To start an OBS stream after a Hetzner Windows VPS reboots, configure three separate parts: Windows must launch OBS, OBS must launch streaming, and YouTube must allow the incoming encoder feed to start the broadcast. OBS documents the --startstreaming launch parameter; for automated Windows launches, it also requires the working directory to point to the folder containing obs64.exe. A scheduled YouTube event may still require someone to check its preview and click Go live, so test your exact stream setup before relying on unattended starts.
What automatic startup does—and does not—mean
There are three independent links in the startup chain:
- Windows launches OBS. A startup shortcut or a Task Scheduler task can start the program after Windows starts or a user signs in.
- OBS starts sending video. The OBS launch parameter
--startstreamingtells OBS to begin streaming when it opens. - YouTube starts the broadcast. The stream’s YouTube settings determine whether encoder activity can start the broadcast automatically. This is separate from starting OBS.
If any link is missing, the VPS may be running while the YouTube broadcast is not. In particular, launching OBS does not by itself establish that a scheduled YouTube event will go live without a human action.
Prepare the YouTube stream and OBS
Copy the correct stream URL and key
In YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room, create or select the stream you intend to use. Get the stream URL and stream key from the stream’s settings, then enter them in OBS’s streaming configuration. YouTube explains its stream settings and the encoder workflow.
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Treat the stream key like a password: do not share it, include it in a screenshot, or expose it in public logs. If it is disclosed, replace it in YouTube and update OBS with the new key.
Choose YouTube auto-start behavior
Check the selected stream’s options in YouTube Studio. YouTube says that when auto-start and auto-stop are enabled, the encoder can start or stop the stream. These broadcast controls do not launch OBS; Windows and OBS still need their own startup settings. Reused stream settings can carry these selections forward, so confirm them on the actual stream you plan to automate.
For a scheduled encoder event, YouTube’s documented process includes waiting for the encoder preview and selecting Go live. Do not assume that enabling auto-start bypasses this step for every event or channel configuration. The YouTube encoder workflow describes the preview and go-live process.
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Make OBS start streaming when it opens
OBS documents --startstreaming as the launch parameter for automatically starting a stream. Its Windows guidance for scheduled or other automated launches also says to set the working directory—shown as Start in in shortcut properties—to the folder containing obs64.exe. See OBS launch parameters.
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First locate the OBS executable on your VPS. The exact installation path can vary, so use the folder where OBS is actually installed rather than assuming a path. The executable is commonly named obs64.exe.
Choose how Windows launches OBS
| Method | Best fit | Important consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Startup shortcut | A setup that runs OBS in the signed-in Windows user’s interactive session. | OBS needs a user sign-in to reach the startup folder. Set the shortcut’s target to OBS with --startstreaming, and set Start in to the OBS installation folder. |
| Task Scheduler | A setup needing a configured trigger or restart behavior. | Set the program, argument, and Start in directory explicitly. The right task options depend on the Windows Server version and OBS sources; test whether OBS can access the required interactive desktop and capture sources. |
Option A: Use a sign-in startup shortcut
- Find the OBS installation folder and confirm the path to
obs64.exe. - Create a shortcut that launches that executable with
--startstreamingas its argument. The target should resolve to the executable plus the argument, for example:"C:pathtoobs64.exe" --startstreaming. Replace the example path with the actual path on your VPS. - Open the shortcut’s properties. Set Start in to the OBS installation folder—the directory containing
obs64.exe. - Place the shortcut in the startup folder for the Windows account that will run OBS. This method starts OBS when that user signs in; it does not, by itself, sign the user in after a reboot.
- Sign out and back in to test the shortcut before relying on it after a restart.
Option B: Configure a Task Scheduler task
Task Scheduler offers more control over triggers, but there is no single task configuration that is correct for every Windows Server version and OBS source type. In the task’s action, identify the OBS executable as the program, put --startstreaming in the arguments field, and set Start in to the directory containing obs64.exe. Choose a trigger and sign-in behavior appropriate to your server and whether OBS needs an interactive desktop.
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Do not assume that a task running before a user signs in can capture an interactive desktop, game window, or other user-session source. Test from a reboot under the exact account and task settings you intend to keep. If the stream depends on desktop capture, verify that source is available after the task launches.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check the Hetzner and Windows setup
These steps assume a Windows installation on a Hetzner Cloud server, not every product Hetzner offers. Hetzner’s Windows on Cloud instructions describe manual Windows installation for eligible licenses. Hetzner says Windows Server is not supported on CAX Cloud servers using Arm64. Confirm that your server type, Windows version, license, and installation method match the relevant Hetzner guidance.
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Hetzner describes Cloud servers as virtual machines; its Windows installation information does not establish OBS performance, a streaming bandwidth guarantee, GPU availability, or unattended-reboot reliability. Check the resources and network behavior of your own server with the scene and video you plan to stream.
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Test the full reboot-to-broadcast chain
- Test OBS on the VPS before automating it. Confirm that the intended scene, media, audio, and YouTube connection work. OBS recommends testing settings before the first real stream in its quick start guide.
- Use a private or unlisted test where appropriate. Verify that the correct stream appears in YouTube Studio and that the preview receives the expected video and audio.
- Restart Windows. Observe whether the chosen launch method actually starts OBS under the intended account.
- Confirm the encoder connection. Check OBS’s streaming state and YouTube’s Live Control Room preview and stream health. YouTube’s live streaming tips recommend preparing the encoder in advance, checking the preview, testing realistic audio and video, and monitoring stream health.
- Verify the broadcast state. For a scheduled event, determine whether that exact setup starts the broadcast automatically or waits for a person to choose Go live. Repeat the test after changing OBS arguments, YouTube stream settings, or the Windows launch method.
Troubleshoot common startup failures
- OBS opens but does not stream: Check that the launch arguments contain
--startstreaming, that OBS has the intended stream URL and key, and that the saved profile is the one being used. - OBS does not open from an automated launch: Confirm the executable path and set Start in to the folder containing
obs64.exe, as required by OBS’s automated-launch guidance. - YouTube receives video but the broadcast is not live: Check auto-start settings for the selected stream. If it is a scheduled event, inspect the Live Control Room preview and whether it is waiting for Go live.
- The task starts OBS but a capture source is blank: Check whether that source needs the signed-in user’s interactive desktop. A task that runs outside that session may not have access to it; test with the intended session and trigger.
- YouTube rejects the connection or the feed is unexpected: Verify that OBS is using the correct stream URL and current key for the selected YouTube stream. Keep the key private and replace it if it was exposed.
- The stream works manually but not after reboot: Test the complete chain after a real Windows restart, including sign-in behavior, OBS launch, preview, and broadcast state. A successful manual start does not verify the automated trigger.
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