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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallTo play a countdown video before a repeating OBS playlist, add an OBS VLC Video source, place the countdown clip first in its playlist, add the videos after it, and enable Loop Playlist. VLC must be installed for the source to appear; with 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC. If you want a text countdown instead, OBS has a different option—but it starts counting when selected media starts, rather than delaying the first video.
Choose the countdown behavior you need
| What you want | Use this | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| A countdown video before a sequence of videos | VLC Video source with a playlist | The countdown clip plays first, followed by the other playlist items. Loop Playlist restarts the list when it runs out. |
| One video clip that repeats | Built-in Media Source | The selected file plays and repeats when its Loop setting is enabled. |
| A text countdown triggered by media playback | OBS Lua Media Countdown Timer resource | The text countdown appears when the selected media starts playing in the live output. It is not documented as a timer that holds playback until it finishes. |
For a countdown that must run before the videos begin, use the first option. The text script is useful for a playback-triggered overlay, but those behaviors are not interchangeable.
Make a countdown video play before a looping playlist
- Install VLC. OBS’s VLC Video source is available only when VLC is installed. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC. See the OBS Project’s Media Sources guide.
- Add the source to your scene. In OBS, select the scene, then use the Sources dock’s add button and choose VLC Video.
- Build the playlist in playback order. Add the countdown video as the first item, then add the videos you want to play after the countdown. OBS documents playlist playback; placing the countdown first is the ordering needed for this effect.
- Enable looping. In the source properties, leave Loop Playlist on. OBS documents it as on by default; it restarts the source when it has run out of media files.
- Choose whether to shuffle. Keep Shuffle Playlist off if the videos must play in the order you set. OBS documents shuffle as off by default.
- Review Visibility Behaviour. OBS lists the default as “Stop when not visible, restart when visible.” If the source or its scene becomes hidden, playback may stop and restart when it becomes visible again. Choose a behavior that matches how you use scenes.
- Check the sequence in the preview. Confirm the countdown appears first and that the next video begins when it ends. Then confirm the playlist starts again after its final item.
Loop one countdown clip instead
If you only need one video file to repeat, use OBS’s built-in Media Source rather than a VLC playlist:
- In the Sources dock, add a Media Source to the scene.
- Select the local video file. OBS documents support for common formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM.
- Enable Loop if the clip should repeat.
- Check Restart playback when source becomes active and Show nothing when playback ends. OBS lists both as on by default; their behavior matters when a source is activated or reaches the end.
For a multi-video sequence, use the VLC playlist method instead. A single Media Source is designed around one selected media file.
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Use a text countdown over video
The OBS resource OBS Lua Media Countdown Timer 2.0.0 by Luuk Verhagen describes a script that uses a selected text source and a chosen media source—or all media sources. When the selected media starts playing in the live output, the text source displays a countdown. The resource listing was last updated August 18, 2023.
This trigger is the key limitation: the listing describes a countdown after media playback starts, not a pre-roll delay that waits for the timer to finish before starting the first playlist video. Check that the resource is compatible with your installed OBS version before using it.
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- Add a text source to the scene and configure its text and appearance.
- Add the countdown script and select the text source and the media source or sources it should watch, following the resource’s current instructions.
- Put the text source above the video source in the Sources list so it appears over the video. OBS explains that sources higher in the list appear above lower sources in the preview; see the OBS Sources Guide.
- Position and size the text in the preview, then check the countdown in the live output when the selected media begins.
Do you need a playlist plugin?
OBS’s built-in VLC Video source is the simpler documented choice for this countdown-first workflow. An optional community alternative is Media Playlist Source 0.1.3 by CodeYan. Its listing describes playlist editing without restarting video, file or folder selection, and shuffle behavior. The listing reports Windows, macOS, and Linux support, a 64-bit build, a minimum OBS version of 30.0.0, and an update on April 13, 2025. It also notes limitations, including no audio-track or subtitle selection and a need to refresh folders manually. Requirements and compatibility can depend on the plugin version, so check the current resource details against your installed OBS version before installing it.
Troubleshoot the countdown and playlist
- VLC Video is missing from the add-source menu: Install VLC, then check that its architecture matches OBS. OBS’s guidance specifies 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS.
- The countdown does not play first: Edit the VLC playlist and move the countdown clip to the first position, ahead of the other videos.
- The list ends instead of starting over: Open the VLC Video source properties and enable Loop Playlist.
- The order changes between loops: Turn off Shuffle Playlist if you need a predictable sequence.
- Playback stops or starts over after changing scenes: Review Visibility Behaviour. The documented default stops playback while the source is not visible and restarts it when visible.
- A text timer appears only after a video starts: That matches the documented trigger for the Media Countdown Timer resource. It is not a pre-roll hold. Use a countdown clip as the first playlist item if the videos must wait until a countdown video has played.
- Text is behind the video: Move the text source higher than the video source in the Sources list, then adjust it in the preview.
- A third-party playlist plugin fails or lacks an option: Check its current version requirements and listed limitations. The built-in VLC playlist does not require that plugin.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep uploaded videos looping on a YouTube channel without leaving OBS and a computer running, StreamNeo is a cloud alternative: upload the recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. The cloud keeps the stream running while your computer is off; it plays uploaded videos, not a live camera feed. Each slot streams uploads as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card, one free day per account. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo streams to YouTube only. See StreamNeo, or start your free day.
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