Troubleshooting

This page lists common problems you might encounter while using the PowerPoint to OBS Text Bridge and how to resolve them.

No text appears in OBS

Possible causes:

  • The OBS Text Source name in config.yaml does not match exactly.

  • The OBS WebSocket connection is not active.

  • PowerPoint is not running or not in slideshow mode.

Solutions:

  • Double-check the source_name field in your configuration file.

  • Open OBS and ensure the text source is visible in the active scene.

  • Make sure PowerPoint is open and running the slideshow (not just editing mode).

  • Verify that OBS WebSocket is enabled (see Tools / WebSocket Server Settings).

OBS connection failed

Possible causes:

  • Incorrect host, port, or password in config.yaml.

  • OBS is not running.

  • OBS WebSocket server is not enabled.

  • Firewall prevents connection.

Solutions:

  • Ensure OBS is open and the WebSocket server is enabled in OBS.

  • Confirm the password and port match what is configured in OBS.

  • Default port is usually 4455 for OBS 28 and later.

  • Check OS’s firewall settings.

PowerPoint not detected

Possible causes:

  • PowerPoint is not the desktop version.

  • Slideshow is not started.

  • PowerPoint is running with administrator privileges and the tool is not (or vice versa).

Solutions:

  • Use Microsoft PowerPoint (desktop version), not PowerPoint Online or mobile.

  • Click Slide Show / From Beginning or From Current Slide to start the slideshow.

  • If needed, run both PowerPoint and this tool with the same permission level (e.g., either both as administrator or both as regular user).

Text does not update when slides change

Possible causes:

  • The text content hasn’t changed between slides.

  • PowerPoint is not focused, or slide transitions are animated with delays.

Solutions:

  • Check that slides actually contain different text content.

  • Wait until the transition finishes if using animations.

  • Add stdout step to verify whether the slide is detected correctly.

Program window doesn’t appear

Possible cause:

  • This tool runs as a background process by design.

Solutions:

  • Check the system tray or Task Manager to confirm it is running.

  • To stop the program, use Task Manager or provide a system tray icon (if implemented).

Text contains strange characters or formatting

Possible causes:

  • PowerPoint slide includes special characters, smart quotes, or formatting tags.

  • Unicode not properly rendered in OBS text source.

Solutions:

  • Use regex filter to replace the characters.

  • Ensure the OBS text source uses a font that supports the required characters (e.g., for emoji or non-Latin scripts).

Still stuck?

If none of these solutions help:

  • Check the program’s output on the console window.

  • File an issue on the project’s GitHub page with your configuration and a description of the problem.