The Tool Desk
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What OBS WebSocket can—and cannot—restart
OBS WebSocket controls OBS sources and scenes remotely. For supported media inputs, its API offers play, pause, stop, restart, next, and previous actions. You can also request media status, including states such as playing, buffering, ended, or error. These controls affect the selected OBS input, not YouTube’s broadcast lifecycle. OBS WebSocket protocol documentation
OBS Studio 28.0.0 and later include obs-websocket by default. The protocol documents these media requests from protocol version 5.0.0. OBS’s Remote Control Guide describes WebSocket as a way to automate or control scenes and sources with external tools. OBS Remote Control Guide
Set up a secure WebSocket connection
- Check your OBS version. Use OBS Studio 28.0.0 or later for the built-in WebSocket server. The obs-websocket project points users of older OBS versions to legacy releases. obs-websocket project
- Enable the server and authentication. In OBS, open Tools > WebSocket Server Settings, enable the WebSocket server, and enable authentication. Set a strong password and store it securely. Do not expose an unauthenticated endpoint to the internet. OBS Remote Control Guide
- Note the connection details. The documented default port is
4455; it can be changed in the WebSocket settings. Keep OBS and the client on a trusted local network unless you have deliberately configured a secure remote-access path. obs-websocket project - Choose a compatible client. Use a client that supports the 5.x protocol and can send media-input actions. OBS lists tools including Streamer.bot, Touch Portal, Aitum, and Bitfocus Companion Module, but does not publish a comparative compatibility matrix for every operating system or remote setup. OBS Remote Control Guide
Restart or navigate the playlist input
- Identify the OBS media input. Confirm the exact source name in OBS and that it is the media input containing the files or playlist you want to control. WebSocket actions apply to the selected input; they do not locate an arbitrary playlist elsewhere.
- Connect and authenticate. Connect the client to the OBS WebSocket server using its configured address and port, then authenticate with the password you set.
- Send the appropriate media action. Use
TriggerMediaInputActionfor that input and choose the intended action:RESTARTto begin its media again,NEXTto advance, orPREVIOUSto go back. The protocol also supportsPLAY,PAUSE, andSTOP. OBS WebSocket protocol documentation - Verify playback if needed. Request
GetMediaInputStatusfor the same input. Its state can benone,playing,opening,buffering,paused,stopped,ended, orerror, with timing fields also available. A status response confirms the input’s media state, not the status of the YouTube broadcast. OBS WebSocket protocol documentation
The exact client interface varies. Use its documentation to map the OBS request name and action values; do not assume a button labelled “restart stream” means the same thing as restarting a media input.
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Configure looping separately from remote restart
Playlist looping and a WebSocket restart are distinct controls. OBS’s media-source guide describes Loop Playlist as restarting the source after its media files run out. WebSocket’s restart action is an explicit command that can be sent when you choose. OBS Media Sources guide
The OBS documentation describes VLC as a source option when VLC is installed. It does not establish that every external YouTube playlist URL works as an OBS VLC playlist. Confirm that your particular source is supported and behaves as intended before relying on it for unattended playback. OBS Media Sources guide
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Keep YouTube broadcast controls separate
YouTube’s Live Streaming API treats broadcast state changes as separate authorized operations. A transition to testing or live requires the stream bound to the broadcast to have an active status. Completing a broadcast is another transition; YouTube also documents optional auto-start and auto-stop behavior. Restarting an OBS media input does not demonstrate that the YouTube broadcast changed state. YouTube liveBroadcasts.transition API · YouTube broadcast lifecycle
| Task | What it controls | Control | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restart or navigate playback | An OBS media input | WebSocket media action: restart, next, or previous | Requires the intended media or playlist to be configured in that input. |
| Change YouTube event state | A YouTube live broadcast | Authorized liveBroadcasts.transition operation |
The bound stream must be active for a transition to testing or live; this is not an OBS media restart. |
Troubleshoot common failures
- The client cannot connect: Check that the WebSocket server is enabled, that the client uses the configured address and port (the default is
4455), and that network rules allow the connection. Authenticate with the configured password. - Authentication fails: Re-enter the password saved in OBS’s WebSocket settings. Keep authentication enabled rather than removing protection to make a remote connection work.
- The action reaches the wrong media: Check the input name selected in the request. The action applies to that OBS media input, not to YouTube’s player or a broadcast as a whole.
- Restart or next has no expected effect: Verify that the selected input is a supported media input and that the playlist is configured in it. The documented controls do not guarantee compatibility with arbitrary YouTube playlist URLs.
- Status shows buffering, ended, or error: Read the returned state and timing fields to distinguish an input that is still opening or buffering from one that has ended or failed. The status describes OBS media playback, not YouTube broadcast state.
- YouTube does not go live or change state: Handle the broadcast separately through YouTube’s authorized controls, and confirm the bound stream is active before requesting a testing or live transition.
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