To add a Starting Soon screen in OBS, create a new scene called "Starting Soon", add your screen file as a Media Source (video) or Image Source, tick Loop, then right-click it and choose Transform > Fit to screen so it fills your 1920×1080 canvas. Start your stream on that scene, then switch to your main scene when you're ready to go.
That's the short version. Below you'll find the full click-by-click setup (including the new Add Source window in OBS Studio 32.2), how to add a working countdown with the script that already ships inside OBS, how long the screen should stay up, music and audio tips, the Streamlabs Desktop version, and fixes for the problems streamers hit most often.
Quick specs for a Starting Soon screen
Use these as your defaults. They match the standard OBS canvas and the settings that keep a looping screen smooth.
| Setting | Recommended value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Scene name | Starting Soon | Easy to find and to bind to a hotkey |
| Canvas size | 1920×1080 (16:9) | Default Base (Canvas) Resolution for most 1080p setups |
| Animated screen source | Media Source, Local File, Loop on | Plays your video file on repeat |
| Static screen source | Image source (PNG or JPG) | Lightest option, no playback to manage |
| Countdown | Text source + OBS's built-in countdown.lua script | Ships with OBS, default duration 5 minutes |
| Time on screen | About 2 to 5 minutes | Long enough for notifications to reach viewers, short enough that early viewers stay |
| Switch to live | Scene hotkey or Studio Mode | Clean, instant cut or transition to your main scene |
How to add a Starting Soon screen in OBS (step by step)
The setup takes about two minutes. You need OBS Studio and a Starting Soon file: a looping video for an animated screen, or a PNG/JPG for a static one.
- Create the scene. In the Scenes dock (bottom left), click +, type Starting Soon, and click OK.
- Open the Add Source window. With the new scene selected, click + in the Sources dock. In OBS Studio 32.2 and newer this opens the Add Source window instead of the old dropdown menu; pick the Source Type on the left.
- Pick the right source type. Choose Media Source for an animated screen (a video file) or Image for a static one. Give it a clear name like Starting Soon BG and click Create New.
- Load your file. In the properties window, keep Local File checked, click Browse, and select your Starting Soon file.
- Turn on Loop. Tick Loop so the animation repeats for as long as the scene is live. Also tick Restart playback when source becomes active so it always starts from the first frame.
- Fit it to the canvas. Click OK, then right-click the source and choose Transform > Fit to screen (shortcut Ctrl+F on Windows, Cmd+F on Mac). If your file is 1920×1080 and your canvas is 1920×1080, it will line up edge to edge.
- Add extras on top. Layer a countdown, your social handles, or a "now playing" label above the background in the Sources list. Sources higher in the list appear in front.
Already have a Starting Soon screen from an overlay pack? It's usually in a folder named "Screens" next to the BRB, Ending and Offline screens. Every animated pack in our stream overlays collection includes a Starting screen alongside BRB, Ending, Offline, Intermission and Just Chatting screens, so you can set up all of them the same way.
Reusing one background across scenes
If your BRB and Ending scenes use the same background, don't import the file three times. In the Add Source window, choose the source type, then select your existing source under Add existing. OBS reuses the same source, so a change to its settings applies everywhere.
How do I add a countdown timer to my Starting Soon screen?
OBS includes a countdown script out of the box. It turns any Text source into a timer that starts counting down when the source goes live, with no plugin or browser widget needed.
- In your Starting Soon scene, add a Text (GDI+) source on Windows (or Text (FreeType 2) on Mac/Linux). Name it Countdown, set your font and size, and position it.
- Go to Tools > Scripts, click +, and open countdown.lua from the scripts folder OBS shows by default.
- Set Duration (minutes). The default is 5.
- In Text Source, pick your Countdown text source.
- In Final Text, type what shows when the timer hits zero, for example Going live now! (the default is "Starting soon (tm)").
- Close the window. The timer starts when the text source becomes active (when you switch to the scene). Use Reset Timer in the script window to restart it.
The script description in the OBS source code reads: "Sets a text source to act as a countdown timer when the source is active." You can read the full script on the official OBS GitHub repository.
How long should a Starting Soon screen be?
Most streamers keep the Starting Soon scene up for about 2 to 5 minutes before going live. That gives follower notifications time to land and lets early viewers trickle in, without making the first arrivals wait so long they leave.
Two different "lengths" matter here:
- Time on screen: how long you stay on the scene before switching. A 5-minute countdown (the OBS script default) is a common choice, and 2 to 3 minutes works well if your audience usually shows up right away.
- Loop length: how long the video file itself is. A short animated loop is fine because Loop repeats it for as long as you need. What matters is that the last frame flows into the first, so viewers don't see a jump.
If you stream on a fixed schedule, set the countdown so it ends exactly at your announced start time. Viewers learn that "zero" means you're live.
How to add music to your Starting Soon screen
Music makes the wait feel shorter and tells viewers the stream is working. Add it as its own source so you can control the volume separately from your mic and game.
- In the Starting Soon scene, add another Media Source and load an audio file (or a playlist with the VLC Video Source if you have VLC installed).
- Tick Loop and Restart playback when source becomes active.
- Lower the music in the Audio Mixer so it sits well below your voice level when you start talking.
- Mute your mic in this scene, or make sure you're not saying anything you don't want on stream.
Only use music you have the rights to stream. Twitch can mute VODs that contain copyrighted music, so stick to royalty-free or stream-safe libraries.
How to switch from Starting Soon to your live scene
The cleanest way is a hotkey, so you don't have to click around in OBS while you're getting ready.
- Scene hotkeys: open Settings > Hotkeys, find your Starting Soon and main scenes, and assign a key to Switch to scene for each. A Stream Deck or macro key works the same way.
- Studio Mode: click Studio Mode (bottom right) to see Preview on the left and Program (what viewers see) on the right. Line up your game scene in Preview, then click Transition when you're ready.
- Stinger transition: for a polished cut, add a Stinger in the Scene Transitions dock and set its transition point to the moment the animation fully covers the screen. Our animated packs include two stinger transitions designed to match their screens.
Want it fully automatic, so OBS switches scenes the moment the countdown ends? OBS can't do that on its own. The third-party Advanced Scene Switcher plugin can trigger a scene change on a timer or condition.
Animated vs static Starting Soon screen: which should you use?
| Animated (video) | Static (image) | |
|---|---|---|
| OBS source | Media Source | Image |
| Looks live to viewers | Yes, motion shows the stream isn't frozen | Only if you add a countdown or other moving element |
| CPU/GPU load | Small decoding cost while the scene is active | Minimal |
| Best for | A branded, polished first impression | Low-end PCs, quick setups |
An animated screen answers the first question every new viewer has: "Is this stream actually working?" Movement on screen says yes before you say a word. If you're on a weak PC, a static image plus the countdown script gets you most of that benefit.
Picking a look? The Synthwave animated overlay pack and the Purple Neon animated overlay pack each come with an animated Starting screen plus matching BRB, Ending and Offline screens, webcam frames and alerts, so your whole stream shares one style. For more options, see our roundup of the best animated overlay packs for OBS Studio.
How to add a Starting Soon screen in Streamlabs Desktop
The steps are almost the same in Streamlabs Desktop, with different names for the source types.
- In the Scenes panel, click + and create a scene named Starting Soon.
- In Sources, click + and choose Media File for a video (or Image for a static screen). Name it and click Add Source.
- Click Browse, select your file, and enable Loop.
- Resize the source so it fills the canvas, then switch to your main scene when you go live.
Starting Soon screen not working? Common fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Screen is black or blank | Source hidden, wrong file path, or file moved | Check the eye icon in Sources, then reopen the source properties and Browse to the file again |
| Video plays once and freezes | Loop is off | Open the Media Source properties and tick Loop |
| Screen only covers part of the canvas | File and canvas sizes don't match | Right-click > Transform > Fit to screen; check Settings > Video > Base (Canvas) Resolution |
| Black borders around the screen | Aspect ratio differs (e.g. 4:3 file on a 16:9 canvas) | Use a 16:9 file, or use Transform > Stretch to screen if slight stretching is acceptable |
| Countdown doesn't move | Wrong text source in the script, or the scene isn't active | In Tools > Scripts, confirm Text Source matches the source name exactly, then click Reset Timer |
| Animation starts mid-loop | Playback isn't restarting | Tick Restart playback when source becomes active |
| Stuttering animation | Decoding load on a busy PC | Try toggling Use hardware decoding when available in the Media Source properties |
FAQ
What size should a Starting Soon screen be?
Make it the same size as your OBS canvas, which is 1920×1080 for most streamers. You can check yours in Settings > Video > Base (Canvas) Resolution. If your file matches the canvas, Fit to screen lines it up perfectly with no borders.
Should I start streaming on the Starting Soon screen?
Yes. Switch to the Starting Soon scene first, then click Start Streaming. That way the first thing anyone sees is your branded screen, not your desktop or a half-loaded game, and your go-live notification has time to reach followers.
Can I use a GIF as a Starting Soon screen in OBS?
Yes. OBS's Image source plays animated GIFs. A video file in a Media Source usually gives you better color and smoother motion, so use video if you have the choice.
Does OBS have a built-in countdown timer?
Yes, as a bundled script. Go to Tools > Scripts, add countdown.lua, and point it at a Text source. It counts down from the duration you set (5 minutes by default) and shows your Final Text when it reaches zero.
Where can I get a free Starting Soon screen?
Many overlay stores and creators offer free screens. Check the license so you know it's cleared for streaming. If you want to try our style first, our free stream overlays include an animated webcam overlay you can set up in OBS today, and the full packs add the matching Starting, BRB and Ending screens.
