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To reduce rising memory use during a long-running YouTube playlist stream, first check whether OBS process RAM or GPU memory (VRAM) is actually climbing, then simplify the scene and test sources one at a time. OBS does not identify every increase in memory use as a leak, and the available reports do not establish one general playlist-specific fault. A controlled comparison can show whether the growth tracks a source, scene change, or stream reconnect.
First, confirm what is growing
Memory use can change during normal operation; a gradual rise alone does not prove a leak. Also distinguish system RAM used by the OBS process from GPU memory (VRAM). Those are different resources, and a report about one does not explain the other.
- Record your setup: note the OBS version, operating system, installed plugins, scene collection, active sources, and output settings.
- Take a baseline: use your operating system’s process monitor to record OBS memory at stream start, and GPU monitoring if VRAM is the concern. Check again at regular intervals rather than relying on a single reading.
- Mark events: note playlist transitions, scene changes, browser-source activity, and stream reconnects alongside the readings. Look for a repeatable association, not just a rise over time.
- Save logs: keep the OBS logs for a run that reproduces the problem, together with the exact versions and hardware. OBS’s Help Portal provides access to guides and support routes.
There is no universal leak detector or single memory threshold that diagnoses this problem across OBS setups. The useful evidence is whether a particular resource keeps climbing and whether the climb repeatedly follows a specific event.
Reduce the resource load in your scene
The OBS Project notes that sources use resources to appear in a scene, and that most sources still use some resources when not visible. Its Encoding Performance Troubleshooting guide recommends reducing the demands made by scenes and sources.
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- Remove what you do not need. Make a copy of your scene collection, then temporarily remove unused sources and filters. Keep the active scene focused on what the stream needs.
- Use media sources for files. For video or audio files, test an OBS Media Source or VLC Source rather than loading a web page to play local media.
- Use image sources for static artwork. If a browser source only displays a static graphic, replace it with an Image Source where practical.
- Trim browser sources. Use fewer browser sources and reduce their dimensions to what the output actually needs. Temporarily disable complex or animated overlays to see whether they contribute to the climb.
- Right-size media. When the output is smaller than the source media, test lower-resolution files. This is a resource-reduction step, not a guarantee that a leak will be fixed.
There is no comprehensive benchmark establishing that every browser-based playlist or overlay uses more memory than every local-media setup. Choose based on whether the content genuinely needs a live web page, how large and complex it is, and whether the observed growth follows its activity.
Isolate the source with a controlled comparison
Change one part of the setup at a time. Keep stream duration and output settings similar between runs, since a brief test may not expose a slow-growing problem.
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- Test a minimal scene: use a copy of the collection with only the essentials for the stream. Observe RAM and VRAM over a comparable period.
- Add the playlist source: run again and note whether growth begins or changes around media transitions.
- Restore other components individually: add overlays, filters, browser sources, and plugins one at a time. Track readings and events at the same intervals.
- Compare the pattern: if growth repeatedly appears only after one component or event is restored, preserve that reproduction and investigate that component first.
This is a practical isolation method, not a published OBS test protocol. A clean short run does not rule out a leak that takes longer to appear.
Check whether reconnects or a specific version are involved
A 2026 OBS Studio GitHub issue reports a particular NVENC VRAM problem on OBS 32.1.2 for Linux, using an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER. The reporter associated accumulation with periodic RTMP output reconnects and output stop/start, and reported roughly 200 MiB per restart in that setup; the VRAM was reclaimed on process exit. This is an individual report, not an official finding that all systems are affected or that YouTube playlist playback causes the issue. See issue #13656.
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If your symptom is VRAM growth after repeated reconnects with NVENC, record the timing, GPU, operating system, OBS version, and encoder settings, then compare your case with that report. Do not treat ordinary OBS process RAM growth as the same symptom.
A separate 2021 report described memory growth while switching between scenes containing media sources on macOS Big Sur 11.2.3 with OBS 26.1.2. It is historical, version-specific user evidence—not proof of a current macOS problem. Details are in issue #4382.
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Do not confuse dropped frames with a memory leak
OBS’s Help Portal describes dropped frames as a response to an unstable or constrained connection to the streaming service. Dropped frames alone do not diagnose a memory leak. Track connection symptoms separately from RAM and VRAM, and note whether a reconnect coincides with a resource change.
Common symptoms and what to check
| What you observe | What to check next |
|---|---|
| OBS process RAM rises, with no consistent relationship to reconnects | Run the minimal-scene comparison, then add the playlist source, browser sources, filters, and plugins individually. |
| VRAM rises after repeated NVENC reconnects | Record the GPU, OBS and operating-system versions, and reconnect timing; compare with the specific NVENC issue report. |
| Memory growth appears after scene switches involving media sources | Reproduce with a minimal collection and document the exact OBS version and platform. The macOS report applies to an older, specific setup. |
| Dropped frames occur without a matching memory climb | Investigate connection stability separately; dropped frames are not, by themselves, evidence of a memory leak. |
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