To keep OBS media sources working after a Linux server restart, back up the Scene Collection and Profile separately, keep every media file available at the exact path configured in OBS, and make sure OBS starts with the same Linux account and runtime environment as before. Then test the setup after a reboot before relying on it for a YouTube broadcast. A source’s playback options do not restore missing scene settings, files, or mounts.
What must persist across a restart
An OBS setup depends on more than the media file. The Scene Collection contains scenes and sources; the Profile contains streaming, video, and output settings. Local media files are separate dependencies: a saved source configuration does not make its referenced file available after reboot.
- Scene Collection: the scene and source layout, including Media Sources.
- Profile: settings such as stream destination, video, and output configuration.
- Media assets: the actual video or audio files, at paths OBS can access.
- Runtime context: the Linux user and environment in which the production OBS process runs, including access to required storage mounts.
OBS Project’s “Sources Guide” (published 2022-01-11) describes scenes and sources; its “Profiles” guide (published 2022-01-14) explains that Profiles hold stream, video, and output settings. Exporting a Profile does not back up the Scene Collection.
Back up both parts of the OBS configuration
- Export the Profile. In OBS, use the Profile menu’s export option to save the Profile settings as a JSON file. The exact menu wording can vary by OBS version.
- Export the Scene Collection separately. Use the Scene Collection menu’s export option to save the scenes and sources. Do not treat the Profile export as a substitute.
- Store the exports somewhere persistent. Keep copies outside any temporary, disposable, or ephemeral runtime directory. If the server fails, you need to be able to retrieve both exports.
- Record which Profile and Scene Collection the live setup uses. This makes it easier to spot a reboot that opened OBS with a different collection or Profile.
OBS Project’s “Profiles” guide documents Profile export for backup or use on another OBS installation. Its “Sources Guide” covers the separate scene-and-source structure. Menu labels can change between releases, so if they differ, look for export in the Profile and Scene Collection menus rather than relying on one fixed menu path.
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Check every media file path and mount
Verify the configured file
- Open each Media Source’s properties and note the selected local file path.
- Confirm that the file exists at that exact path after the server restarts—not merely that a copy exists somewhere else.
- Confirm that the Linux user running OBS can read the file and its parent directories.
- If the media is stored on a mounted disk or network share, confirm that the mount is present and usable before OBS loads the scene.
OBS Project’s “Media Sources” article (published 2022-01-11) describes Media Source as a way to play supported local audio and video files. A scene configuration can refer to a file without containing that file. OBS’s portable-mode guidance likewise warns that files used in a Scene Collection are not made portable by moving the configuration.
Do not assume one universal Linux path or startup recipe
OBS may be installed through different distribution packages or run in a container or Flatpak, and the appropriate configuration location and launch method can depend on that setup. Find the configuration and Scene Collection used by the actual OBS process rather than assuming a path from another machine. OBS Project’s “Linux Installation” article (published 2021-08-25) points to Linux installation options, but there is no single startup recipe established for every package, service account, display session, and mount arrangement.
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If OBS is launched automatically, verify which user starts it and what configuration, permissions, display/session environment, and storage mounts are available to that process. A service or container may not inherit the same account and environment as an OBS session opened manually. Do not copy a generic systemd unit without checking the installed package and the server’s actual runtime needs.
Restore and verify the setup after reboot
- Restart the server and allow required local or network storage mounts to become available.
- Launch OBS using the same production method and account that will be used for the YouTube setup.
- Check that OBS loaded the expected Scene Collection and Profile. If the scene layout is blank or unfamiliar, diagnose the configuration identity before changing individual sources.
- Inspect each Media Source. Confirm the configured path, file availability, read access, and playback.
- Preview or record a short test and check both video and audio. OBS Project’s “Quick Start Guide” (published 2021-08-25) recommends testing settings before streaming; a post-reboot test applies that same principle to the restarted environment.
- Only rely on the setup for a real broadcast after the test succeeds in the same runtime context.
This verifies that OBS can load the configuration and play the assets after a reboot. It does not establish whether YouTube will resume the same live broadcast after an outage, preserve the same event, or allow reconnection for a particular interval. Treat YouTube broadcast continuity as a separate question; do not infer it from successful local playback.
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Playback settings that are not persistence fixes
- Loop repeats a file after playback reaches its end. It does not save a Scene Collection or restore an unavailable file.
- Restart playback when source becomes active restarts playback when the source becomes visible in the current scene. It is not an OBS startup or recovery mechanism.
- Close file when inactive unloads the file while the source is hidden or off the current scene, which can add a delay when it reloads. It does not change the configured path.
- Browser Source refresh controls apply to web content sources. They do not repair a local Media Source path or replace the need to preserve the Scene Collection.
- Portable mode is not supported on Linux according to OBS Project’s “Running in Portable Mode” guidance (published 2024-07-23). Do not base a Linux-server recovery plan on it.
Troubleshoot by symptom
| What you see | Likely area to check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| OBS opens with missing scenes or a different layout | Wrong Scene Collection or a different configuration context | Check which collection the running process loaded and whether it runs as the expected Linux user. Restore the separately exported Scene Collection if needed. |
| Scenes are present, but a Media Source is blank | File path, file access, file format, or mount readiness | Check the source’s configured path, confirm the file exists there, verify OBS can read it, and ensure any required mount is available. |
| The source plays, but starts at an unexpected point or does not repeat | Source playback behavior | Review the Media Source’s playback options, including Loop and Restart playback when source becomes active. These affect playback, not file or configuration persistence. |
| Manual launch works, but the post-reboot launch does not | Different user, environment, permissions, or startup timing | Compare the manual and automated launch contexts. Check access to configuration and media, and whether storage is mounted before OBS starts. |
| OBS plays correctly, but the YouTube broadcast does not continue as expected | Broadcast continuity rather than local Media Source loading | Do not assume a reboot test proves YouTube will resume the same event. Check the current YouTube and OBS behavior for the specific outage and setup rather than relying on an unverified reconnect interval. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep uploaded video looping on a YouTube channel, rather than to restore a full OBS production environment after a Linux reboot, StreamNeo is a cloud alternative. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. StreamNeo loops uploaded videos from the cloud, so your computer and home connection do not have to stay on. It streams to YouTube only and does not go live from a camera.
- One flat price per slot for the uploaded quality, up to 4K 60fps, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
- Automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free, with no card required; one free day per account.
- Monthly billing is $9.99 per month.
For this specific use, compare the two approaches carefully: OBS remains the path for a broader live production setup, while StreamNeo is for keeping uploaded videos live on YouTube from the cloud. Start your free StreamNeo day.
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