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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchIn OBS, Loop replays a media file when it reaches the end. Restart playback when source becomes active starts that file from the beginning when the source becomes active and visible in the current scene. They control playback inside OBS—not whether the YouTube live broadcast itself restarts.
What each OBS setting does
| Setting | Trigger | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Loop | The local media file reaches its end | Plays the file again. OBS documents this as off by default. |
| Restart playback when source becomes active | The source becomes active in the current scene and visible | Restarts the file from its beginning. OBS documents this as on by default. |
| Close file when inactive | The source is hidden or off-scene | Unloads the file to free memory. If shown again, it may take a short time to reload. |
| Show nothing when playback ends | Playback completes | Automatically hides the source rather than leaving its final frame visible. |
These are distinct controls in OBS’s Media Sources documentation, published January 11, 2022. If Loop is enabled, the file begins playing again at its end without needing to activate the scene. Restart-on-activation matters when the source is activated again—for example, after being hidden and then shown.
Which setting should you use?
Keep one video playing continuously
Enable Loop on the Media Source. If the source stays active and visible, the file will replay when it finishes. You do not need restart-on-activation to make that end-of-file loop happen.
Start over when a source is shown again
Enable Restart playback when source becomes active if you want the file to start from the beginning when the source becomes active and visible again. This is separate from looping: one responds to source activation, the other to the file reaching its end.
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Use a playlist
OBS’s VLC Video source supports playlists and requires VLC to be installed. Its Loop Playlist control determines whether the playlist starts over after it runs out; Visibility Behaviour controls whether playback continues, pauses, or stops while the source is not visible. These controls are not interchangeable with the Media Source properties.
OBS playback, the encoder feed, and YouTube are separate
- Media playback: OBS plays the local file or playlist into a scene. Loop and restart-on-activation affect this layer.
- Encoder feed: OBS sends the composed audio and video output to YouTube. YouTube’s encoder setup guide describes connecting the encoder with a stream URL and stream key.
- YouTube viewing and archive: YouTube controls live playback for viewers, DVR, and archiving. Viewer DVR lets someone pause and resume a live stream; it does not tell OBS to replay a media source.
Accordingly, neither OBS setting restarts the YouTube broadcast. A file restarting within an active stream is not the same event as ending and starting a new live session.
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What long streams mean for YouTube archive and DVR
YouTube Help says streams shorter than 12 hours can be automatically archived; streams exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all. YouTube also warns that DVR rewind can be limited or unavailable on very long streams. These are YouTube archive and viewing behaviors, not OBS Loop settings. See YouTube’s archive guidance and DVR guidance for the platform details.
Troubleshoot a source that does not restart as expected
- The video stops at its end: Check that Loop is enabled on the Media Source. Restart-on-activation does not replace Loop.
- The video resumes or appears not to start over after being hidden: Check Restart playback when source becomes active, and confirm the source is active and visible in the current scene.
- The source takes time to appear after being hidden: If Close file when inactive is enabled, OBS unloads the file while hidden, so it may need a short time to reload when shown again.
- The final frame remains on screen: That is different from looping. Use Show nothing when playback ends if the source should hide at the end; enable Loop if it should play again.
- A VLC playlist does not behave like a Media Source: Check VLC Video’s own Loop Playlist and Visibility Behaviour properties. The VLC source has separate controls.
- The YouTube live session ended or was interrupted: Loop only controls the local file. It does not restart the broadcast; check the encoder connection and YouTube live setup separately.
OBS’s official documentation describes these properties, but it does not establish identical restart behavior for every OBS source type, operating system, or build. Avoid assuming that Media Source behavior applies to unrelated source types.
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