Yes—on Windows, you can have OBS launch and begin streaming after a restart by adding --startstreaming to its shortcut and placing that shortcut in the Startup folder, or by using Task Scheduler. But this only starts OBS; it does not guarantee that the internet is ready, the video source is working, or YouTube is still accepting the same broadcast. Test each failure case before relying on an unattended stream.
First identify what actually failed
“The stream crashed” can mean several different things. Restarting OBS may address an exited OBS process, but it is not a universal fix for every break in a 24/7 stream.
- OBS exited or crashed: A Windows startup shortcut or scheduled task can launch it again. That does not, by itself, establish that a watchdog will detect and recover every crash.
- OBS is open, but the music or media source stopped: The process can remain running while its source fails. Diagnose the source and test whether reopening OBS restores it.
- OBS is open, but YouTube is not receiving video: A running OBS window is not proof that viewers are getting a live feed. Check YouTube Studio as well as OBS.
- The network was not ready after a reboot: OBS may attempt to connect before the router or other network equipment has recovered. A failed first attempt may not be handled by auto-reconnect.
- YouTube ended the broadcast: The scheduled event’s settings and lifecycle can determine whether a later encoder connection resumes that event or requires a different action.
An OBS forum thread about a continuous camera stream includes user-reported examples of a source stopping and YouTube disconnecting while OBS appeared to remain live. These reports are anecdotal: they identify useful failure cases to check, not how often they occur or what caused them in every setup.
Make OBS start streaming when Windows launches
An OBS forum reply dated June 6, 2024, recommends adding the --startstreaming launch argument to a Windows shortcut. The option tells OBS to begin streaming as it starts. Use the approach that matches how you want Windows to launch OBS:
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Option 1: Put a configured shortcut in Startup
- Find the OBS shortcut you intend to use. If you do not have one, create a shortcut to the OBS executable.
- Open the shortcut’s properties. In its Target field, append a space followed by
--startstreamingafter the executable path. For example, if the target ends inobs64.exe, it should end inobs64.exe --startstreaming. Keep the existing path and its quotation marks intact. - Apply the change and use the shortcut to launch OBS once while you are present. Confirm that OBS opens and starts the intended stream. If it does not, correct the target or check the OBS launch behavior before putting it into unattended use.
- Place that shortcut in the Windows Startup folder if you want OBS to launch when the relevant Windows user signs in. Startup-folder launch is tied to sign-in; it is not the same as a task configured to run at system startup.
Option 2: Use Task Scheduler
Task Scheduler is an alternative when you need to control the trigger or launch conditions more explicitly. Create a task that starts the configured OBS shortcut or OBS executable with --startstreaming, then choose and test the trigger and sign-in conditions appropriate to the PC. The forum guidance recommends Task Scheduler as an option, but does not provide a single verified set of current Windows task settings for every machine. Confirm the task actually runs in your intended unattended scenario.
Allow for a slow network after a power failure
After power returns, the PC can be ready before the modem, router, or other network equipment. The June 6, 2024, forum reply warns that auto-reconnect may not work if OBS’s initial connection attempt fails. Simply adding --startstreaming does not solve that startup-order problem.
- Use a tested delay or retry if your network commonly comes up after Windows. A fixed delay gives equipment time to start, but it does not prove that internet access is available.
- For a stronger check, wait for connectivity before launching or retrying OBS. Use a script or other mechanism that checks network availability, and verify what it does when the connection remains down.
- Test after an actual reboot or controlled network interruption. Check that OBS launches, that it connects after the network returns, and that YouTube receives the feed.
There is no source-validated universal watchdog recipe here. The right recovery method depends on whether your failure is an OBS crash, a stopped source, a delayed network, or a YouTube broadcast ending.
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Check YouTube’s scheduled-broadcast settings
YouTube’s encoder controls include auto-start and auto-stop. Auto-start and auto-stop control whether streaming from the encoder starts or stops the live event; reusing stream settings also copies those choices. Confirm the current settings for the specific event in YouTube Studio rather than assuming an OBS restart will revive it.
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An OBS community guide last updated October 8, 2021, describes scheduled broadcasts where encoder streaming starts the event. It says disabling auto-stop can allow a later encoder reconnection to continue the broadcast, but also warns that a broadcast may eventually end after multiple hours without incoming streaming. Its interface instructions may be stale, so check the current YouTube Studio labels and the event’s actual status.
Protect and update the stream key
YouTube uses a stream key as credential and connection information for an encoder. Keep it private. If it is exposed, reset it in YouTube Live Control Room and update the key in OBS before reconnecting. A valid key alone does not establish that the scheduled event is still available to continue.
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Test recovery one failure at a time
Before leaving a 24/7 music stream unattended, use an unlisted test event and record what happens in your own setup. Test each case separately so you know which part recovered:
- Normal launch: Open OBS with the configured shortcut and confirm that the intended stream reaches YouTube.
- Network unavailable at launch: Start OBS while the internet connection is down, restore connectivity, and see whether your retry or network-readiness approach connects.
- OBS process termination: Close or terminate OBS in a controlled test and check whether your chosen Windows launch or recovery mechanism starts it again.
- Source loss: Stop or interrupt the music/media source in a controlled test and confirm whether the source resumes; do not infer source recovery from OBS still being open.
- Broadcast lifecycle: Check what YouTube does when encoder streaming stops and resumes under the event’s current auto-start and auto-stop settings.
- Viewer-side result: Verify that YouTube is actually receiving the stream, not merely that OBS reports itself open or streaming.
Do not depend on a shortcut setting alone as proof of reliability. Keep OBS logs and note whether each test ended with OBS running, the source playing, and the intended YouTube event receiving video.
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When a UPS may help
A UPS sized for the actual load and desired runtime may bridge a brief loss of mains power for the streaming PC and network equipment. It does not fix an OBS crash, an internet outage, a failed initial connection, or a YouTube event that has ended. Treat it as limited power protection, not an automatic stream-recovery system.
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When to consider a Linux FFmpeg pipeline
If you are willing to replace the OBS desktop workflow, the independent YouTube AutoEncoder project documents an unattended RTSP-camera pipeline using FFmpeg under systemd, intended for Debian, Raspberry Pi OS, and other small Linux hosts. Its documentation describes process and media-progress supervision and YouTube broadcast-lifecycle handling. This is a separate architecture—not an OBS plugin or a one-click Windows fix. Before adopting it, check the project’s current maintenance, security, and compatibility for your setup.
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If your 24/7 YouTube music stream uses uploaded recordings rather than a live camera, StreamNeo is another option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded video from the cloud, so your computer and home connection do not have to stay on.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does OBS’s auto-reconnect guarantee that a stream will resume after a power cut?
No. In particular, the Windows forum guidance warns that a failed initial connection while the network is still starting may not be recovered by auto-reconnect.
Can I use the same OBS restart method for a live camera feed?
The Windows launch steps can start OBS, but they do not establish that a camera source will recover. Test source recovery separately; the cloud option described above is for uploaded videos, not live camera streaming.
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