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If an OBS Media Source stops after one pass, open its properties and enable Loop. That setting repeats the file when playback completes. If your source is VLC Video instead, enable Loop Playlist. These are separate source types with different repeat controls.
Enable the correct loop setting
- In OBS, find the source in the Sources list and identify whether it is Media Source or VLC Video.
- Open that source’s properties. For a single file in Media Source, check Loop. OBS documents this option as off by default. For VLC Video, check Loop Playlist; OBS documents that option as on by default.
- Apply the change and let playback reach the end of the file to confirm it starts again.
OBS’s Media Sources documentation (published January 11, 2022) describes these controls and their defaults.
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Make sure the other playback options are not being mistaken for Loop
Restart playback when source becomes active
This option restarts playback when the source is in the current scene and becomes visible. It controls what happens on activation or re-entry; it does not repeat a file at the end. Leave it enabled or disabled according to your scene behavior, but use Loop for continuous repetition.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsShow nothing when playback ends
This controls whether the source is hidden after playback completes. If the image disappears at the end, inspect this option. It affects visibility, not whether the file repeats.
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A source that remains on its last frame has not necessarily looped. Check whether playback actually restarted rather than judging only by whether an image is still visible.
Media Source or VLC Video?
| Source type | Best fit | Repeat control | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media Source | A single local media file using formats OBS lists, including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, WebM, MP3, AAC, OGG and WAV. | Loop; off by default, according to OBS documentation. | Use the built-in Media Source and its file properties. |
| VLC Video | A playlist or extended media support. | Loop Playlist; on by default, according to OBS documentation. | VLC must be installed. OBS specifies that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. |
If VLC Video is unavailable, check that VLC is installed and that its architecture matches OBS. For a single file, Media Source is the direct option; for a playlist, VLC Video may be appropriate.
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If it still stops, narrow down what is actually failing
- Video and audio both stop: verify the source type and repeat property, then check that the file is accessible and playback reaches its end normally.
- The picture disappears: inspect Show nothing when playback ends; that setting can hide the source.
- Playback continues but you cannot hear it locally: distinguish an audio-monitoring problem from playback ending. A community forum thread reports monitoring trouble with looped MP3 files containing embedded cover art, but that is an anecdotal, narrow report—not an established general cause of Media Source looping failures. See the OBS forum discussion.
- The source restarts only after a scene change or becoming visible: review Restart playback when source becomes active. It does not replace the end-of-file loop control.
If the cause remains unclear, record your OBS version, operating system, source type, exact property values, media container and codec (or audio format), whether playback itself ends or only local monitoring/output changes, and an OBS log. Those details make a specific diagnosis possible; the symptom alone does not establish a particular bug or media-file cause.
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Quick Recap
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