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OBS’s built-in VLC Video source can play a playlist, but its documented settings do not promise to remember the active file after OBS restarts. For that, the third-party Media Playlist Source plugin says it saves the currently playing file and plays it when OBS restarts. That claim covers which file resumes—not the timestamp within it.
What “resume from the last video” means
There are two different outcomes: reopening the same file that was playing before OBS closed, or resuming that file at the exact playback time where it stopped. The Media Playlist Source plugin’s published feature statement addresses the first outcome. Its resource page does not say that it saves the playback timestamp.
OBS’s built-in Media Source is for an individual media file; VLC Video is the built-in source intended to handle a playlist. OBS documents playlist and visibility controls for VLC Video, but not persistence of the current playlist item through a full OBS restart.
Use the Media Playlist Source plugin to restore the current file
The OBS forum resource page for Media Playlist Source says: “Saves the currently playing file so it would be played when OBS restarts.” This is the plugin author’s feature description, not a built-in OBS guarantee.
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Check compatibility before installing
The resource page identifies version 0.1.3 and says versions from 0.1.0 require OBS 31. It lists Windows, macOS, and Linux support. These details are specific to the resource page, which reports an update on 2025-04-13, so check its current compatibility information against your installed OBS version before installing.
Install and configure the source
- Open the plugin’s OBS forum resource page and confirm that its current version supports your OBS version and operating system.
- Download and install the plugin using the installation instructions on that resource page.
- Restart OBS if the installer or plugin instructions require it.
- In your scene, add Media Playlist Source as a source, then configure the media files or folder you want in the playlist.
- Start playback and confirm that the expected file is playing. The plugin’s stated persistence feature is intended to restore the currently playing file after an OBS restart.
The resource page lists two limitations worth checking against your setup: it does not provide audio-track or subtitle selection, and folder contents do not refresh automatically. Its page says saving settings manually refreshes folder contents.
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What the built-in VLC Video source can—and cannot—do
If you prefer not to install a plugin, VLC Video can still play and manage a playlist. OBS’s official Media Sources documentation, dated 2022-01-11, describes the relevant controls; it does not describe them as reboot-resume controls.
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Set up VLC Video
- Install VLC on the computer running OBS. OBS says VLC must be installed for the VLC Video source to appear; use 64-bit VLC with 64-bit OBS.
- In OBS, select the scene where the playlist should appear. In the Sources panel, click + and choose VLC Video.
- Add the files you want to play to the source’s playlist, then set the playlist options you need.
- Use Loop Playlist if the list should begin again after the last item. Use Shuffle Playlist if items should play in a randomized order.
- Review Visibility Behaviour. OBS documents the default as “Stop when not visible, restart when visible.” This controls playback when the source is hidden; it is not a setting for restoring the current item after OBS fully restarts.
These controls determine playlist order, looping, and what happens when the source is hidden. They do not establish that VLC Video will reopen on the last active file after a reboot. OBS settings and labels can vary across builds, so consult the current documentation if your interface differs.
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| Route | What is documented | Important caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in VLC Video | Plays playlists; supports loop, shuffle, and visibility behavior. | OBS documentation does not promise that it saves the active file across an OBS restart. |
| Media Playlist Source plugin | The plugin resource page says it saves the currently playing file so it will play when OBS restarts. | The page does not promise timestamp recovery; check current OBS compatibility and consider its audio-track, subtitle, and folder-refresh limitations. |
If you only need the playlist to cycle during a session, VLC Video may be sufficient. If you need the same file selected after OBS restarts, the plugin is the option among these two whose resource page explicitly claims that behavior. If you need the same timestamp within that file, neither cited description establishes that it will be retained.
Troubleshooting
VLC Video is missing from the Sources menu
Check that VLC is installed on the OBS computer and that its architecture matches OBS. OBS specifically advises matching 64-bit VLC with 64-bit OBS.
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The playlist starts over or opens a different file after an OBS restart
VLC Video’s documented loop, shuffle, and visibility options are not documented as restart-persistence controls. If retaining the currently playing file is essential, review the Media Playlist Source plugin’s current compatibility details and its stated feature before installing it.
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The plugin resource page says folder contents do not refresh automatically and that saving settings manually refreshes them. Check the plugin’s current instructions if that action does not update your list.
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The file resumes, but not at the same playback time
The plugin page describes saving the current file, not its playback timestamp. Do not assume that restoring the file also restores the exact position within it.
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