To repeat one video in OBS, open the scene’s Media Source properties and turn on Loop. For a list of videos, use VLC Video and enable Loop Playlist. If the image disappears after playback or flashes black only at the repeat point, diagnose those as different problems: the first is usually a visibility or repeat setting, while a loop-boundary flash may be specific to the file.
Loop one video with Media Source
- In OBS, select the scene where the video should appear.
- In the Sources dock, click + and choose Media Source. Create a new source or select an existing one.
- Open the source properties and select the local video file.
- Enable Loop, then confirm the properties. OBS’s Media Sources documentation describes this control as replaying the file after it completes; its documented default is Off (OBS Media Sources, documentation dated January 11, 2022).
- Check that the source is visible in the Sources dock. If another source covers the video, move Media Source above that source in the list; sources higher in the list render above those below them (OBS Sources Guide, documentation dated January 11, 2022).
OBS lists Media Source for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Documented video formats include .mp4, .ts, .mov, .flv, .mkv, .avi, .gif, and .webm; supported audio formats include .mp3, .aac, .ogg, and .wav.
Loop a playlist instead of one file
- Install VLC on the computer running OBS. Add a VLC Video source to the scene and add the files to its playlist.
- In the source properties, enable Loop Playlist. OBS documents this option as On by default; use Shuffle Playlist only if you want randomized order, since its documented default is Off.
- Confirm VLC and OBS have matching architecture: OBS specifies that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
Media Source is the direct choice for one local file. VLC Video is the choice for a list of files, but depends on VLC being installed and compatible with the OBS architecture. The available playback and repeat controls are documented on the OBS Media Sources page.
Check which kind of black screen you have
The source is black or empty from the start
- Confirm that the selected file is the intended local file and that the source is visible in the Sources dock.
- Check the source order. A source above Media Source can cover it; move the video above the covering layer or hide that layer while testing.
- Preview the scene after changing visibility or order to distinguish a hidden or covered source from a playback problem. OBS’s Sources Guide explains source visibility and stacking order.
The video plays once and then disappears
For a single file, verify that Loop is enabled. Also inspect Show nothing when playback ends: OBS documents that this option hides the source after the file completes, and its documented default is On. It controls what happens at the end; it does not replace the repeat control.
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The playlist ends after its last item
Check Loop Playlist in the VLC Video source properties. If VLC Video is missing or does not work as expected, verify that VLC is installed and that its 64-bit or 32-bit architecture matches the OBS requirement above.
A brief flash appears exactly when the file restarts
This is a loop-boundary artifact, not the same as a source that stops after one play. Historical OBS forum discussions include user reports of black flashes, blank frames, or stutter at loop boundaries: one report was posted September 15, 2016, and another thread opened November 29, 2015 (2016 report; 2015 thread). These reports establish that users have described the symptom, not its current prevalence, a universal cause, or a validated fix for present-day files.
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- Confirm whether the source is Media Source or VLC Video and which repeat control is enabled.
- Test the same file in a temporary scene or preview so other scene layers are not mistaken for a playback artifact.
- Try a different file in the same source. If only one file flashes, the issue may be specific to that file; the available evidence does not establish a single export setting that fixes every case.
- Make one file or playback change at a time and assess it in a recording or preview before relying on it in a live scene. Do not treat a historical user’s editing adjustment as a general remedy.
Media Source also documents Restart playback when source becomes active (default On), Use hardware decoding when available (default Off), Close file when inactive (default Off), playback speed (1%–200%, default 100%), and YUV Color Range. These controls affect other playback behavior; the documentation does not establish hardware decoding as a general cure for a black flash.
Playback stutters beyond the loop point or OBS struggles
If stutter occurs throughout playback or the scene is overloaded, it may be a performance issue rather than a boundary-only artifact. OBS’s Encoding Performance Troubleshooting guidance recommends reducing GPU contention, simplifying scenes, limiting expensive sources, and using lower-resolution media where appropriate. These steps address performance pressure; they are not guaranteed fixes for a flash tied to a particular file.
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