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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchBack up three separate things: your OBS Profile, your Scene Collection, and every local video or audio file used by playlist sources. A Profile export does not include scenes, a Scene Collection does not include output settings, and neither one contains the media files themselves. Keep all three parts together and test the restored setup before returning to your live schedule.
What an OBS backup needs to include
OBS keeps different parts of a streaming setup separately. Treat each as its own backup item:
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| Backup item | What it preserves | What it does not preserve |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | Stream, video, and output settings; the connected account is included according to OBS’s Profile guide. | Scenes or sources. |
| Scene Collection | Scenes and sources, including Global Audio Sources. | Output settings. |
| Playlist media files | The actual local video and audio content referenced by sources. | The OBS source configuration, playlist order, or scene setup. |
OBS documents these distinctions in its Profiles, Scene Collections, and Media Sources guides. A reliable backup preserves both the configuration and the files that configuration points to.
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In OBS, open the Profile menu and choose its Import/Export option.
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Export the Profile settings as a JSON file. Give it a clear name that identifies the channel or streaming setup and the date of the backup.
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Store that JSON file with the rest of the backup, somewhere separate from the computer running OBS. An external drive is one optional destination.
The Profile is where OBS stores stream, video, and output settings; it does not include scenes. See OBS’s Profiles documentation. Menu names may differ by installed OBS version, so check the menus in your version rather than assuming a universal screen layout.
Save the Scene Collection separately
A Scene Collection holds your scenes and sources, including Global Audio Sources, but not output settings. Preserve the collection you actually use for the always-on channel as a separate backup from the Profile. OBS explains Scene Collections in its official guide.
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Keep the collection backup beside the Profile export and media copy, and label it clearly. If you have several collections, make sure the one you save is the one your live setup uses; a Profile export alone cannot recreate it.
Copy playlist media and check its paths
OBS’s VLC Video Source supports playlists and has loop and shuffle settings. The source configuration is not the same thing as the video or audio files it references. Copy every file used by the playlist into the backup as well as saving the Scene Collection. VLC must be installed for a VLC Video Source to work. Details are in OBS’s Media Sources and Sources Guide.
After moving OBS to another computer or restoring from a backup, check that the source paths still point to the copied files. OBS warns that files used within a Scene Collection—including images and media—are not made portable by Portable Mode. When relocating a portable instance, you may need to edit paths in the Scene Collection JSON manually or use a common path available on each device. See Running in Portable Mode.
Restore and test before going live
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Restore or import the saved Profile, then confirm the intended stream, video, and output settings are present.
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Load the backed-up Scene Collection and check that it contains the expected scenes, sources, and Global Audio Sources.
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Install VLC if the collection uses a VLC Video Source. Check that every playlist file is present and that the source paths resolve on this computer.
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Confirm the playlist order and whether loop or shuffle is enabled as intended. Check that both video and audio play correctly.
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Run a short test before resuming the always-on schedule. OBS’s Quick Start Guide recommends testing settings for a few minutes before a first stream or recording; the same kind of check helps catch restore problems before going live.
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Common backup and restore problems
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Scenes are missing after importing a Profile: Profiles do not store scenes. Load the separate Scene Collection backup.
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Output settings are missing after loading a Scene Collection: Scene Collections do not store output settings. Restore the corresponding Profile as well.
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A playlist entry is missing or fails to play: The collection may reference a file that was not copied, or its path may no longer be valid. Restore the media and update the path if needed.
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A VLC Video Source does not work on the replacement computer: Check that VLC is installed, then verify the source’s media paths.
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Portable Mode did not bring the media along: Portable Mode does not package files referenced by a Scene Collection. Copy the media separately and use paths that work on the destination device.
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The stream looks or sounds different after restore: Check that the intended Profile and Scene Collection are both loaded, then test video, audio, and playlist behavior before restarting the schedule.
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