If a stream alert freezes, sticks on screen, or never appears in OBS, first check the alert provider’s settings and moderation state, then inspect OBS source order and browser-source rendering. The right fix depends on whether the alert is stuck, hidden, or not arriving at all; no single setting fixes every cause.
Identify where the alert problem starts
OBS does not provide stream alerts itself. Alerts from services such as Streamlabs or StreamElements are typically displayed in OBS through a Browser Source. First establish whether the issue appears in the provider’s preview, in OBS, or only in the broadcast. A provider test alert can help check the configured alert widget, but a successful test does not prove that a real event is reaching the alert system. OBS’s explanation is in its alerts FAQ.
- Alert stays visible: inspect its show/hide behavior, duration, and any custom code.
- No alert appears: check whether alerts are paused or awaiting moderation approval.
- You hear it but cannot see it: check OBS source order and visibility.
- It stutters or freezes while rendering: verify the overlay source and test browser-source hardware acceleration.
Provider interfaces can change. The steps below reflect the support guidance available as of the cited article update dates.
Fix an alert that remains on screen
Streamlabs: check both animation states
In Streamlabs, open the settings for the specific alert and inspect its Animation controls. Make sure both Show and Hide have an animation selected. Streamlabs identifies a missing animation for either state as a cause of an alert getting stuck, unless the behavior was intentionally written into custom code. Its troubleshooting checklist was updated April 25, 2025: Streamlabs Alerts Troubleshooting Checklist.
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Check the alert duration as well. A very short duration can make the alert disappear sooner than intended. If you use alert variations, temporarily disable them to see whether a variation is misconfigured. Review custom HTML or CSS only if you deliberately added it; custom code can change how an alert behaves.
Check pause and moderation settings
A missing alert may be waiting rather than broken. Confirm that alerts are not paused and that moderation is not holding the event. Streamlabs’ quick alerts setup guide describes its moderation options; with Unlimited Alert Moderation Delay, an event that has not been accepted will not play.
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For StreamElements, check the Activity Feed to see whether alerts are paused or muted. Its overlay troubleshooting guide, updated April 2, 2025, covers these checks.
Fix an alert that is hidden or missing in OBS
Check visibility and source order
In the OBS Sources list, confirm the correct alert Browser Source is visible. A source above it can cover it, even when the alert is playing. If an alert is audible but not visible, move the StreamElements browser source above the sources covering it, as its support guidance recommends.
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Verify the StreamElements overlay URL and dimensions
For a StreamElements overlay, copy the current overlay URL from the provider and replace the URL in the OBS Browser Source properties. Check that the OBS source dimensions match the dimensions used by the overlay. StreamElements notes that 1920×1080 is common, not a universal requirement; use the actual dimensions of your overlay rather than assuming that size.
Streamlabs also recommends checking source layering and refreshing widget sources in its troubleshooting checklist.
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Troubleshoot a frozen or stuttering browser source
Test hardware acceleration
OBS’s browser source has a hardware-acceleration setting. If the alert stutters or freezes, toggle that setting from its current state and restart OBS before testing again. Streamlabs and StreamElements both include this as a troubleshooting step. Change one setting at a time so you can tell whether it helped.
Refresh or recreate the source
If the provider settings and rendering checks do not resolve the problem, refresh the Browser Source or remove and add the alert widget again. Streamlabs recommends deleting and re-adding widget sources. After recreating the source, run a test alert before relying on it live.
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Clear the OBS browser cache only as a later step
Streamlabs’ checklist also documents clearing the OBS browser cache. Close OBS or Streamlabs Desktop first, then follow the provider’s current instructions to remove the relevant obs-browser cache folder. Reopen the software, add the alert source again, and test it. Do not delete unrelated files, and treat cache deletion as a later troubleshooting step—not the first thing to try.
Use a focused troubleshooting order
- Identify the provider and where the fault appears. Check whether the alert fails in the provider preview, OBS, or the live output. Run a provider test alert if available.
- Check the specific alert configuration. For Streamlabs, inspect Show and Hide animations, duration, variations, and intentional custom code.
- Check whether delivery is paused or held. Review Streamlabs moderation approval or StreamElements’ Activity Feed for paused or muted alerts.
- Inspect OBS sources. Confirm the right source is visible and move it above any source covering it.
- Verify overlay details. For StreamElements, refresh the overlay URL and match the Browser Source dimensions to the overlay.
- Test browser rendering. Toggle browser-source hardware acceleration, restart OBS, and test again.
- Refresh the widget, then consider cache clearing. Recreate the source if needed; clear browser cache only with OBS closed and according to current provider instructions.
If the alert still fails, collect evidence
Before contacting support, note the provider and software versions, the exact symptom, whether it happens every time, and what action occurred just before it. For StreamElements or SE.Live support, include OBS and SE.Live versions, OBS logs, the activity that should have triggered the alert, any exact error text, and whether the problem is reproducible. These are among the details requested in its SE.Live troubleshooting guidance, last updated September 17, 2026. Do not include private overlay URLs or stream keys in screenshots.
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