To restart a 24/7 fireplace stream after Windows starts, have Windows launch OBS and pass OBS the --startstreaming argument. Separately, enable OBS’s automatic reconnect for temporary stream disconnects. These are different recovery layers: the launch argument does not start OBS after a reboot or relaunch it after a crash, and automatic reconnect does not restart a crashed OBS process.
First, identify what needs to recover
“Restart” can mean several different failures. Match the recovery method to the failure rather than expecting one OBS setting to cover all of them.
| Failure | Recovery layer | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|
| The stream output disconnects while OBS is still running | OBS automatic reconnect | Does not relaunch OBS if the application closes or crashes. |
| Windows reboots or starts after an outage | A Windows startup trigger launches OBS; OBS starts streaming with --startstreaming. |
The argument alone does not create a Windows startup trigger. |
| OBS crashes or exits unexpectedly | An external process supervisor or monitoring script must detect the exit and relaunch OBS. | Neither OBS output reconnect nor --startstreaming alone supervises a crashed process. |
Prepare the OBS fireplace stream
Before automating launch, make sure the stream works when started manually. Configure the fireplace video source, scene, profile, scene collection, streaming service and stream key, then save the setup and confirm that a normal manual stream starts successfully.
Keep the stream key private. If you change the selected profile, scene collection or scene later, check that the automated launch still uses the intended setup. OBS supports launch parameters for explicitly selecting a collection, profile and scene when needed.
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Start streaming automatically when OBS launches
OBS documents --startstreaming as the parameter to start streaming automatically when the application launches. On Windows, add it to the command used to open OBS.
Option 1: edit an OBS shortcut
- Locate the OBS shortcut you intend to use, right-click it and open Properties.
- In the Target field, leave the existing executable path in place and add a space followed by
--startstreamingoutside the closing quotation mark. For example:"C:Program Filesobs-studiobin64bitobs64.exe" --startstreaming. Your OBS installation path may differ. - Apply the change, open OBS with that shortcut, and check that it loads the intended setup and starts the stream.
Option 2: use Task Scheduler
- Create or edit a Windows task with an action to start the OBS executable, typically
obs64.exe. - In the task action, put
--startstreamingin the arguments field, rather than appending it inside the executable path. - Set the task’s Start in working directory to the folder containing
obs64.exe. OBS’s launch guidance specifies this working-directory requirement for scheduled or other automated launches. - Choose the appropriate trigger and account/session behavior for your setup. A task configured to run at startup is distinct from one configured only to run when a user logs in.
- Run the task manually as a check. Confirm that OBS opens, selects the expected scene and begins the intended stream.
If OBS must always use a particular scene collection, profile or scene, OBS also documents the --collection, --profile and --scene launch parameters. Use the actual names configured in OBS and verify the resulting launch rather than assuming the default selection is correct.
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Launch OBS after Windows starts or reboots
The OBS launch parameter only affects what happens when OBS is launched. To recover after a Windows restart, configure Windows to launch the shortcut or scheduled task at startup. A shortcut in the Startup folder or a Task Scheduler trigger are possible approaches; the right choice depends on whether OBS should start only after sign-in or under a system-startup task.
Test the complete sequence under the account and session conditions the task will use. A task that works when run manually may behave differently at startup if it runs in a different session or does not have access to the expected OBS configuration.
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Enable OBS automatic reconnect for stream drops
Automatic reconnect handles a temporary disconnection of the streaming output while OBS remains open. Configure it in OBS’s output/stream settings and choose retry behavior appropriate for the connection. OBS’s API reference describes a retry count and interval; the interval doubles with each retry. Exact controls and labels can vary by OBS version, so check the installed version’s settings.
Reconnect is not an application watchdog. If OBS is no longer running, there is no active OBS output to reconnect. Pair reconnect with a Windows startup trigger for reboot recovery, and use separate process supervision if crashes must trigger a relaunch.
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Plan for power and network recovery
After an outage, a Windows PC and OBS may start before a modem or router has restored internet connectivity. In a March 2024 Windows 11 24/7 camera-stream discussion, a forum participant raised this network-readiness issue and suggested delaying or retrying startup until connectivity is available. Treat that as anecdotal advice, not a guaranteed OBS limitation or a verified script recipe.
If the first stream attempt fails because the network is not ready, determine whether OBS reconnect eventually restores the output. If it does not, a separate startup script or supervisor may need to wait for network connectivity and then launch or relaunch OBS. The correct implementation depends on the Windows account, task configuration and network setup; the OBS launch and reconnect documentation does not provide a complete crash-supervisor recipe.
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A UPS sized for the computer and network equipment can help with brief power interruptions, but it is optional hardware, not an OBS requirement. It does not restart OBS and cannot guarantee that the internet connection remains available.
Troubleshoot common restart failures
- OBS opens but does not start the stream: Confirm the launch argument is exactly
--startstreaming, is attached to the executable launch, and that the stream starts normally when you click Start Streaming manually. - The scheduled task fails to open OBS: Check that the executable path is correct and set Start in to the directory containing
obs64.exe. - OBS starts with the wrong scene or profile: Select the intended setup in OBS before saving, or use the documented
--collection,--profileand--sceneparameters to specify it explicitly. - The stream disconnects but OBS remains open: Check the automatic reconnect configuration and whether internet connectivity has returned. Reconnect retries do not fix a missing network connection.
- The computer rebooted but OBS did not launch: Check that a startup trigger exists and whether it is configured for system startup or user sign-in as intended.
--startstreamingis not itself a boot trigger. - OBS crashed and stayed closed: Add a separate process supervisor or monitoring script that can detect an exited process and relaunch it. Reconnect only applies while OBS is running.
- OBS launches before the router is online: Check whether the output reconnect succeeds once connectivity returns. If it does not, consider a connectivity-aware delay or retry in the separate startup/supervision layer.
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