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Sometimes—but OBS does not have a universal guarantee that it will keep rendering video after you lock Windows. A lock screen is different from sleep, signing out, or switching to another Windows user. Set up a test on the PC you plan to use and confirm the stream is still moving in YouTube Studio before relying on it unattended.
What happens when you lock the PC?
OBS can play a local video file in a scene and send an encoder-based live stream to YouTube. Whether that continues after you lock the workstation depends on the particular Windows session, power settings, graphics behavior, drivers, and OBS setup. The official OBS and YouTube documentation describes media playback and encoder streaming, but neither promises that OBS will keep rendering under every lock-screen configuration.
Keep these Windows states distinct:
- Locking the workstation: Windows hides the desktop but leaves the current user session signed in. Test this exact state on your PC.
- Sleep or hibernation: The computer suspends work; this is not the same as locking the screen and can interrupt encoding or network activity.
- Signing out or switching users: This changes or ends the session running OBS. An OBS community thread reports freezing after switching Windows users, but that report does not establish what happens on every locked PC. Read the OBS forum discussion.
A separate OBS community discussion addresses screen sleep behavior, but it is not a guarantee for other computers or configurations: OBS forum: screen sleep.
Set up a prerecorded video in OBS
- Add the video source. In the scene you want to stream, add a Media Source and select the local video file. OBS documents common formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, and WebM, among others. Check that the selected path points to the file you intend to play. See the OBS Media Sources guide.
- Choose playback behavior. Turn on Loop if the video should repeat after it ends. Review the source’s restart-on-activation and end-of-playback behavior so it matches your intended scene. OBS’s Sources Guide explains how sources work in scenes.
- Connect OBS to YouTube. Follow YouTube’s encoder live-stream setup to configure the stream in YouTube and connect OBS using the stream key. Keep the key private; anyone with access to it may be able to send a feed to your stream.
- Check the feed before locking. Start streaming while signed in to the Windows account that runs OBS. In YouTube Studio, confirm that the incoming feed is moving and that the expected audio is present.
- Test the lock itself. Lock Windows without signing out or switching users. From another device, check the YouTube Studio preview or the stream viewer for moving video and audio. Leave the test running long enough to see whether it remains stable, including through a media loop if that is part of your plan.
Keep the PC ready for an unattended stream
- Keep the PC connected to power and the network for the full broadcast.
- Set Windows power options so sleep and hibernation will not activate during the planned stream. Menu names vary by Windows version; use the system’s power settings and verify the actual behavior in a test.
- Do not treat a successful screen lock as proof that sleep, sign-out, user switching, or a later restart will also work.
- Check OBS and YouTube from another device after locking. A visible lock screen on the streaming PC does not show whether the outgoing stream is still advancing.
Troubleshoot a frozen or missing stream
| Symptom | Likely area to check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The feed stops when the screen is locked | Power behavior, graphics or driver behavior, or the OBS session | Confirm the PC did not enter sleep; repeat the test while keeping the same user signed in. Compare behavior before and after locking. |
| The feed freezes after switching users or signing out | The Windows session running OBS may no longer be rendering normally | Run OBS in the session that remains active. Avoid switching users or signing out during a stream unless you have verified that workflow on this machine. An OBS forum report describes a freeze after switching users. |
| YouTube receives no feed | OBS streaming state, YouTube encoder setup, or stream key | Check that OBS is streaming, confirm the YouTube encoder setup, and verify the configured key without exposing it. Use YouTube’s encoder guide to check the connection workflow. |
| The stream is live but the video does not move | Media Source playback or local file path | Confirm the file is available at the selected path, the Media Source is active in the scene, and playback has not reached an unintended end state. Check Loop if it should repeat, using the Media Sources settings guide. |
| Video moves but expected audio is absent | The source’s audio path or scene mix | Check that the source’s audio is included in the OBS mix and that the YouTube preview receives it before leaving the PC unattended. |
When the PC should not be part of the workflow
YouTube’s encoder guide names standalone encoder hardware as an option for scheduling prerecorded media without a computer, including the AJA HELO Plus and PlayToStream. A standalone unit avoids depending on the Windows session running OBS, but it is a separate device with its own setup and scheduling workflow. Check current availability, price, and requirements with the relevant vendor; those details are not established here.
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LAPGEAR Home Office Pro Lap Desk - Black Carbon, Fits 15.6” Laptops
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LAPGEAR Home Office Lap Desk – Pink, Fits 15.6” Laptops
- Spacious Design: Measuring 21.1" wide and 12" deep, our lap desk comfortably fits most laptops up to 15.6". Extra room for accessories ensures convenience.
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AboveTEK Portable Laptop Lap Desk w/Retractable Left/Right Mouse Pad Tray, Non-Slip Heat Shield Tablet Notebook Computer Stand Table w/Sturdy Stable Work Surface for Bed Sofa Couch or Travel
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Yilador Webcam Cover 3 Pack, 0.03 inch Ultra Thin Laptop Camera Cover Slide
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Anker USB C Hub, 5-in-1 USBC to HDMI Splitter with 4K Display
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
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