloads the web page, verify whether that overlay loses session or display state afterward.
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Alerts or updates are still missing
The scene-refresh controls do not guarantee that an overlay service is connected or receiving updates. Check the overlay’s own connection, URL, and provider guidance, then test the page in OBS before relying on it during a long broadcast. OBS documents the controls, but does not guarantee uptime or behavior for every overlay URL.
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