> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.vaudiolink.eu/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Troubleshooting

> Choose the symptom visible in OBS and work from the nearest failing layer.

Start with what the dock, source meter, and OBS Program show. Avoid changing unrelated global OBS settings.

## Choose the symptom

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Dock missing or update failed" icon="puzzle-piece" href="/troubleshooting/install-dock">
    Installer, plugin loading, wrong OBS installation, and stale build problems.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Cannot sign in or join" icon="key" href="/troubleshooting/sign-in-rooms">
    Browser authorization, plan access, expired keys, and room connection.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Silent, mono, echoing, or unstable audio" icon="waveform" href="/troubleshooting/audio">
    Source selection, meters, channel orientation, monitoring, and network audio.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Music or backing problem" icon="music" href="/troubleshooting/music">
    Track preparation, transfer, shared start, managed sources, and duplicate backing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Scene Share video problem" icon="display" href="/troubleshooting/scene-share">
    Receiver URLs, Incoming Program, black video, throughput, and A/V sync.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Collect a support bundle" icon="life-ring" href="/support">
    Record the exact version, role, time, message, and redacted OBS log.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Fast diagnostic order

<Steps>
  <Step title="Read the dock state">
    Record the exact message before reconnecting. **Disconnected** indicates a different layer from **Connected** with a silent meter.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check the local source">
    Confirm the sender's selected microphone or vocal source exists, is unmuted, and has meter activity.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check the transport">
    Confirm both participants remain in the same room and the credential has not expired or rotated.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check the managed source">
    Confirm the incoming or combined source exists in the active scene and its own meter or preview is active.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check program routing">
    Confirm the source is not muted, hidden, duplicated, or sent through an unintended monitoring loop.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Preserve evidence

Before restarting OBS:

1. Note the product, role, and exact dock message.
2. Note the approximate time and time zone.
3. In OBS, select **Help → Log Files → View Current Log**.
4. Save the log.
5. Redact credentials before sharing.

<Warning>
  Never include a live guest key, Receiver SRT URL, account token, stream key, or payment information.
</Warning>