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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsTo show a countdown before a looping video sequence in OBS, add a countdown video as the first item in a VLC Video source playlist, put the other videos after it, and leave Loop Playlist enabled. VLC must be installed for the VLC Video source to appear; with 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC. If you want a text countdown triggered when media starts instead, use a countdown script—but that is not the same as delaying the first video.
Choose the countdown behavior you need
| What you want | OBS approach | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| A designed countdown that plays before a playlist | Put a countdown video first in a VLC Video source playlist | The countdown clip plays before the other playlist items. Loop Playlist restarts the playlist after it reaches the end. |
| A single countdown clip that repeats | Use a built-in Media Source with Loop enabled | One local video file repeats; this is not a multi-item playlist. |
| A text timer triggered by media playback | Use OBS Lua Media Countdown Timer 2.0.0 | The text countdown begins when selected media starts playing in live output. The resource does not document a pre-roll delay that holds the video until the timer finishes. |
The built-in VLC playlist is the simplest documented option for a countdown clip followed by several videos. OBS documents playlist playback and looping, but does not describe a dedicated “countdown before playlist” switch; placing the countdown first is the playlist-ordering method.
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Set up a countdown video before a looping playlist
- Install VLC. OBS requires VLC to be installed before VLC Video appears as a source. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC. See the OBS Project Media Sources documentation.
- Add the playlist source. In the OBS scene, use the Sources dock to add a VLC Video source.
- Arrange the playlist. Add the countdown clip as the first item, then add the videos that should follow it. The countdown must be a video file if you want it to play as a pre-roll clip.
- Keep Loop Playlist enabled. OBS documents this setting as on by default; it restarts the source after it runs out of media files. Leave Shuffle Playlist off if the videos need to play in a deliberate order. OBS documents shuffle as off by default.
- Check Visibility Behaviour. OBS lists the default as “Stop when not visible, restart when visible.” If the source is hidden by a scene change or visibility toggle, that behavior can affect playback.
- Preview the sequence. Confirm the countdown ends before the first main video starts and that the playlist loops as intended before using the scene in a live output.
Loop one countdown file with Media Source
For a single countdown clip rather than a playlist, add a built-in Media Source, select the local file, and enable Loop if it should repeat. OBS lists support for common formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. Two source options can matter: Restart playback when source becomes active is on by default, and Show nothing when playback ends is also on by default. Those behaviors affect whether a clip restarts when the source becomes active and what remains visible after it ends.
Display a text countdown over video
If you need a text timer rather than a countdown video, the OBS resource OBS Lua Media Countdown Timer 2.0.0 by Luuk Verhagen describes a script that uses a selected text source and a chosen media source—or all media sources. When the selected media starts playing in live output, the selected text source displays a countdown. The listing was last updated August 18, 2023; check its current compatibility with your OBS version before installing it.
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- Add a text source in OBS for the countdown display.
- Place the text source above the video source in the Sources list. OBS explains that sources higher in the list appear above others in the preview; use the preview to position and size the text. See the OBS Project Sources Guide.
- Configure the script to use the intended text source and media source, then verify its behavior in the live output.
This script is playback-triggered: it starts counting after the selected media begins. The resource listing does not describe a timer that pauses the first playlist item until a countdown completes, so use a countdown clip first in the playlist if a true pre-roll is what you need.
Should you use a third-party playlist plugin?
The OBS forum lists Media Playlist Source 0.1.3 by CodeYan as an alternative to VLC Video Source. Its listing describes editing a playlist without restarting video, selecting a file or folder, and shuffle behavior. It lists Windows, macOS, and Linux support and a 64-bit build. The listing gives a minimum OBS version of 30.0.0 and a last update of April 13, 2025, while also noting version-specific requirements and limitations, including no audio-track or subtitle selection and manual folder refresh. Check the current resource details against your installed OBS version before relying on it. For a basic countdown-first playlist, the built-in VLC playlist avoids adding a separate plugin.
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Troubleshoot common countdown and loop problems
- VLC Video is missing: Install VLC and restart or reopen OBS. Match VLC’s architecture to OBS; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- The main video starts before the countdown: Check the VLC playlist order and move the countdown clip to the first position. A text countdown script is not a substitute for a pre-roll delay.
- The playlist stops instead of repeating: Open the VLC Video source properties and ensure Loop Playlist is enabled.
- Videos play in an unexpected order: Turn off Shuffle Playlist if you need the list to play sequentially.
- Playback changes when switching scenes: Review Visibility Behaviour. The documented default stops playback when the source is not visible and restarts it when visible.
- The text countdown is behind the video: Move the text source above the video source in the Sources list, then reposition it in the preview.
- A plugin does not work with your OBS version: Compare its current requirements and limitations with your installed version before installation; the resource listing may not reflect later compatibility changes.
Or let it run in the cloud
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