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To restart a YouTube Live loop after OBS crashes, use an external process supervisor to detect that OBS has exited and launch it again with the right profile, scene, and stream settings. OBS’s built-in reconnection behavior can address a dropped connection while OBS is still running; it cannot relaunch a crashed OBS process. A restart also does not guarantee that YouTube will resume the same live event, so test the full recovery path before relying on it unattended.

Know which failure you are recovering from

Three different mechanisms are often confused:

  • Process relaunch: An external supervisor detects that OBS has exited and starts it again. This is the mechanism needed after a process crash.
  • Connection reconnection: OBS attempts to recover when the encoder is still running but has lost its connection to YouTube’s ingest server. It cannot act after OBS itself has stopped. See OBS connection troubleshooting.
  • Backup-encoder failover: A separate encoder can provide another feed if the primary encoder fails. This is a continuity arrangement, not a way to relaunch OBS. YouTube recommends testing the rollover rather than assuming it works; see its live-streaming tips.

These layers can complement one another, but none proves that a restarted OBS session will rejoin the same YouTube event without interruption.

Prepare OBS and YouTube for a restart

Keep the stream configuration available

Use a process supervisor appropriate to your operating system, configured to launch OBS with the profile and scene collection used by the loop and to restart it after an unexpected exit. The exact setup depends on your operating system, OBS installation, user session, and stream configuration. The official guidance cited here does not establish a universal Windows, macOS, or Linux recipe, so do not assume a task scheduler, service manager, or restart delay will work unchanged on every machine.

Confirm that the restarted OBS instance can access the correct YouTube stream key and server settings. YouTube describes the stream key as the information that tells an encoder where to send its feed and allows stream settings to be reused. Treat the key like a credential: do not expose it in logs, screenshots, or scripts shared publicly, and rotate it if you believe it has been compromised. See YouTube’s live-stream settings guidance.

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Set the encoder for 4K at 60 fps

YouTube’s encoder guidance recommends CBR, RTMP or RTMPS, up to 60 fps, and a two-second keyframe interval (no more than four seconds). For 4K/2160p at 60 fps, its recommended bitrate depends on the codec:

Codec YouTube-recommended bitrate at 4K/2160p, 60 fps Minimum listed by YouTube
AV1 or H.265 (HEVC) 35 Mbps 10 Mbps
H.264 50 Mbps 14 Mbps

These are YouTube recommendations and listed minimums, not a guarantee that your computer or internet connection can sustain the feed. The retrieved YouTube help page does not state a publication year. Check the current YouTube encoder settings for your chosen codec and output configuration.

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Configure and test automatic relaunch

  1. Identify the OBS launch configuration. Record which OBS installation, profile, and scene collection the loop needs. Confirm that the stream key and output settings are available to the account or session that will start OBS.
  2. Set an external supervisor to relaunch OBS after an unexpected exit. Choose a process-supervision method supported by your operating system and configure it to launch the intended OBS setup. Because there is no universal official recipe in the cited guidance, verify the behavior on your own system rather than assuming a particular scheduler, service, or delay is correct.
  3. Run a controlled failure test. Use an unlisted or private test stream where appropriate. Start the loop, force an OBS process exit, and confirm that the supervisor opens the correct OBS setup and that OBS begins sending the feed again.
  4. Check YouTube Live Control Room. Confirm whether the feed has returned and whether the event is still active. Do not treat OBS reopening as proof that viewers are receiving the stream or that YouTube has resumed the same event.
  5. Repeat the test after relevant changes. Recheck the full path if you change the OBS installation, profile, scene collection, stream key, encoder, or machine session. The useful result is verified end-to-end behavior, not merely a successful application launch.

YouTube advises previewing and monitoring stream health. For a separate backup encoder, test by stopping the primary encoder or disconnecting its Ethernet connection and confirm that playback actually rolls over, as described in its streaming tips.

Troubleshoot a restart that does not restore the feed

What you observe What to check
OBS does not reopen Check whether the supervisor detects an unexpected OBS exit and whether it launches the intended OBS installation in the expected user session. The exact checks depend on your operating system and supervisor.
OBS opens, but YouTube receives no feed Check the selected stream key and server, encoder output settings, and YouTube Live Control Room’s stream-health messages.
The feed starts, then drops again Check CPU load, internet upload capacity, and connection quality. YouTube’s troubleshooting guidance recommends updating encoder software and testing outbound connection quality.
YouTube shows a connection or ingest problem Check the network-to-ingest path and OBS connection behavior. These are connection issues, distinct from a process crash.
The backup encoder is ready, but viewers do not roll over Test the actual failover path by stopping the primary encoder or disconnecting its Ethernet connection, then verify playback. Having a second encoder configured does not by itself establish that rollover works.

For YouTube-specific checks involving encoder startup, stream key, software, output, CPU, and connection, see YouTube stream troubleshooting.

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