To reopen OBS after a Windows restart, add an OBS shortcut to your Windows Startup folder or create a Task Scheduler task. To have OBS begin streaming as it opens, append --startstreaming to its launch command. These steps do not guarantee that YouTube will make the intended broadcast live: check YouTube’s auto-start setting too, then test the complete restart-to-live sequence before relying on it.
What needs to happen for a stream to resume
There are two separate actions: Windows must launch OBS after sign-in, and OBS must start streaming. YouTube’s broadcast settings also affect whether an incoming stream transitions to live automatically. Setting up only one of these pieces may leave OBS open without a live broadcast—or start streaming when you did not intend it to.
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OBS documents --startstreaming as a launch parameter that automatically starts streaming. The steps below apply to OBS Studio on Windows; labels and behavior may vary by software version or configuration. See the OBS Project launch-parameters documentation.
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Make OBS open when you sign in to Windows
Option 1: Put an OBS shortcut in the Startup folder
- Find your OBS Studio shortcut. If you do not have one, create a shortcut to
obs64.exe. - Press Windows+R, enter
shell:startup, and press Enter to open the current user’s Startup folder. - Copy or move the OBS shortcut into that folder.
- Sign out and back in, or restart Windows, to check that OBS opens.
This community-described method launches OBS at user sign-in. It offers little control over launch timing, so it may not suit a setup that needs to wait for network equipment or other services.
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Option 2: Use Task Scheduler
Task Scheduler is an alternative when you need more control over the launch conditions or want to investigate a delay. Create a task that runs OBS and point it to obs64.exe. OBS specifically advises setting the task’s Start in… working directory to the folder containing obs64.exe; otherwise, automated launches may not behave as expected. The exact Task Scheduler options can differ across Windows versions, so confirm the task’s trigger and action on your PC and test them rather than assuming a particular configuration will work.
The Startup-folder and Task Scheduler examples are community guidance, not a verified, current Microsoft procedure. OBS’s working-directory instruction is in its launch-parameters documentation.
Tell OBS to start streaming on launch
- Right-click the OBS shortcut and open Properties.
- In the Target field, add a space after the closing quotation mark, then append
--startstreaming. For example:"C:Program Filesobs-studiobin64bitobs64.exe" --startstreaming. Your installation path may differ; keep the existing path intact. - Select Apply, then OK.
- If you use Task Scheduler rather than the shortcut, configure its OBS launch command to include the parameter and set Start in… to the directory containing
obs64.exe.
Only add this parameter if you want OBS to initiate streaming as it opens. It does not select or validate the correct YouTube broadcast, nor does it guarantee that YouTube will automatically make that broadcast live.
Check the YouTube broadcast’s auto-start setting
In YouTube Studio, open the intended live broadcast and check its auto-start setting before relying on an unattended launch. The available YouTube Help guidance says that reusing a stream’s settings also copies its auto-start and auto-stop selections; check what was carried over rather than assuming the new broadcast has the right choices. See YouTube Help: Create a live stream with an encoder.
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Before enabling automatic streaming, verify the intended broadcast, scene, audio and video sources, and audience setting. An automatic launch can transmit as soon as the configured stream and broadcast are ready.
Test the complete restart-to-live sequence
- Use an appropriate private or test broadcast, and confirm the correct broadcast is selected in YouTube Studio.
- Restart Windows and sign in. Confirm that OBS opens.
- If you added
--startstreaming, confirm OBS begins sending the configured stream. - Check YouTube Studio to confirm whether the intended broadcast actually becomes live; do not treat OBS showing an active stream as proof that YouTube has transitioned the broadcast to live.
- Repeat the test under the conditions you expect to use, including after a full restart, before depending on unattended operation.
Choose a launch method that fits your restart scenario
| Approach | Best for | Key setup point | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup folder shortcut | Simple launch at user sign-in | Place an OBS shortcut in the Startup folder; add --startstreaming only if you intend streaming to begin automatically. |
Offers little control over delay or network readiness. The Windows route described here is community guidance. |
| Task Scheduler | More control over launch conditions or delay | Run OBS and set Start in… to the folder containing obs64.exe. |
Requires configuration and testing; the exact task settings depend on your Windows setup. |
--startstreaming |
Starting OBS streaming as the app launches | Append the parameter to the shortcut target or automated launch command. | Does not ensure YouTube will make every broadcast live after a restart. |
Troubleshoot common failures
OBS opens, but the YouTube broadcast is not live
OBS startup and YouTube’s transition to live are separate. Confirm that OBS is sending the intended stream and check the broadcast’s auto-start setting in YouTube Studio. Test that exact broadcast configuration; behavior is not established for every scheduled broadcast or account setup.
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OBS does not open after restarting
Check that the shortcut is in the current user’s Startup folder, or inspect the Task Scheduler task’s trigger and action. If it is a scheduled or automated OBS launch, verify that Start in… points to the folder containing obs64.exe, as OBS advises.
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OBS opens before the network is ready
A participant in an OBS forum discussion described a power-outage scenario in which the computer and OBS started before network equipment; that participant also reported trouble when the initial connection failed. This is a user-reported possibility, not a universal guarantee about OBS reconnect behavior. If it fits your setup, test a delayed or retrying launch only after validating how it behaves on your PC and network.
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A restart does not restore the expected broadcast state
The available YouTube Help guidance covers live-stream settings and which auto-start and auto-stop selections are copied when settings are reused; it does not establish recovery behavior for every scheduled broadcast, account configuration, or OBS version. Test your complete workflow with the specific broadcast you plan to use.
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