The Tool Desk
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Loop one video with an OBS Media Source
- In your OBS scene, click the add-source button and choose Media Source. Create a new source or select an existing one.
- In the source properties, select your local video file.
- Enable Loop. OBS defines this setting as replaying the file after playback completes. It controls repetition, not whether the last frame and first frame join seamlessly. OBS Media Sources documentation (dated January 11, 2022) describes the setting.
- Choose whether to leave Restart playback when source becomes active enabled. This is separate from Loop: it governs what happens when the source becomes active. Leave it enabled if you want the video to restart when activated; if you want it to continue from its prior position after being hidden, that restart behavior may not fit. Community explanations discuss activation through visibility or scene changes. An OBS forum discussion started May 9, 2024 reports differing experiences, not a universal fix.
- Avoid enabling Close file when inactive unless you are comfortable with the source taking a short time to appear after it has been unloaded; OBS documents that possible delay.
- Preview the video and watch the transition from its final picture to its first. Check that the encoded file itself does not contain a dark or black transition at that point.
Does this guarantee a seamless 4K 60fps loop?
No. The available OBS documentation explains the relevant controls but does not provide a compatibility guarantee or performance matrix for 4K at 60fps. A loop setting cannot repair black frames already present in the encoded video, and the documentation does not promise a frame-perfect transition. Test the specific file, OBS scene, and computer you intend to use; do not treat these steps as proof that any 4K 60fps video will play without a gap.
OBS also offers Hardware decoding when the GPU has a suitable decoder for the file type. That option does not certify that a particular system can handle a given 4K 60fps file. Enable or assess it only in light of your hardware and actual playback results.
Loop a playlist with VLC Video
For several videos, add an OBS VLC Video source and enable Loop Playlist. OBS documents playlist looping as enabled by default. This source relies on VLC libraries for extended media support, so it appears only when VLC is installed; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. See the OBS Media Sources documentation.
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Choose between the sources based on the job: Media Source is the direct route for looping one file, while VLC Video supports a playlist. Also consider whether the source may be hidden or activated during playback, since those behaviors are distinct from repeating a file at its end.
Troubleshoot black frames and failed restarts
- The preview is black: First determine whether playback is at the end, whether the source is active, or whether the file itself displays black. OBS has separate controls for looping, source activation, hardware decoding, showing nothing at the end, and closing an inactive file. Change the setting that matches the behavior rather than toggling several at once. If the file is also black in another player, that is a clue to inspect the file, not proof of the cause in every case. One OBS forum thread includes mixed user reports.
- The source does not restart after a quick hide/show: Do not rely on an immediate hide/show at the exact end of playback as a guaranteed restart. In an OBS issue opened in 2024, a maintainer explained that visibility changes are processed by the graphics thread, so a very fast hide/show may not be processed as a distinct transition.
- A last-frame flash appears before playback: A GitHub issue reported this behavior with OBS 25.0.8. That is a report about that version and setup, not evidence of a current general bug or a universal workaround.
- Changing the activation setting has no effect: Forum users report mixed results. Treat Restart playback when source becomes active as a behavior control to test in your scene, not as a guaranteed black-frame fix.
- A playlist source is missing: Install VLC and match its bitness to OBS; OBS requires 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep uploaded videos live on a YouTube channel, StreamNeo is a different approach from operating OBS on a computer: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded video from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. It streams the video as uploaded, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot regardless of quality, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card required. Monthly: $9.99 per month. StreamNeo streams to YouTube only; it plays uploaded videos rather than broadcasting from a camera. Start the free day with StreamNeo.
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