If your YouTube 24/7 stream stops when Windows restarts, Windows has stopped the local encoder—usually OBS—and YouTube cannot send video until that encoder runs again. For OBS, configure Windows to launch OBS with the --startstreaming parameter, then test a real reboot and confirm the stream returns in YouTube Live Control Room. YouTube’s auto-start option does not reopen OBS after a restart.
Why does my 24/7 YouTube stream go offline when Windows restarts?
When OBS or another encoder runs on your Windows PC, that program sends the video feed to YouTube. Restarting Windows ends the encoder process. The stream can resume only after the encoder starts again, loads the right content and settings, and connects to YouTube.
YouTube’s auto-start setting concerns starting a stream from an encoder; it does not launch an encoder process that Windows has stopped. See YouTube’s live stream settings instructions and the OBS launch parameters reference.
Set OBS to start streaming after Windows starts
OBS documents the launch parameter --startstreaming as “Automatically start streaming.” For automated or scheduled Windows launches, OBS also says to set the working directory to the folder containing obs64.exe. The OBS documentation page is dated May 30, 2021; check the behavior against your installed OBS version.
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- Check the YouTube connection. In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and confirm the intended stream and stream key. The key tells YouTube where to receive the encoder feed; keep it private. YouTube’s encoder setup guide explains connecting an encoder.
- Check OBS before automating it. Open OBS and confirm the intended scene, media sources, and YouTube stream settings are loaded. Test the configuration manually before relying on startup automation; see the OBS Quickstart.
- Add the launch parameter. Configure the Windows startup method you use to launch OBS so its command includes
--startstreaming. Do not assume the same command or executable path applies to every installation. - Set the working directory for an automated launch. If you use Windows Task Scheduler or another automation method, set its Start in value to the directory containing
obs64.exe, as OBS instructs. The exact path depends on where OBS is installed. - Use the right Windows account context. The startup task needs access to the OBS profile and media. Sign-in policy, encrypted files, and sources that depend on an interactive desktop can affect whether unattended startup works. Task Scheduler options vary by Windows version and account setup, so there is no single universal configuration.
- Restart Windows and verify the result. Check that OBS launches, the expected scene or media appears, and the encoder connects. Then confirm the stream is visible in YouTube Live Control Room and inspect stream health.
Diagnose what failed after the reboot
Separate a Windows startup problem from a YouTube connection problem. YouTube recommends checking preview and stream health, and OBS recommends testing the setup before relying on it.
| What you see | What to check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| OBS never opens | Windows startup or task configuration, sign-in context, executable path, and working directory. | Correct the launch configuration and test another restart. |
| OBS opens, but streaming does not start | Whether the actual OBS launch command includes --startstreaming; whether the expected OBS profile and settings loaded. |
Check the OBS configuration and test a manual start before repeating the reboot test. |
| OBS starts but YouTube stays offline | Internet access, stream URL and key, and Live Control Room status. | If OBS or YouTube reports a start error, get the current key in Live Control Room and update the encoder, following YouTube’s live streaming troubleshooting guidance. |
| The stream connects, then drops | Network reliability and YouTube stream health. | Investigate connectivity; YouTube notes that network disruptions can break a stream. Check the preview and health status after reconnecting, using its live streaming tips. |
Check the archive after a restart
YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That condition is not a promise that a restarted 24/7 broadcast will appear as one uninterrupted archive. Check the resulting entries in YouTube Studio after the stream ends.
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