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Export your OBS scene collection on the old PC, export its profile separately if you need the same stream and output settings, and copy every playlist media file to the new PC. Then import the exports, preserve the files’ original paths or update the affected sources, and verify playback before going live.
What you need to move
OBS keeps scene setup, output settings, and the files those scenes refer to in separate places. Moving only one part is why a collection can import successfully but still show missing videos or differ in streaming behavior.
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| Item | What it carries | What to move or check |
|---|---|---|
| Scene collection | Scenes and sources, including global audio sources; it does not store output settings. OBS Project | Export from the old PC and import on the new one. |
| Profile | Stream, video, and output settings; it does not store scenes. OBS Project | Export and import separately if you need those settings. |
| Playlist media and other files | Videos and other file-backed assets referenced by sources. | Copy the files and preserve their paths or correct the source paths on the new PC. OBS Project |
| VLC installation | The VLC libraries required by an OBS VLC Video source. | Install VLC on the destination, matching its architecture to OBS. OBS Project |
| Plugins | Third-party functionality used by plugin-dependent scenes or filters. | Install compatible plugins separately and check each plugin’s own settings-migration guidance. OBS Project |
Move the OBS setup step by step
- Identify the active collection and profile on the old PC. Confirm which scene collection contains the playlist and which profile has the output settings you want to retain.
- Export the scene collection. In OBS, use the Scene Collections controls to export the active collection. The collection includes scenes and sources, but not profile output settings. See OBS’s Scene Collections guide.
- Export the profile separately if needed. Use the Profiles controls to export the active profile. OBS profiles can be imported or exported as JSON and include stream, video, and output settings. See OBS’s Profiles guide.
- Inventory the files referenced by the collection. Include every playlist video and any other file-backed sources, such as images, audio, and overlays. Copy these files to the new PC. A USB drive or external SSD can be used for the transfer, but OBS does not require a particular transfer device.
- Import the collection and profile on the destination PC. Import the scene collection, then import the profile if you exported one. OBS’s import feature adjusts collections created on other operating systems to the current one; file locations still need attention.
- Make the media paths resolve. Either put the copied files in a directory structure that reproduces the original paths, or edit the affected sources on the new PC to point to the files’ new locations. OBS’s portable-mode guidance describes these two path approaches for relocated collections.
- Install VLC if the playlist uses a VLC Video source. The source depends on VLC being installed. Match architectures: 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. Refer to OBS’s Media Sources guide.
- Check plugin-dependent scenes and filters. Install compatible plugins on the destination as needed, then consult each plugin’s documentation for its settings. OBS documents plugin installation locations, but there is no universal settings-transfer procedure for every third-party plugin.
- Open the relevant scenes and verify playback. Confirm that the playlist items and other file-backed sources resolve and play before starting a live stream.
Choose how to handle media paths
Recreate the original directory structure
This is convenient when you can place the files at the same paths the old PC used. OBS’s portable-mode documentation recommends using a generic path common to devices or manually modifying collection paths after a move. A portable OBS configuration does not make the media itself portable.
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Update the affected source paths
Use this approach when the destination PC stores files somewhere different. Edit each affected source to reference its new location, then check all playlist entries and other file-backed sources. OBS states that files used within a scene collection, including images and media, are not portable even in portable mode. See Running in Portable Mode.
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What portable mode does—and does not do
Portable mode loads OBS configuration from the application’s location, which can make configuration easier to relocate. It does not bundle playlist videos, images, or other media dependencies into the scene collection. OBS also says portable mode is not supported on macOS or Linux. Read OBS’s portable-mode documentation before relying on it for a move.
Common problems after importing
- The scene collection imports, but videos are missing: the media files were not copied, or their paths changed. Copy the files and restore the original paths or update the sources.
- The playlist source is unavailable or does not play: if it is a VLC Video source, install VLC on the destination and ensure its architecture matches OBS.
- The scenes appear, but stream or output behavior differs: a scene collection does not carry profile settings. Import the separately exported profile or configure the required output settings in the destination profile.
- A filter or scene behaves differently: check whether it relies on a third-party plugin. Install a compatible version and follow that plugin’s documentation for migrating its settings.
- A collection from another operating system needs adjustment: import it through OBS’s collection import feature, which adjusts collections for the current operating system, then check media paths independently.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is a YouTube channel that keeps playing uploaded videos around the clock, StreamNeo is an alternative to maintaining an OBS playlist on a PC. Upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; StreamNeo loops the videos from the cloud.
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