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How to Loop Multiple Pre-Recorded Videos in OBS

Use Media Source to repeat one file, or VLC Video to loop a playlist of different pre-recorded videos in OBS.

By DocumentaryTube Team 4 min read
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To loop one pre-recorded video in OBS, use a Media Source and enable Loop. To cycle through several different videos, use a VLC Video source: add the files to its playlist, keep Loop Playlist enabled, and turn Shuffle Playlist off if you want them in order. VLC must be installed for the VLC Video source to appear.

Choose the right OBS source

What you want OBS source and setting What happens
Repeat one local video Media Source → Loop The file plays again after it finishes.
Cycle through several local videos VLC Video → playlist → Loop Playlist The playlist starts again after its final item.
Keep a fixed playlist order VLC Video → Shuffle Playlist off Items play in the order you arranged them.
Randomize playlist order VLC Video → Shuffle Playlist on Items play in a randomized order.

OBS’s regular Media Source handles a single file. For multiple items, the VLC Video source provides the playlist workflow described in the OBS Media Sources guide.

Loop one video with Media Source

  1. In OBS, select the scene where the video should appear.
  2. In the Sources dock, click + and choose Media Source.
  3. Create a new source or select an existing one, then choose the local video file in its properties.
  4. Enable Loop and confirm the properties. When playback reaches the end, OBS starts the file again.

Loop a playlist of different videos with VLC Video

Install VLC with the matching architecture

Install VLC Media Player if it is not already installed. OBS requires 64-bit VLC when using 64-bit OBS. OBS documentation lists the Media Source and VLC Video source types for Windows, macOS, and Linux; the exact installer depends on your operating system.

Add the playlist and set its behavior

  1. In the desired OBS scene, click + in the Sources dock and select VLC Video. If that option is missing, check that VLC is installed and that its 64-bit or 32-bit architecture matches OBS.
  2. Add the video files to the VLC source’s playlist in the order you want them to play.
  3. Leave Loop Playlist enabled so playback starts over when the final item ends.
  4. Set Shuffle Playlist off for the listed order, or on to randomize playback.
  5. Choose the source’s Visibility Behaviour to determine how it behaves when its scene or source is hidden.

Choose what happens when the source is hidden

  • Stop when not visible, restart when visible: playback begins again when the source becomes visible.
  • Pause when not visible, resume when visible: playback continues from the paused position when shown again.
  • Always play even when not visible: playback continues in the background while hidden.

Pick the behavior that fits your scene changes. For example, a playlist meant to continue through a temporary switch to another scene should not be set to stop and restart when hidden.

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Check the result before using it on stream

  • Confirm the VLC source is visible in the current scene and that its playlist contains the intended files.
  • Watch through a transition between two playlist items to verify the next file starts.
  • Let the last item finish and confirm the playlist begins again.
  • If you rely on the playlist continuing through a scene change, verify that its Visibility Behaviour is set to keep playing while hidden.

Troubleshooting

VLC Video is missing from the Sources menu

OBS’s VLC Video source requires VLC to be installed. Also check architecture: 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. After installing a matching VLC version, reopen OBS and check the Sources menu again.

Only one video repeats

A Media Source is for a single file. To play different files in sequence, add them to a VLC Video playlist and enable Loop Playlist.

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The playlist stops after its final video

Check that Loop Playlist is enabled in the VLC Video source properties. This setting repeats the playlist after it runs out of files.

Videos play in an unexpected order

Turn Shuffle Playlist off to preserve the order you set in the playlist. With shuffle enabled, items play in a randomized order.

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Playback restarts or pauses after a scene change

Review Visibility Behaviour. Stop/restart and pause/resume settings intentionally change playback when the source becomes hidden; choose always play while hidden if it should continue uninterrupted.

Optional third-party playlist source

A third-party OBS forum listing describes a Media Playlist Source plugin as an alternative with playlist editing and file or folder selection. The listing gives OBS Studio 30.0.0 as its minimum version. Its current compatibility and maintenance status are not established here, so check the listing and plugin details before relying on it. For the documented built-in playlist method, use VLC Video.

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