Fix OBS Studio Missing Files Dialog After Moving Folders

This article explains how to resolve the “Missing Files” dialog window that appears when launching OBS Studio after you have moved or renamed your asset folders. You will learn how to use OBS’s built-in file relinking tool to quickly restore your scenes, sources, and overlays without having to recreate them from scratch.

Method 1: Use the Built-In Search Directory Tool

When OBS Studio launches and detects that files are missing, it automatically opens the “Missing Files” dialog box listing all affected assets. The fastest way to fix this is by letting OBS scan the new folder location.

  1. In the Missing Files dialog window, look at the bottom for the Search Directory option.
  2. Click the Browse button next to the Search Directory field.
  3. Navigate to and select the new folder or parent directory where you moved your assets, then click Select Folder.
  4. Click the Search button. OBS will scan the folder, match the file names, and automatically update the paths.
  5. Once the files are successfully matched, click Apply or Close to save the changes.

Method 2: Manually Rebind Individual Files

If you only moved a few files to different locations, you can manually rebind them within the same dialog.

  1. In the Missing Files list, locate the file you want to fix.
  2. Double-click the file row, or select it and click Browse (or the folder icon next to the file path).
  3. Navigate to the new location of that specific file, select it, and click Open.
  4. Repeat this process for any other individual files in the list.
  5. Click Apply once all files have been resolved.

Method 3: Fix Sources via Properties (If Dialog was Closed)

If you accidentally closed the “Missing Files” window, you can manually update the file paths directly from your sources list.

  1. Open OBS Studio and select the Scene containing the broken source (broken sources will appear blank or show a red placeholder icon).
  2. Go to the Sources dock, right-click the broken source, and select Properties.
  3. In the Properties window, click the Browse button next to the file path field.
  4. Navigate to the new folder, select the correct file, and click Open.
  5. Click OK to save the changes and restore the source.