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OBS can be set up to start playing your event replay playlist again when your computer and OBS restart, but its documented settings do not promise to resume the exact item and timestamp interrupted by a power outage. Use OBS’s VLC Video source for a multi-file playlist, enable looping if needed, and configure the computer to start OBS after power returns. Then test the whole sequence: a restart is not the same as resuming where playback stopped.
Set up the replay playlist in OBS
- Install VLC. OBS’s VLC Video source requires VLC to be installed. Match the architecture: 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. If VLC Video does not appear among the source types, check the installation and bitness. OBS Project: Media Sources
- Add a VLC Video source. In the scene where the event replay should play, add a VLC Video source. This source supports multiple playlist entries; OBS describes it as allowing a playlist similar to an image slideshow.
- Add the media files in order. In the source properties, add each replay file and arrange the entries in the intended playback order. Check that the files remain at those paths after restart; a source cannot load media it can no longer find.
- Set looping and shuffle deliberately. Enable Loop Playlist if the list should begin again after its last item. Shuffle is optional and off by default; leave it off for a fixed event sequence.
- Choose behavior when the source is hidden. The default is Stop when not visible, restart when visible. Other choices let playback pause while hidden and resume when visible, or continue playing while hidden. These options govern source visibility in OBS; they do not establish recovery of playlist position after a power loss.
For just one video file, OBS’s regular Media Source has separate Loop and Restart playback when source becomes active controls; the latter is on by default. Media Source is not the multi-item VLC Video playlist source. OBS Project: Media Sources
Start the computer and OBS after power returns
Automatic startup can restore the setup, but it does not make OBS remember the interrupted playlist timestamp. Configure the computer’s operating-system startup behavior to turn the machine on when power returns, if that option is available, and arrange for OBS to launch at startup using the mechanism supported by that operating system.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →OBS supports launch parameters for automation, including actions such as starting streaming, recording, virtual camera, or Replay Buffer. Its launch-parameter documentation does not list an option to restore a VLC playlist’s former position. For scheduled or other automated launches on Windows, OBS advises setting the working directory to the folder containing obs64.exe. Consult the current documentation for the available parameters and setup details: OBS Project: Launch Parameters.
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Test the complete recovery sequence
Before relying on the setup at an event, test a controlled restart and observe what actually happens on your system. OBS recommends testing settings before streaming or recording. OBS Project: First-Time Setup
- Confirm the computer starts as expected after the simulated power interruption.
- Confirm OBS launches and opens the intended scene.
- Check that VLC Video loads every file from its configured path.
- Verify video playback and audio, including the point in the playlist at which playback begins.
- Confirm the result meets the event’s needs. If the exact interrupted position matters, do not assume it will be restored; plan and rehearse an acceptable manual recovery instead.
What to expect after an outage
OBS’s documented VLC playlist controls explain looping and what happens when a source is hidden or shown. Its launch-parameter documentation explains ways to automate application actions. Neither documents saving and restoring the exact VLC playlist item and timestamp across a full power loss. The behavior you observe after reopening may depend on the operating system, scene and source settings, and software versions; test the setup you will use rather than treating visibility behavior as outage recovery.
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Common problems and fixes
- VLC Video is missing: Install VLC and check that its architecture matches OBS; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. Reopen OBS after installation.
- The playlist opens but a file does not play: Check that the media path is still valid and that the file is accessible to the account running OBS. Re-add the item if its location changed.
- The list stops at the last item: Enable Loop Playlist in the VLC Video source properties if it should start over automatically.
- Playback changes when switching scenes: Review the source’s visibility behavior. Stop/restart, pause/resume, and always-play-while-hidden are different choices; none should be mistaken for recovery after power loss.
- OBS starts through a scheduled task but behaves unexpectedly on Windows: Check the task’s working directory and set it to the folder containing
obs64.exe, as OBS advises for scheduled or automated launches. - The replay starts at the beginning rather than the interrupted point: The documented setup supports restarting playback, not a guaranteed restore of the prior playlist position. Rehearse a recovery process that fits the event rather than relying on an undocumented resume feature.
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