In OBS Studio, Restart playback when source becomes active makes a Media Source start its file from the beginning when that source is in the current scene and visible. OBS lists the option as on by default. It is triggered by the source becoming active—not merely by being present in your project. OBS’s Media Sources guide distinguishes this from looping a file after it finishes.
Does it restart when you switch to a scene?
It can, if switching scenes makes the Media Source visible in the current scene. The documented condition is that the source is both in the current scene and visible. A source that exists in the project but is hidden or not in the current scene is not active under that definition.
If you want a clip to begin at its opening whenever you show it, leave Restart playback when source becomes active enabled. If you want playback to continue from its existing position instead, disable it and check the result in your installed OBS version.
How to find and use the setting
- In OBS Studio, select the scene containing the media source.
- In the Sources list, select the Media Source and open its properties.
- Enable Restart playback when source becomes active to restart the file when the source becomes active by being visible in the current scene.
- Click OK, then test by switching away from the scene and back, or by hiding and showing the source. Confirm the result with your installed version of OBS.
The control applies to OBS’s built-in Media Source. Do not assume it behaves identically for the separate VLC Video source, which has its own Visibility Behaviour control. OBS displays “Stop when not visible, restart when visible” as that control’s default; VLC must also be installed to use VLC Video.
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How the nearby playback controls differ
| Control | What triggers it | Behavior and listed default |
|---|---|---|
| Restart playback when source becomes active | The source becomes active by being in the current scene and visible. | Restarts the file. OBS lists it as On by default. |
| Loop | Playback reaches the end of the file. | Plays the file again. OBS lists it as Off by default. |
| Show nothing when playback ends | Playback finishes. | Automatically hides the source. OBS lists it as On by default. |
| Close file when inactive | The source is hidden or is off the current scene. | Unloads the media to free memory. OBS lists it as Off by default and warns that it may take a short time to appear again while it reloads. |
These options address different questions: whether activation restarts playback, whether finishing the file starts another loop, what appears at the end, and whether OBS keeps the media loaded while the source is inactive. Enabling both Loop and Restart playback can therefore make a file loop while also restarting when the source becomes active.
Why the result may not match expectations
A very fast hide-and-show
In a report concerning OBS 30.2.0, a rapid hide/show immediately after playback ended did not restart the media. A project member explained that visibility changes are processed by the graphics thread, so an extremely quick toggle can occur before the change is processed. If you automate visibility, allow time between changes and test your sequence in the OBS version you use. OBS Studio issue #11040 describes that reported case; it is not evidence that every installation behaves this way.
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Playback at startup or after editing properties
A report involving OBS 27.0.0-rc6 described media starting when OBS launched or when its properties were changed, even with the restart option disabled. That is a version-specific report, not a general rule for current OBS releases, and the checkbox should not be treated as a guarantee against every kind of autoplay. OBS Studio issue #4778.
Reappearance takes a moment
If Close file when inactive is enabled, OBS may need a short time to reload the media after the source becomes active. If you need it to appear promptly, test with that option disabled and weigh the reload delay against keeping the file loaded while inactive.
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Troubleshoot a source that does not restart
- Confirm the source is active: Check that it is in the current scene and visible, rather than merely listed in the project.
- Check the correct control: Confirm Restart playback when source becomes active is enabled on the built-in Media Source. If you are using VLC Video, inspect its separate Visibility Behaviour setting instead.
- Separate activation from looping: If the file should repeat at its end, enable Loop; the restart-on-activation option does not itself make a file loop.
- Slow down automation: If scripts or scene logic hide and show the source almost instantly, add a delay and test again. A quick-toggle issue was reported for OBS 30.2.0, but its behavior may vary by version.
- Account for reloading: If the source appears late after being hidden, check whether Close file when inactive is enabled.
- Test startup separately: If playback begins when OBS launches or properties change, reproduce the behavior in your installed version; an older OBS 27.0.0-rc6 report does not establish current behavior.
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