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If Stream Labels stop updating, first identify which version you use: labels built into Streamlabs Desktop or the separate Stream Labels app that writes text files for OBS and other streaming software. The fixes differ. Recreate built-in label sources; for the standalone app, check its output folder and file sources, then reset and reinstall if needed.
First, identify which Stream Labels setup you use
Streamlabs Desktop includes Stream Labels as built-in widget sources, so you do not need the separate app for that workflow. The standalone Stream Labels app is a different setup: it generates text files that you add as file-backed text sources in OBS or another streaming program.
- Built into Streamlabs Desktop: You added a Stream Label through the app’s Sources panel.
- Standalone app: You run Stream Labels separately and your scene reads text files from its chosen output folder.
Make sure you follow the instructions for the setup you actually use; resetting one workflow will not repair sources configured for the other.
Fix labels built into Streamlabs Desktop
Recreate the affected label source
- In Streamlabs Desktop, delete the source for the label that is not updating.
- In Sources, select +, open Widgets, and choose Stream Label.
- Choose the label you want from the drop-down menu and add the source.
- Wait about 60 seconds before checking whether it has refreshed.
Streamlabs’ setup guidance also says an Alert Box widget source must be present for built-in Stream Labels to work properly. The Alert Box can be hidden, but keep its source in the scene.
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If a new source still does not update
- Log out of Streamlabs Desktop.
- Close and restart the application. If needed, try running it as administrator.
- Log in again and check the label after allowing time for the next refresh.
Fix the standalone Stream Labels app and OBS text sources
Check the connection between the app and your scene
- Confirm the standalone Stream Labels app is open. It must keep running on the computer to update its text files in real time.
- Check the app’s selected output directory and confirm the text source points to a label file in that directory.
- In OBS, open the text source’s properties, enable Read from file, and select the appropriate label file from the Stream Labels output folder.
- Wait about 60 seconds for the next file update before deciding the change did not work.
Streamlabs describes a folder under Documents as one possible place to store the output files. Use the directory selected in your own Stream Labels setup rather than assuming that every installation uses the same location.
Reset and reinstall the standalone app
If checking the app and file paths does not help, Streamlabs’ documented reset sequence removes the existing file sources and app data before reinstalling:
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- Remove the text sources previously created in your streaming software.
- Delete the Stream Labels output folder containing the generated text files.
- Delete the
%appdata%Roamingstreamlabelsfolder. - Download and install the latest Stream Labels app from the Streamlabs Dashboard.
- Sign in and choose an output directory.
- Recreate the text sources in your streaming software, pointing each one to the appropriate file in the selected directory.
- Keep the Stream Labels app running while you rely on it to update those files.
Deleting the output folder removes the generated files, so be prepared to recreate the corresponding text sources after setup. Do not manually edit generated text files as a fix: Stream Labels can overwrite those edits.
If Stream Labels will not launch or the login window is missing
If the login window never appears, Streamlabs says a popup may be blocked. Check your antivirus or other security software for a block affecting Stream Labels and allow the app where appropriate. Security software can also interfere with file creation or updates. Check for a specific block rather than routinely disabling protection.
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Common causes and fixes
| Symptom | What to check | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| A built-in label is blank or stale in Streamlabs Desktop | Whether the source is damaged or missing, and whether an Alert Box widget source is present | Delete and recreate the label source; add an Alert Box source if one is absent. |
| An OBS label never changes | Whether the standalone app is running, and whether the text source reads the correct file from the selected output folder | Keep the app open and correct the file-backed source path. |
| The login window does not appear | Whether security software blocked the app or its popup | Check for a block and allow Stream Labels where appropriate. |
| New settings or tokens do not show up | Whether the token’s capitalization matches and whether the refresh interval has passed | Tokens are case sensitive. Save the settings and allow about 60 seconds for an update. |
| Edits to a label file disappear | Whether the generated file was edited directly | Change the relevant Stream Labels settings instead; the app may overwrite manual file edits. |
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