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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →On Windows, add OBS to the Startup folder or schedule it to launch at sign-in, then pass OBS the --startstreaming argument. For a scheduled YouTube broadcast, also enable Auto-start in YouTube Studio; OBS sending video and YouTube making the broadcast live are separate steps.
Before you automate OBS
First, open OBS and confirm that the intended scene and profile are selected and that the YouTube connection works. In OBS, configure the YouTube Live server URL and stream key provided for your broadcast. Treat the stream key as a password: anyone who gets it may be able to send video to your channel. YouTube’s encoder setup instructions explain the connection details.
Make one manual start before relying on unattended operation. This helps separate problems with your stream setup from problems with Windows startup.
Make OBS start and begin streaming at Windows sign-in
Option 1: Use the Startup folder
- Press
Windows key + R, entershell:startup, and press Enter to open the current user’s Startup folder. - Create or copy an OBS shortcut into that folder. The shortcut should point to your OBS executable.
- Right-click the shortcut, open Properties, and add
--startstreamingafter the executable path in Target. Preserve the existing path and put the argument outside its closing quotation mark. For example:"C:Program Filesobs-studiobin64bitobs64.exe" --startstreaming. Your installation path may differ. - Select Apply, then OK.
This is the straightforward option when you want OBS to start after your Windows account signs in. A Startup-folder shortcut does not by itself ensure OBS starts when the PC boots but nobody signs in.
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Option 2: Use Task Scheduler
Task Scheduler is an alternative when you need more control over when OBS launches. Create a task that runs the OBS executable and put --startstreaming in its arguments. Set the task’s Start in working directory to the folder containing obs64.exe. OBS specifically calls out this working-directory requirement for scheduled or other automated launches in its launch-parameter documentation.
Choose a trigger and sign-in behavior that fit your PC and account. The right settings depend on whether you expect someone to sign in after a reboot; the launch argument does not determine that Windows behavior.
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Set YouTube to make the scheduled broadcast live
OBS’s --startstreaming argument tells OBS to start its encoder transmission. It does not create a YouTube event, choose a scheduled broadcast, or guarantee that YouTube will publish it live.
For a scheduled broadcast, open its settings in YouTube Studio and enable Auto-start if you want YouTube to make the broadcast live when OBS begins sending video. If Auto-start is off, a person must click Go Live in YouTube. YouTube documents the distinction in its scheduled live stream guidance and Live Control Room guidance. Labels and screens can change, so check the current event settings before relying on them.
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Test the reboot sequence
- Save your OBS shortcut or scheduled task settings and confirm the intended scene is active.
- Restart Windows and sign in if your chosen method requires it.
- Check that OBS opens and begins streaming. Confirm in YouTube Studio that the intended broadcast is receiving the encoder feed.
- For a scheduled broadcast with Auto-start enabled, verify that YouTube makes that event live. If it is not live, check the event’s Auto-start setting rather than assuming OBS failed to transmit.
Test your own full sequence—including the PC, internet connection, OBS scene, and YouTube broadcast state—before depending on it unattended. No configuration can guarantee recovery in every power or network failure.
Troubleshooting after a reboot
- OBS does not open: Check that the shortcut is in the correct user’s Startup folder, or review the task’s trigger and sign-in settings. A Startup-folder shortcut runs at that user’s sign-in, not merely because the PC has powered on.
- OBS opens but does not stream: Confirm
--startstreamingappears after the executable path, and verify the YouTube server URL and stream key in OBS. Make sure the key is current and belongs to the intended broadcast. - OBS streams, but the scheduled event is not live: Check whether Auto-start is enabled for that YouTube event. With it disabled, the encoder can be sending while the event still requires a manual Go Live action.
- OBS starts before the internet is available: After an outage, the PC may boot before the router or internet connection is ready. A delay or a restart after connectivity returns may help; the exact cause and remedy depend on the network and setup.
- Automated launch behaves differently from a manual launch: Check the task’s working directory and confirm it points to the folder containing
obs64.exe.
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