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Back up an OBS Profile, its Scene Collection, and the local media files used by playlist sources as three separate things. A Profile export preserves stream, video, and output settings; a Scene Collection preserves scenes and sources; neither one is a copy of the videos or audio those sources reference. Keep all three, then test the restored setup before resuming your always-on YouTube schedule.
What an OBS backup needs to include
An OBS setup is split across components, so copying only one part can leave a replacement or recovered installation incomplete.
| Backup item | What it preserves | What it does not replace |
|---|---|---|
| Profile export | Stream, video, and output settings. OBS also describes Profiles as including the connected account. | Scenes and sources; OBS says Profiles do not store scenes. |
| Scene Collection | Scenes and sources, including Global Audio Sources. | Output settings. |
| Playlist media files | The actual local video or audio content referenced by a playlist source. | The OBS scene and playlist-source configuration. |
OBS documents these distinctions in its Profiles and Scene Collections guides. Treat the components as a set: a playlist can appear configured in OBS while its files are missing or its saved paths no longer resolve.
Back up the active Profile
- In OBS Studio, select the Profile currently used for the YouTube channel from the Profile menu. Confirm that it is the profile you intend to preserve.
- Open the Profile menu and choose Export (the Profile menu includes Import/Export). Export the profile settings as a JSON file.
- Save the exported JSON alongside the rest of the backup. Use a clear filename that identifies the channel or setup and the backup date.
The exact menu labels can vary with OBS version and platform. Check the installed version if the labels differ. The official OBS Profiles guide explains what a Profile contains and notes that it does not include scenes.
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Back up the Scene Collection separately
A Scene Collection holds the scenes and sources used to build the OBS layout, plus Global Audio Sources. It is separate from the Profile, and it does not preserve output settings.
- In OBS, select the Scene Collection used by the always-on channel from the Scene Collection menu.
- Use the Scene Collection menu’s export option to save that collection as a separate backup. Keep it distinct from the Profile JSON rather than treating either file as a complete OBS backup.
- Record which Profile and Scene Collection were active together, especially if the system has several channel configurations.
Menu wording can change between versions, so verify the installed OBS interface. See the official Scene Collections guide for the collection’s scope.
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Copy the playlist media files
An OBS playlist source stores a configuration that points to media; it does not make a backup copy of each referenced video or audio file. Copy the source files themselves to the backup destination and preserve their organization where practical.
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- Copy those files in addition to the Profile and Scene Collection exports.
- If the playlist uses OBS’s VLC Video Source, make sure VLC is installed on the machine that will run the restored setup. The VLC source supports playlists and has loop and shuffle settings.
After copying, verify that the backup contains the actual media, not just shortcuts or references that point back to the original machine. OBS’s Media Sources and Sources Guide documentation describe media-source behavior and the VLC dependency.
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Moving to another computer or using Portable Mode
Do not assume that OBS Portable Mode packages media files with the scene setup. OBS states: “At this time, files used within the scene collection (images, media) are not portable, even when in portable mode.” When moving a portable instance, the Scene Collection JSON may need manual path edits, or the files must be available at a common path on each device.
After a move, open the collection and check every playlist source for missing-media warnings or unresolved paths. If the replacement computer uses a different folder structure, update the source paths in OBS or arrange the files at a consistent path. Consult OBS’s Running in Portable Mode guide; it does not establish one universal media directory or restore sequence for every operating system.
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Restore and test before going live again
- Install OBS on the recovery or replacement machine and install VLC if the setup uses VLC Video Source.
- Import the backed-up Profile using the Profile menu’s Import option, then select that Profile.
- Import or load the backed-up Scene Collection using the Scene Collection menu, then select it.
- Make the backed-up media files available and resolve any changed paths in the relevant sources.
- Check that the intended scenes and playlist source are present, playlist order is correct, and loop or shuffle behavior matches the intended setup.
- Test audio and video with a short recording or test stream before returning to the live schedule. OBS’s Quick Start Guide recommends testing settings for a few minutes before a first stream or recording; apply the same check after a restore.
Troubleshooting a backup or restore
- Scenes are missing after importing a Profile: Profiles do not store scenes. Import the separate Scene Collection.
- Output or stream settings are not the expected ones: Scene Collections do not store output settings. Select or import the correct Profile.
- A playlist source exists but its media is missing: The source configuration and media files are separate. Copy the original files and point the source to their new locations.
- Media paths fail on a different machine: The old paths may not exist on the new machine. Edit the paths or place media at a common path available on both devices.
- VLC playlist sources do not work: Confirm VLC is installed on the recovery machine.
- Video or audio behaves differently after restore: Check playlist order, loop or shuffle settings, and source resolution; then run a test before resuming the schedule.
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