To repeat one video in OBS, add it as a Media Source and turn on Loop in the source’s properties. For a list of videos, use VLC Video and enable Loop Playlist. If the source disappears after playback, check Show nothing when playback ends; if only a brief flash occurs at the loop point, that is a separate file-specific problem with no documented universal fix.
Choose the right OBS source
| Source | Best for | Repeat control | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media Source | Repeating one local video or audio file | Loop | Built into OBS; supports listed media formats on Windows, macOS, and Linux. |
| VLC Video | Repeating or shuffling a playlist | Loop Playlist | VLC must be installed. OBS says 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. |
OBS documents supported Media Source video extensions as .mp4, .ts, .mov, .flv, .mkv, .avi, .gif, and .webm; audio extensions include .mp3, .aac, .ogg, and .wav. See the OBS Media Sources documentation.
Loop one video with Media Source
- In OBS, select the scene where the video should appear.
- In the Sources dock, select + and choose Media Source. Create a new source or select an existing one.
- In the source properties, enable Local File if shown, browse to the video, and select it.
- Enable Loop, then select OK. OBS documents Loop as off by default; when enabled, the file plays again after playback completes.
- Start or preview the scene and let playback reach the end to confirm it restarts.
Check the end-of-playback visibility setting
Show nothing when playback ends is enabled by default in the OBS documentation. It hides the source when its file finishes. If the video plays once and then disappears, inspect this option in the Media Source properties and disable it if you want the source to remain visible at the end. Loop should still be enabled to make playback repeat.
Loop a playlist with VLC Video
- Install VLC on the same computer as OBS. For 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC.
- In the scene’s Sources dock, select + and choose VLC Video.
- Add the media files to the playlist in the source properties.
- Confirm Loop Playlist is enabled. OBS documents it as on by default. Select OK and test the playlist through its final item.
Use VLC Video when you need a list of files to repeat or shuffle; for a single local file, Media Source avoids the VLC dependency. VLC Video’s Shuffle Playlist setting is off by default, so enable it only if you want randomized playback.
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Diagnose what “black screen” means
The video is black or empty immediately
- Check that the source’s visibility icon is enabled in the Sources dock and that the correct local file is selected.
- Check source order. OBS renders sources higher in the list above sources lower down; move the Media Source above any layer that covers it. The OBS Sources Guide explains visibility and ordering.
The video plays once, then vanishes
- For one file, enable Loop in Media Source properties.
- For a playlist, enable Loop Playlist in VLC Video properties.
- For Media Source, inspect Show nothing when playback ends, which hides a completed source when enabled.
There is a brief flash exactly at the loop point
A momentary black frame at the repeat boundary is different from a source that has no repeat setting enabled. Historical OBS forum reports describe flashes, blank frames, or stutter at loop boundaries, but they do not establish a current universal cause or validated fix. See the 2016 report and the thread opened in 2015. Treat suggestions in those discussions as individual experiences, not guaranteed remedies.
- Confirm whether the source is Media Source or VLC Video and verify the corresponding repeat control.
- Test the specific file in an OBS preview or recording. Change one variable at a time so you can tell whether a change affected the boundary.
- If the flash persists, try a different copy or export of the same clip and compare. This is a diagnostic test, not a guaranteed fix.
Playback stutters more broadly or OBS struggles
If playback issues occur beyond the loop point, consider system load and scene complexity. OBS’s Encoding Performance Troubleshooting guidance recommends reducing GPU contention, simplifying scenes, limiting expensive sources, and using lower-resolution media where appropriate. These are performance measures, not a confirmed cure for a particular file’s loop-boundary flash.
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Settings to change only when they fit the symptom
Media Source also offers Restart playback when source becomes active (on by default), Use hardware decoding when available (off by default), Close file when inactive (off by default), and playback speed (100% by default, adjustable from 1% to 200%). Start with Loop and the visibility setting that matches the problem. OBS does not establish that toggling hardware decoding fixes loop-boundary black flashes, so do not treat it as a general remedy. The documented settings are in the Media Sources reference.
A blank Game Capture source is a different issue: OBS’s Game Capture Troubleshooting page covers game capture, not looping local media files.
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Or let it run in the cloud
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