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To open OBS after Windows signs in, put an OBS shortcut in the Startup folder or configure a Task Scheduler task. To have OBS start streaming as it opens, add --startstreaming to its launch command. YouTube’s broadcast settings also matter, so test the complete restart-to-live sequence before relying on it unattended.
Choose what should happen after a restart
There are two separate decisions: whether OBS opens when you sign in to Windows, and whether OBS immediately starts streaming. Windows startup methods handle the first; OBS’s --startstreaming launch parameter handles the second. Neither alone guarantees that YouTube will make the intended broadcast live.
- Open OBS only: launch it at sign-in without adding
--startstreaming. - Open OBS and initiate streaming: launch it at sign-in with
--startstreaming, then verify the relevant YouTube broadcast’s auto-start behavior.
OBS documents the launch parameter and shortcut procedure in its Launch Parameters guide.
Set OBS to start with Windows
Option 1: Put a shortcut in the Startup folder
- Locate your OBS Studio shortcut. If you do not have one, create a shortcut to
obs64.exein the OBS installation folder. - Decide whether streaming should begin automatically. If so, right-click the shortcut, open Properties, and edit the Target field: after the closing quotation mark, add a space and
--startstreaming. For example:"C:Program Filesobs-studiobin64bitobs64.exe" --startstreaming. Your OBS installation path may differ. If you want OBS to open without starting a stream, leave the parameter off. - Press Win+R, enter
shell:startup, and press Enter to open the current user’s Startup folder. - Place the OBS shortcut in that folder. This Windows route is described in community guidance; it launches at user sign-in, rather than by itself configuring a system-level launch before sign-in.
- Restart Windows, sign in, and check whether OBS opens. If you added the parameter, confirm whether it initiates streaming as intended.
Option 2: Use Task Scheduler for more control
Task Scheduler can be useful when you need to control the launch conditions or add a delay. Windows-specific examples for this setup are community guidance, so confirm the task behavior on your own Windows installation.
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- Create a task that launches
obs64.exeat the trigger and conditions appropriate for your setup. Add--startstreamingto the program’s arguments only if OBS should initiate streaming automatically. - In the task’s Start in… field, enter the directory containing
obs64.exe. OBS specifically calls out this working-directory setting for scheduled or automated launches in its launch-parameter documentation. - Test the task by restarting Windows and checking the result. If the computer starts before the network equipment is ready, consider testing a delay or retry approach rather than assuming OBS can connect immediately.
Check YouTube’s broadcast settings
Starting a stream from OBS and transitioning a YouTube broadcast to live are related but distinct events. Check the auto-start setting for the intended broadcast in YouTube Studio, and ensure OBS is configured for the correct stream key and broadcast. YouTube’s live stream settings guidance says that reusing a stream’s settings copies its auto-start and auto-stop selections.
That guidance does not establish that every scheduled broadcast or account configuration will recover to the same live state after a Windows restart. Test the exact workflow you plan to use.
Test safely before depending on unattended streaming
- Use a private or test broadcast where appropriate, and verify the correct YouTube event and stream key are selected.
- Confirm the OBS scene, audio and video sources, and audience setting before enabling unattended start. An automatic launch can transmit as soon as the configured stream and broadcast are ready.
- Restart Windows and sign in. Check first that OBS opens, then whether it begins sending the configured stream.
- Check YouTube Studio to confirm the intended broadcast—not a different event—has transitioned to live.
- If you rely on power recovery, test that case too. A community report describes OBS starting before network equipment after an outage, with the initial connection failing. This is a reported possibility, not a guaranteed behavior; test your own network and recovery sequence.
Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| OBS does not open after restart | The shortcut is not in the Startup folder used by the signed-in account, or the scheduled task is not triggering. | Confirm the shortcut is in the folder opened by shell:startup, or review the task’s trigger and conditions. |
| OBS opens but does not start streaming | The launch parameter is missing or incorrectly placed. | Check the shortcut target or task arguments. The parameter must be separated from the executable path by a space: --startstreaming. |
| A scheduled launch fails or behaves differently | The task’s working directory may be missing or incorrect. | Set Start in… to the folder containing obs64.exe, as OBS recommends for scheduled or automated launching. |
| OBS starts, but YouTube does not go live | Starting OBS does not ensure the intended YouTube broadcast auto-starts. | Check the broadcast’s auto-start setting, selected event, and stream key; test the complete sequence rather than assuming all broadcasts recover identically. |
| OBS cannot connect after a power outage | OBS may start before the router or network connection is ready. | Test whether a delay or retrying task helps after networking is available. Treat this as a possible timing issue, not a universal cause. |
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