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Back up both your OBS Profile and Scene Collection, then copy your loop video and other source files separately to storage outside the streaming computer. The Profile holds most stream, video, and output settings; the Scene Collection holds scenes and sources. Neither export is a complete backup on its own.
What an OBS backup needs to include
OBS keeps important configuration in two separate parts. A Profile saves most OBS settings, primarily those related to outputs, including settings for the stream, video, and output. A Scene Collection saves scenes, sources, and global audio sources. Exporting one does not include the other.
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- Profile: stream destination and related settings, video settings, and output settings.
- Scene Collection: scenes, sources, and global audio sources.
- Source files: your loop video, images, audio, and any other media referenced by sources. These files are not bundled into the configuration exports.
- Stream key: treat it as a secret. YouTube describes a stream key as the password and address for your stream.
A configuration can import successfully while still pointing to a missing video or other moved file. The configuration exports and the media they reference need separate protection.
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- Export the active Profile. In OBS, open the Profile menu and choose the export option. Save the JSON file with a clear name that identifies the computer or stream and the backup date, such as loop-stream-profile-2026-10-03. The export preserves most output-related settings, but is not a copy of every asset used by the stream.
- Export the active Scene Collection separately. Open the Scene Collection menu and use its export option. Give the file a similarly clear name. If you use multiple collections, export each one you want to preserve.
- Copy both exports off the computer. Put them on a removable drive or in a managed backup destination that is separate from the machine being protected. A USB flash drive is one option, not an OBS requirement. If the stream is operationally important, keep more than one independent copy.
- Back up all referenced media. Copy the loop video, images, audio, and other source assets. Preserve their folder structure and paths where practical, and note where the files belong in the restored setup.
- Protect the stream key. Configuration exports may contain stream credentials. Do not publish them or send them casually. Store them as sensitive files, and use a secure backup destination.
- Check that the backup is usable. Confirm both exports and the media files are present at the backup destination. A filename alone does not prove that a copy completed or that the corresponding video is included.
Restore OBS on a replacement or reinstalled computer
- Install and open OBS, then import the Profile. Use the Profile menu’s import option and select the saved Profile JSON.
- Import the Scene Collection separately. Use the Scene Collection menu’s import option to load its saved export. Repeat for any other collections you need.
- Restore the source files. Copy the loop video and other media to the replacement computer. Inspect the sources in OBS and correct any paths that point to the old computer or a folder that no longer exists.
- Review the stream configuration. Check the destination, stream key, output settings, and video settings before connecting. Because the key is a credential, enter or replace it securely rather than exposing it while sharing the backup.
- Check scenes, sources, and audio. Confirm the intended scene is selected, the loop video is present, and the expected audio and other sources are available. If the hardware changed, do not assume device sources or encoder settings will behave the same way.
- Verify the picture and sound in YouTube Live Control Room. Check the stream preview before resuming the loop schedule, then monitor stream quality while it runs. Imported settings are not proof that the replacement computer is sending the intended picture and sound.
Which backup approach should you use?
| Approach | What it preserves | Limitation | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| OBS Profile export | Most settings related to outputs, including stream, video, and output settings | Does not include scenes and sources | One required half of a normal OBS configuration backup |
| OBS Scene Collection export | Scenes, sources, and global audio sources | Does not include output settings or the media files referenced by sources | The other required half of a normal OBS configuration backup |
| Manual settings-folder copy | A broader copy of local configuration | Folder locations vary by platform and installation; a copied folder still does not replace backing up source media | An extra recovery copy. OBS provides File > Show Settings Folder to locate the folder |
| Windows Portable Mode | Keeps OBS configuration beside the application for relocation or separate instances | Does not package referenced media, and OBS does not support Portable Mode on macOS or Linux | A Windows-specific deployment arrangement, not a substitute for an off-computer backup |
For most loop-stream setups, export both OBS items and back up the media separately. Portable Mode can be useful for a Windows deployment, but it does not eliminate the need to protect files or verify paths after restoration.
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- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
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- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
YouTube cautions for a loop-stream setup
Keep the stream key private
YouTube treats stream keys as the password and address for a stream. If a key is compromised, reset it in YouTube Live Control Room and update the encoder with the new key. Do not assume an OBS export is safe to share just because it is a settings file.
Do not rely on the YouTube replay as your only archive
YouTube says events shorter than 12 hours can be automatically archived, recommends keeping a local archive, and warns that streams longer than 12 hours may not be captured at all. That is a stated archive limitation, not a guarantee that every shorter stream will be available as a complete backup. Verify any local archive files you need to retain.
Rank #2
- Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Reconnect is not a backup
OBS includes automatic reconnect among its Advanced settings. Reconnecting may matter to stream continuity, but it does not preserve the settings, source files, or credentials needed to rebuild a failed computer.
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- Scenes are missing after importing a Profile: Profiles and Scene Collections are separate. Import the Scene Collection export as well.
- Output or stream settings are missing after importing a Scene Collection: Import the Profile too; a Scene Collection is not an output-settings backup.
- The scene appears, but the loop video is missing: The export did not package the media. Restore the video and other source files, then inspect or update their paths in OBS.
- The restored setup connects with the wrong destination or cannot authenticate: Review the stream destination and key in the Profile settings. If the key may have been exposed, reset it in Live Control Room and update OBS.
- Camera, capture, or audio devices behave differently on the replacement computer: Check device selections and encoder settings rather than assuming they transfer identically across hardware.
- The stream looks wrong despite a successful import: Inspect the active scene, source visibility, media paths, audio, and output settings. Confirm the actual picture and sound in YouTube’s preview before returning to the regular schedule.
Or let it run in the cloud
Backing up OBS protects a local setup; it does not keep that computer streaming if it fails. If your goal is to keep uploaded videos live on YouTube without leaving a computer running at home, StreamNeo runs the loop from the cloud. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. The uploaded video streams as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot; StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. This is an alternative way to run a YouTube loop, not a replacement for backing up your OBS settings and media. Start your free StreamNeo day.
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- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
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- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
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