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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11You can configure OBS to loop a local music file and start streaming when OBS launches, but that alone does not guarantee an uninterrupted 24/7 YouTube stream. On Windows, a community-documented approach is to launch OBS with the --startstreaming argument from a Startup shortcut or Task Scheduler. You must also make sure the computer has network access, OBS connects to the intended YouTube broadcast, and the music source keeps playing. Test recovery after a reboot and a network interruption before relying on it.
What this setup can—and cannot—restart
There are several separate things that can stop a 24/7 stream: the computer can reboot or lose power, the internet connection can drop, OBS can close or freeze, the media source can stop, or YouTube can disconnect the encoder. Starting OBS automatically addresses only the application-launch part. The Windows method documented by OBS community members can request that OBS begin streaming at launch; it is not a verified watchdog for a dead process, a stuck source, a failed internet connection, or every YouTube broadcast-selection prompt.
OBS also has an auto-reconnect function for dropped connections, but do not treat it as a complete recovery system. Verify what happens in your own setup. The available source material substantiates a Windows startup example, not an equivalent validated Linux or macOS recipe.
Prepare a loopable, rights-cleared music source
Choose and test the file
OBS Media Source supports audio formats including MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV. Add the file as a Media Source in the scene you plan to stream, enable its Loop property, and watch the audio meters while it plays. Let the file reach its end and confirm playback starts again. See the OBS Media Sources documentation.
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Restart playback when source becomes active controls playback when that source becomes visible or active in OBS. It is not an instruction to restart OBS or the YouTube stream. If your scene uses source visibility changes, test whether the setting produces the behavior you want.
Confirm you have permission to stream the music
Before going live, confirm that the rights or license cover YouTube livestreaming, the territories where viewers may watch, and any replay or archive use you intend to allow. YouTube’s live-stream settings include rights-management controls, but the presence of Content ID or a rights policy does not itself grant you permission to use a track. YouTube describes those controls in its live-stream settings guidance.
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Connect OBS to the correct YouTube stream
- Prepare the YouTube broadcast. In YouTube’s live-stream workflow, select or create the broadcast you intend to use and locate its stream URL and stream key.
- Set the destination in OBS. In OBS, open Settings > Stream, choose the YouTube service or enter the server information as required by your setup, and provide the stream key. YouTube’s encoder workflow uses both a stream URL and a stream key.
- Protect the key. Treat the stream key like a password: do not publish screenshots or configuration files that expose it. If it is exposed, replace it in YouTube and update OBS.
- Decide how YouTube should handle starting and stopping. Review the broadcast’s auto-start and auto-stop settings rather than assuming they are enabled or disabled. Reusing YouTube stream settings copies the stream key and those auto-start/auto-stop selections, so check them whenever you reuse settings. See YouTube’s live-stream settings documentation.
Start a test stream manually before automating startup. Confirm the expected broadcast is live and that audio reaches the YouTube viewer page; having an active OBS preview is not proof that the audience can hear it.
Start OBS streaming automatically after a Windows reboot
An OBS forum example uses the --startstreaming launch argument on Windows and starts the resulting shortcut from Startup or Task Scheduler. It is community guidance, not an official cross-platform procedure. The executable location varies by installation, so use the path on your own PC and preserve correct quotation around paths containing spaces. The example is documented in the OBS forum discussion about autostart after reboot.
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- Find the OBS executable. Locate the installed OBS executable on your PC. Do not assume a particular drive or installation folder.
- Create a shortcut. Make a Windows shortcut to that executable. In the shortcut’s Target field, append a space and
--startstreamingafter the quoted executable path. The result should have the general form"path to OBS executable" --startstreaming; replace the example wording with your real path. - Try the shortcut manually. Close OBS, run the shortcut, and verify that OBS opens and attempts to stream to the intended broadcast. Resolve any broadcast-selection prompt before relying on unattended startup.
- Run the shortcut at sign-in or on a schedule. Place the shortcut in the Windows Startup folder for a sign-in launch, or configure Task Scheduler to launch that shortcut at the trigger you choose. Task Scheduler can be used to introduce a delay or network-readiness condition, but the available sources do not validate a particular scheduler configuration or guarantee that a connectivity check will work in every environment.
- Check unattended behavior. Reboot the PC and observe whether OBS starts, the correct scene and source are present, and YouTube receives the stream. A prompt, sign-in requirement, permission dialog, or update screen can prevent an otherwise valid shortcut from completing its job.
Community reports also describe the launch flag opening OBS while leaving the user at a YouTube broadcast-selection prompt. If you see that prompt, the flag has not made the entire broadcast workflow unattended. See the OBS forum report about automatic streaming on launch.
Choose encoder settings and check stream health
YouTube’s encoder guidance recommends RTMP or RTMPS, H.264 video, constant bitrate (CBR), a two-second keyframe interval, and AAC or MP3 audio. It says not to exceed a four-second keyframe interval. These are YouTube recommendations, not a promise that a stream will never disconnect. Use YouTube’s current encoder settings guidance to choose resolution, frame rate, and bitrate appropriate to your content and available upload connection; the source material here does not establish a single bitrate that suits every resolution or connection.
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- Run a test with the same kind of audio and video you will use for the actual stream.
- Choose quality the connection can sustain reliably, rather than a setting that only works under ideal conditions.
- Monitor YouTube stream health as well as OBS meters. If the connection or audio is unstable, lower the workload or improve the connection and test again.
Test recovery instead of assuming it works
Test each failure case separately: passing one test does not establish recovery from the others. Have access to the YouTube viewer page during testing so you can distinguish an OBS preview from a live stream.
- Reboot test: Restart the PC and confirm the shortcut or scheduled task launches OBS, the source plays, and the intended YouTube broadcast goes live without intervention.
- Network interruption test: Briefly interrupt the connection, then restore it. Confirm both OBS and the viewer page recover. Note whether OBS reconnects to the same broadcast or requires you to select or start one again.
- Process and source checks: Separately check what happens if OBS closes and if playback reaches the end of the file. A looped source should repeat its media; that does not prove OBS can recover from a crashed application.
- Blocker check: Look for a YouTube broadcast-selection prompt, a sign-in screen, an update prompt, or another dialog that can stop unattended startup.
- Recording check, if needed: If you need a durable local recording, enable local recording deliberately and verify that the recording file is growing. Do not infer that a YouTube archive will be complete.
Repeat the checks after changing OBS, the stream key, the broadcast, or the Windows startup configuration. No cited source establishes a universal OBS recovery rate or guarantees continuity under these failure conditions.
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Plan separately for a live player and a complete archive
A 24/7 live player and a complete recording are different goals. YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours can be automatically archived, but a stream that exceeds 12 hours may not be captured at all. If you need a durable copy, plan a local recording and check that it is being written; do not rely on an archive of a continuous 24/7 broadcast. Details are in YouTube’s archive live streams guidance.
Troubleshoot the common failure points
| What you see | Likely cause | What to check or do |
|---|---|---|
| OBS opens after reboot but does not go live. | The startup shortcut may not include the launch argument correctly, or a prompt may require action. | Run the shortcut manually, check the target path and argument, and look for a YouTube broadcast-selection or other blocking dialog. |
| OBS tries to connect but YouTube does not show a live stream. | The connection may not be ready, the stream key or destination may be wrong, or the intended broadcast may not be selected. | Confirm network access, the YouTube stream URL and key, the chosen broadcast, and the viewer page. Do not assume application launch means successful broadcast. |
| OBS shows playback, but viewers hear silence. | The wrong source or scene may be live, the source may be muted, or its audio may not reach the stream mix. | Check the active scene, source visibility, mute state, and audio meters, then verify audio on the YouTube viewer page. |
| The music stops when the file ends. | Loop is not enabled on the Media Source, or the source is not the one currently active. | Enable the Media Source’s Loop property and test through the file’s end. Do not confuse Restart playback when source becomes active with application or stream recovery. |
| The stream does not recover after internet returns. | OBS may not have reconnected, or YouTube may require the correct broadcast to be selected or started. | Test the reconnection behavior, inspect OBS and YouTube stream health, and determine whether an operator must intervene. Startup automation alone does not establish recovery from a network failure. |
| YouTube does not provide the full 24/7 archive. | Long continuous broadcasts may not be captured as a complete archive. | For a durable recording, configure local recording and verify the file is growing; YouTube warns that streams exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all. |
Or let it run in the cloud
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can the same OBS startup shortcut work on Linux or macOS?
The documented autostart example cited here is for Windows; it does not establish a validated Linux or macOS procedure.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
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