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On Windows, OBS can start streaming automatically when it launches if you add the --startstreaming launch parameter. That does not, by itself, restart a PC after a power cut, wait for the network to return, restore every camera or source, or ensure a YouTube scheduled event goes live. Treat recovery as a chain of separate steps and test the full chain while supervised before relying on it.
The walkthrough below uses Windows and YouTube as examples because those are the documented procedures covered here. Other operating systems and streaming platforms may require different startup and event settings.
What has to happen for the stream to resume
A power outage can interrupt several independent parts of a broadcast. For an unattended return, the computer must power back on, Windows must launch OBS, OBS must have its scene and sources ready, the network must be available, and the platform must accept the encoder feed and make the event live. A failure at any one point can leave OBS open without a public stream.
- Computer recovery: the PC needs to restart after power returns. OBS’s launch parameter cannot make a powered-off computer turn itself on.
- OBS startup: Windows must launch OBS with the intended profile and scene collection.
- Connection and sources: the network and any cameras or network inputs must be ready and functioning.
- Platform event: YouTube must accept the feed, and the live event’s settings must allow the encoder to start it or otherwise be configured for the required action.
OBS documents Automatic Reconnect separately from launching OBS with a command-line parameter. Reconnect can help with an interrupted connection while OBS is running, but it is not a complete power-outage recovery system. In one Windows 11 forum report, a user described reconnect failing when OBS tried before network equipment was ready; that is an example, not a guarantee of how every setup behaves. See the OBS Studio Overview Guide and the OBS forum discussion.
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Prepare OBS before automating it
First make sure the stream is ready to run unattended in the ordinary way. OBS’s Quick Start Guide recommends testing settings before relying on them for streaming.
- Save and verify the intended OBS profile, scene collection, scene, stream destination, and source settings.
- Confirm the correct camera, audio, and other inputs appear in the preview. If an input depends on a separate device or network connection, test that it returns after a restart.
- Confirm the destination and stream key are configured for the intended YouTube channel and event. Do not share the stream key; anyone who has it may be able to send a feed to the channel.
- Run a supervised test stream or an appropriate private/unlisted test event before enabling unattended startup.
Set OBS to start streaming when it launches on Windows
OBS documents the --startstreaming launch parameter. Add it to the OBS launch command so OBS starts streaming as it opens. The exact parameter and Windows shortcut/task guidance are in OBS Launch Parameters.
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Option 1: Add the parameter to a shortcut
- Create or locate a Windows shortcut that launches OBS Studio.
- Open the shortcut’s Properties and select the Shortcut tab.
- In Target, leave the existing executable path intact and add a space followed by
--startstreamingafter the closing quotation mark. The field should end with the parameter, for example:"C:Program Filesobs-studiobin64bitobs64.exe" --startstreaming. Your installation path may differ. - Apply the change, then launch OBS using that shortcut for a supervised test. Confirm OBS opens the intended setup and begins streaming.
Option 2: Launch OBS with a scheduled task
A scheduled task can launch OBS with the same parameter, but its exact configuration depends on the Windows setup. OBS specifically says that for a scheduled-task launch, set Start in to the folder containing obs64.exe. Use the executable path for your installation, pass --startstreaming as the launch argument, and set that working directory as OBS documents. Do not assume a task that merely opens OBS will also start the stream.
The sources here do not establish a universal Task Scheduler recipe for delaying launch until network recovery. If OBS starts before the router or other network equipment is ready, the initial connection may fail. If you configure a delay or a network-aware launch, verify it on your own Windows system rather than assuming a particular task setting will work everywhere.
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Configure the YouTube event as well as OBS
For an encoder stream, YouTube’s setup uses a server URL and stream key. Follow YouTube’s encoder instructions for the relevant event. For a scheduled stream, YouTube says to wait for the preview in Live Control Room and then select Go live.
YouTube’s live stream settings documentation describes Auto-start and Auto-stop: when enabled, these settings let the encoder start or stop the stream. Check the settings for the specific event and test the actual restart behavior. A saved stream key and OBS’s --startstreaming flag alone do not establish that every scheduled YouTube event will become public automatically.
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Test the whole recovery chain under supervision
Do not treat a running OBS window as proof that viewers can see the stream. Test a restart or brief outage while someone can intervene, and verify each stage:
- Confirm the computer starts after power returns. This is separate from OBS configuration; the sources here do not verify specific firmware settings for restoring power after an AC loss.
- Wait for the network equipment and internet connection to recover. Check whether OBS connects successfully if it launches before the network is ready.
- Check the OBS preview and confirm the intended scene, camera, audio, and other inputs have recovered.
- In YouTube Live Control Room, verify that the encoder feed appears, inspect stream health and audio/video quality, and confirm the event is actually live rather than waiting for a separate action.
- Repeat the test enough to establish that the setup behaves as intended in the conditions you expect. Keep the stream supervised until you have verified the complete sequence.
Children’s stream rules still apply
Automation does not change YouTube’s audience, safety, or feature rules. YouTube says some features, including live chat, are disabled or restricted for streams set as made for kids. It also says streams featuring minors under 16 who are not visibly accompanied by an adult may be removed or have live chat disabled. Review YouTube’s live-streaming restrictions and do not use automation or audience settings as a workaround for child-safety requirements.
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Troubleshooting after a restart
| Symptom | Likely point of failure | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The PC is off after power returns | Computer power recovery, not OBS startup | Confirm the computer itself is configured and able to start after the outage. OBS launch parameters cannot power on a computer. |
| OBS opens but does not start streaming | Launch command or shortcut/task configuration | Check that --startstreaming follows the executable path. For a scheduled task, confirm Start in points to the folder containing obs64.exe. |
| OBS starts, but cannot connect | Network not ready, destination configuration, or connection failure | Check network availability and the configured destination. A launch that happens before the router is ready can fail; test timing on the actual system. |
| OBS connects, but a camera or other input is missing | Source recovery independent of stream reconnection | Check the source device and its connection, then verify the preview. Test source recovery separately from OBS’s connection behavior. |
| YouTube receives a feed, but the event is not live | Scheduled-event or encoder start settings | Check the event in Live Control Room, its Auto-start setting, and whether YouTube requires a separate Go live action for that event. |
| The stream is live, but child-related features are unavailable or restricted | YouTube audience or safety rules | Review the event’s audience designation and YouTube’s applicable live-streaming restrictions; restart automation does not change them. |
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