Fix OBS Media Source Video Freezing But Audio Still Plays

If you are experiencing an issue in OBS Studio where a media source video freezes completely while the audio continues to play normally, you are not alone. This common glitch is usually caused by hardware decoding conflicts, incompatible video codecs, or system resource limitations. This guide provides quick, step-by-step solutions to resolve this playback issue, including disabling hardware decoding, adjusting media source settings, and converting your video files to OBS-friendly formats.

Disable Hardware Decoding

The most common cause of video freezing in OBS is hardware decoding. When enabled, OBS uses your GPU to decode the video, which can conflict with certain video codecs or graphics drivers.

  1. Locate the frozen media source in the Sources dock of OBS Studio.
  2. Double-click the source (or right-click and select Properties).
  3. Scroll down and uncheck the box labeled Use hardware decoding when available.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Hide the media source (click the eye icon) and show it again, or restart OBS to apply the changes.

Enable “Close file when inactive”

If the video freezes after playing once or when switching scenes, OBS may be failing to reload the file properly from memory.

  1. Open the Properties of your media source.
  2. Check the box for Close file when inactive.
  3. Click OK.

This setting forces OBS to completely release the video file when it is not on screen and reload it fresh when it becomes active again, preventing memory-related freeze frames.

Convert the Video to an OBS-Compatible Format

OBS Studio can struggle with high bitrate videos, variable framerates (VFR), or newer codecs like HEVC (H.265). Converting your video to a highly compatible format will resolve most freezing issues.

You can use free transcoding tools like HandBrake or VLC Media Player to re-encode the problematic video file using these standard settings before importing it back into OBS.

Run OBS Studio as Administrator

If your GPU is running at maximum capacity, Windows may deprioritize OBS Studio’s video rendering pipeline, causing the video source to freeze while the lightweight audio stream keeps playing.

  1. Fully close OBS Studio.
  2. Right-click the OBS Studio shortcut on your desktop.
  3. Select Run as administrator.

Running OBS as an administrator tells Windows to allocate sufficient GPU resources to OBS, preventing rendering lag and video freezes during high-load scenarios.

Use the VLC Video Source Instead

If the native OBS “Media Source” continues to freeze, you can use the “VLC Video Source” integration, which is often much more stable with diverse video formats.

  1. Ensure you have the 64-bit version of VLC Media Player installed on your computer.
  2. Restart OBS Studio.
  3. Click the + icon in the Sources dock.
  4. Select VLC Video Source instead of “Media Source”.
  5. Add your video file to the playlist and click OK.