Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIf you need OBS to reopen the playlist at the video that was playing before OBS restarted, use the third-party Media Playlist Source plugin: its listing says it saves the currently playing file for playback when OBS restarts. The documented feature is about the file, not the timestamp within it. OBS’s built-in VLC Video source can play playlists, but its visibility settings do not promise to restore the current file after a full OBS or PC restart.
First, decide what “resume” means
There are two different goals that are easy to confuse:
- Resume the playlist at the same video: OBS reopens on the file that was playing before the restart. Media Playlist Source says it supports this after an OBS restart.
- Resume at the exact point in that video: playback continues from the same timestamp. The plugin listing does not establish that behavior, so do not assume it will restore an in-file position.
A PC reboot also interrupts the running OBS process. The plugin’s stated feature concerns playback when OBS restarts; it is not a guarantee of recovery after every crash, power loss, or other failure.
Choose between VLC Video and Media Playlist Source
| What matters | OBS VLC Video | Media Playlist Source |
|---|---|---|
| Playlist playback | Built-in OBS source for VLC-based playlists; includes loop and shuffle options. | Plugin alternative to VLC Video that uses Media Source internally. |
| When the source is hidden | Visibility Behaviour controls whether playback continues, pauses, or stops while the source is invisible. The default is “Stop when not visible, restart when visible.” | Not established in the cited listing as a direct equivalent to VLC Video’s visibility controls. |
| Current file after an OBS restart | Not promised by the official documentation. | The listing says it saves the currently playing file so it will play when OBS restarts. |
| VLC dependency | Requires VLC to be installed. If OBS is 64-bit, VLC must also be 64-bit. | Uses Media Source internally; the listing describes it as an alternative to VLC Video. |
| Platform and OBS requirements | The official documentation describes the VLC requirement; check current OBS and VLC compatibility for your system. | The resource listing shows 64-bit Windows, macOS, and Linux support. It gives OBS 30.0.0 as a minimum on the resource page, while its update history says the minimum became OBS 31 starting with version 0.1.0. Check the current release details before installing. |
| Audio tracks, subtitles, and folder changes | Use the source’s available VLC options; the cited documentation does not establish a matching limitation for this comparison. | The listing says audio-track and subtitle selection are unsupported. Folder contents do not refresh automatically; saving the settings again manually refreshes them. |
The OBS Project’s “Media Sources” documentation describes VLC Video’s playlist and visibility properties. The OBS Forums listing by CodeYan describes Media Playlist Source version 0.1.3, last updated 2025-04-13; release requirements and behavior can change, so check the listing for the version you install.
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Set up a playlist that can reopen on the current file
- Back up your scene collection. Before changing a source or installing a plugin, save a copy of the OBS scene collection so you can restore the prior setup if needed.
- Confirm your current source. In OBS, select the scene containing the VOD playlist and inspect its Sources. If the playlist is a VLC Video source, it relies on VLC. For 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC if it is missing.
- Install Media Playlist Source only after checking requirements. Review the current OBS Forums resource listing for the plugin release’s OBS minimum and platform support. The listing identifies 64-bit Windows, macOS, and Linux builds; its stated minimum has varied by release.
- Replace or add the playlist source. In the target scene’s Sources box, add Media Playlist Source using the plugin’s source entry, then configure the VOD files and ordering you want. Interface labels can vary by plugin version; consult the installed version’s listing or controls rather than assuming VLC Video’s exact options are present.
- Save the source settings and scene collection. The plugin listing says folder contents do not refresh automatically; saving settings again manually refreshes them. Save your scene collection after making changes.
- Run a controlled restart test. Start a recognizable playlist item, close and reopen OBS, and see whether the same file plays. If exact in-file timestamp recovery matters, check that separately: the stated feature covers the current file, not a confirmed timestamp.
If you keep using VLC Video
VLC Video remains suitable when you need its playlist features and do not require documented persistence of the current file after a full restart. In the source’s properties, “Loop Playlist” makes the list repeat after it reaches the end, while “Shuffle Playlist” randomizes playback order. Neither option is a restart-recovery setting.
Use “Visibility Behaviour” only to decide what happens when the source is hidden by a scene change. “Stop when not visible, restart when visible” describes hiding and showing the source; it does not mean “remember this playlist position after Windows restarts.” Changing visibility behavior alone is therefore not a documented fix for a full-restart problem.
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Troubleshoot a playlist that starts over
- It starts at the first file after relaunching OBS: confirm that the source is Media Playlist Source and that the installed plugin release meets your OBS version requirement. VLC Video’s documentation does not promise current-file persistence after a restart.
- It returns to the right file but not the same timestamp: the plugin listing supports restoring the current file, not a precise position within that file. Treat timestamp recovery as unconfirmed.
- VLC Video is missing from the source list: install VLC. If you use 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC.
- Playback stops when you change scenes: check VLC Video’s Visibility Behaviour. That setting controls hidden-source playback, not recovery after a reboot.
- New files in a folder do not appear in the plugin playlist: save the plugin’s settings again to trigger the manual refresh described in its listing.
- Audio tracks or subtitles cannot be selected in the plugin: the listing says those selections are not supported; choose a workflow that does not depend on changing them through this source.
Keep gaming VOD rights and YouTube eligibility in mind
Restart persistence only solves playback continuity; it does not grant permission to rebroadcast a game, its soundtrack, or other material in a VOD. Check the rights and platform terms that apply to every video and audio track in the playlist, especially licensed or third-party music. YouTube may assess a channel’s content under its own monetization and reused-content rules; looping a recording does not by itself establish eligibility. Do not treat technical playback success as copyright clearance or a guarantee of monetization.
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