The Tool Desk
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Diagnose the symptom before changing settings
Note what happens and when. If playback stops after the final item, check looping. If it repeats the same order, check shuffle. If a song restarts or the playlist behaves differently after you switch scenes, check what OBS does to the source while it is hidden. Change one relevant setting at a time, then test again.
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- Stops at the end: check Loop Playlist.
- Plays in the same order: check Shuffle Playlist.
- Restarts or changes behavior after switching scenes: check the source’s visibility behavior.
- One or more tracks fail or are missing: inspect the playlist entries and test those files in VLC.
Confirm that you are using VLC Video Source
Use the playlist-capable source
For multiple songs or videos, use OBS’s VLC Video Source. In the Sources panel, add a VLC Video Source and open its properties to inspect the playlist. The built-in Media Source is intended for an individual media file, not a multi-item playlist.
VLC must be installed for VLC Video Source to appear. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC as well. The OBS Project’s Media Sources documentation, dated 2022-01-11, states: “If you are using 64-bit OBS, you must install 64-bit VLC.” This is a compatibility requirement, not proof that an architecture mismatch caused a particular playback symptom.
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Check the playlist entries
In the VLC Video Source properties, verify that the expected files appear. If an item is absent or fails on its own, open it in VLC and correct the playlist entry or path before troubleshooting shuffle or scene behavior. The documentation does not establish one universal cause for missing entries or unsupported files, so test the affected media individually.
Set looping and shuffle for the behavior you want
Loop Playlist and Shuffle Playlist solve different problems. OBS documents Loop Playlist as on by default; it controls whether playback starts over after the source runs out of items. Shuffle Playlist is off by default; turning it on randomizes the files’ order.
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| Desired behavior | Setting to check | What it controls |
|---|---|---|
| Start again after the final item | Loop Playlist | Whether the list restarts when it runs out of items |
| Play items in randomized order | Shuffle Playlist | The order of files in the playlist |
| Stop after the final item | Loop Playlist off | Allows playback to end instead of starting the list over |
If the playlist plays once and stops, check Loop Playlist first. If it reaches the end and begins again but keeps the same order, check Shuffle Playlist. Do not toggle both settings just because playback looks wrong; make the change that matches the symptom and observe the result.
Check what happens when the source becomes invisible
OBS documents three visibility behaviors for a source. The default is to stop it when it becomes invisible and restart it when it becomes visible. If changing scenes hides the VLC Video Source, that behavior can restart playback instead of continuing from the next point.
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| Visibility behavior | Effect when the source is hidden | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| Stop when not visible; restart when visible (default) | Stops playback while hidden and starts it again when shown | You want playback to restart when the source returns |
| Pause when not visible; resume when visible | Pauses playback while hidden and resumes when shown | You want the same item to continue after returning to the scene |
| Always play even when not visible | Playback continues while another scene is shown | You want the playlist to keep running in the background |
Open the VLC Video Source’s properties and choose the visibility behavior that fits your scene setup. Then switch away and back once to test it. If the playlist only appears to fail after a scene change, this is a more relevant check than changing the playlist order.
Investigate shuffle on scene revisit carefully
There are OBS issue reports about shuffle and scene revisits, but they describe specific older versions and do not establish a universal fault in current OBS releases. An issue filed on 2024-11-11 reports a user on OBS 30.2.0 and Windows 10 whose current song restarted when a scene was revisited with shuffle selected. An earlier issue, filed on 2020-10-11, describes a similar report on OBS 26.0.2 and Windows 10 Pro 1909; it is marked closed, but the page does not state how it was resolved.
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Those reports are reasons to test the behavior in your own setup, not evidence that every shuffled playlist will fail. Confirm the source type and playlist first, then test scene visibility behavior. If the issue remains, record your OBS version, operating system, and the exact sequence that triggers it before seeking version-specific help.
Optional community workaround
A reply on the OBS forum dated 2020-11-23 suggests adding the Directory Watch Media plugin as a filter to the VLC Video Source and assigning a Refresh hotkey. The reply says Refresh re-saves the source properties and reshuffles the list when Shuffle is enabled. This is community advice, not an official fix guarantee. Check that the plugin supports your installed OBS version and operating system before installing it, and test it on a copy of your scene if possible.
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When network caching is relevant
The VLC Video Source includes a Network caching control, documented with a default of 400 ms. Consider investigating it if your playlist contains network-hosted media or shows buffering. The documentation does not say that changing this value fixes advancement for local files, and it does not establish a particular alternative value as a general fix.
Troubleshoot by symptom
| What you see | Check first | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| The playlist stops after its last item | Loop Playlist | Enable it if the list should start over; otherwise stopping is expected. |
| The tracks play in the same order every time | Shuffle Playlist | Enable it if you want a randomized order, then test playback. |
| A song starts over after switching scenes | Visibility behavior | Choose pause/resume or always play if playback should continue while hidden. |
| An item is missing or fails individually | Playlist entry and media file | Test the file in VLC and correct its entry or path. |
| Network-hosted media buffers | Network caching | Investigate caching as a targeted test; no universal replacement value is established. |
| Shuffle seems not to reshuffle when a scene returns | Version, visibility behavior, and reproducible steps | Test in your setup; treat the Directory Watch Media suggestion as an optional, compatibility-dependent workaround. |
Keep music rights separate from playlist troubleshooting
Getting a playlist to advance only addresses OBS playback. It does not establish that you have permission to livestream each recording. Check the rights and platform requirements that apply to the music you plan to use, including for an Indian music stream; the OBS configuration information cited here does not determine licensing or YouTube enforcement.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a 24/7 YouTube stream of uploaded recordings rather than a live camera feed, StreamNeo is an alternative to running OBS on a computer at home. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. StreamNeo loops uploaded videos from the cloud, so your computer and home connection do not need to stay on. It supports the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month.
For Indian creators, UPI and cards are accepted in India. StreamNeo streams to YouTube and plays uploaded videos; it is not a live-camera service. To try it, start the free first day.
Quick Recap
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