diff --git a/plugins/obs-ffmpeg/data/locale/en-US.ini b/plugins/obs-ffmpeg/data/locale/en-US.ini
index 7bc04a86b8b843..96463c0f25d72f 100644
--- a/plugins/obs-ffmpeg/data/locale/en-US.ini
+++ b/plugins/obs-ffmpeg/data/locale/en-US.ini
@@ -104,3 +104,5 @@ NVENC.CheckDrivers="Please check your video drivers are up to date."
 AV1.8bitUnsupportedHdr="OBS does not support 8-bit output of Rec. 2100."
 
 ReconnectDelayTime="Reconnect Delay"
+
+MediaSource.FFmpeg.PauseResume="Pause on deactivate, resume on activate"
diff --git a/plugins/obs-ffmpeg/obs-ffmpeg-source.c b/plugins/obs-ffmpeg/obs-ffmpeg-source.c
index 2a1156f9762ce7..13829935df7edb 100644
--- a/plugins/obs-ffmpeg/obs-ffmpeg-source.c
+++ b/plugins/obs-ffmpeg/obs-ffmpeg-source.c
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ struct ffmpeg_source {
 	bool is_clear_on_media_end;
 	bool restart_on_activate;
 	bool close_when_inactive;
+	bool pause_and_resume;
 	bool seekable;
 
 	pthread_t reconnect_thread;
@@ -115,6 +116,7 @@ static void ffmpeg_source_defaults(obs_data_t *settings)
 	obs_data_set_default_int(settings, "reconnect_delay_sec", 10);
 	obs_data_set_default_int(settings, "buffering_mb", 2);
 	obs_data_set_default_int(settings, "speed_percent", 100);
+	obs_data_set_default_bool(settings, "pause_and_resume", false);
 }
 
 static const char *media_filter =
@@ -200,6 +202,9 @@ static obs_properties_t *ffmpeg_source_getproperties(void *data)
 	obs_property_set_long_description(
 		prop, obs_module_text("CloseFileWhenInactive.ToolTip"));
 
+	prop = obs_properties_add_bool(props, "pause_and_resume",
+				       obs_module_text("MediaSource.FFmpeg.PauseResume"));
+
 	prop = obs_properties_add_int_slider(props, "speed_percent",
 					     obs_module_text("SpeedPercentage"),
 					     1, 200, 1);
@@ -465,6 +470,7 @@ static void ffmpeg_source_update(void *data, obs_data_t *settings)
 	s->is_local_file = is_local_file;
 	s->seekable = obs_data_get_bool(settings, "seekable");
 	s->ffmpeg_options = ffmpeg_options ? bstrdup(ffmpeg_options) : NULL;
+	s->pause_and_resume = obs_data_get_bool(settings, "pause_and_resume");
 
 	if (s->speed_percent < 1 || s->speed_percent > 200)
 		s->speed_percent = 100;
@@ -666,6 +672,11 @@ static void ffmpeg_source_activate(void *data)
 {
 	struct ffmpeg_source *s = data;
 
+	if (s->pause_and_resume && s->state == OBS_MEDIA_STATE_PAUSED) {
+		// resume on re-activate
+		obs_source_media_play_pause(s->source, false);
+		return;
+	}
 	if (s->restart_on_activate)
 		obs_source_media_restart(s->source);
 }
@@ -674,6 +685,12 @@ static void ffmpeg_source_deactivate(void *data)
 {
 	struct ffmpeg_source *s = data;
 
+	if (s->pause_and_resume && s->state == OBS_MEDIA_STATE_PLAYING) {
+		// pause on deactivate, leave it loaded
+		obs_source_media_play_pause(s->source, true);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	if (s->restart_on_activate) {
 		if (s->media_valid) {
 			mp_media_stop(&s->media);