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Export both your active OBS Profile and Scene Collection, then back up the loop video and other source files separately. Store the exports and media somewhere other than the streaming computer. A Profile preserves most stream, video and output settings; a Scene Collection preserves scenes, sources and global audio sources. Neither export replaces the other, and neither packages the media files your scenes use.
What to back up—and why
- OBS Profile: Stream, video and output settings. Exporting only this does not preserve your scenes and sources. OBS describes a Profile as saving most OBS settings, primarily those related to outputs. OBS Profiles documentation.
- OBS Scene Collection: Scenes, sources and global audio sources. It does not preserve your output settings. OBS Scene Collections documentation.
- Media and other assets: The loop video, images, audio and any other files referenced by sources. The configuration can import while those files remain missing or at old paths.
- Stream key: Treat it as a password. OBS exports may contain stream credentials, so protect them like sensitive account information.
Think of recovery as restoring three things: settings, scene structure and the files those scenes point to. A successful import alone does not confirm that the restored stream is ready.
Export the OBS Profile
- In OBS Studio, open the Profile menu and choose the export option for the active Profile.
- Save the resulting JSON file with a clear name, such as OBS-Profile-ChannelName-2026-10-03.json. Include a date and, if useful, the computer or channel identity.
- Store the file outside the computer you are protecting. A removable drive is one option; a separate managed backup destination is another.
The Profile export is a configuration backup, not a copy of the loop video or every other asset used by your stream.
Export the Scene Collection
- Open the Scene Collection menu and export the active collection separately.
- Give it a descriptive name and date. If you use multiple collections, export each one and label it so you can identify the right scenes during recovery.
- Copy the export to the same separate backup destination as the Profile, or to another protected location.
Keep both exports. A Scene Collection is not a substitute for the Profile, and a Profile is not a substitute for the Scene Collection.
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Back up the loop video and other source files
Copy the loop video and every other file used by your OBS sources—such as images, audio tracks and overlays—to storage outside the streaming computer. Preserve the folder structure and filenames where practical, and note where the files are meant to live. OBS configuration exports do not make referenced media portable; even OBS Portable Mode on Windows does not bundle those assets. OBS Portable Mode documentation.
A USB flash drive can be a convenient destination, but OBS does not require one. For an important continuous stream, consider keeping more than one independent copy of the exports and source media.
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Restore OBS after a reinstall or computer failure
- Install OBS Studio on the replacement or repaired computer.
- Import the saved Profile and Scene Collection separately using their respective OBS menus.
- Check the stream destination and key, video and output settings, scenes, sources and audio configuration.
- Restore the loop video and other assets, then inspect each media source in OBS. If files moved, browse to the restored location and confirm the source resolves correctly.
- If you changed computers or hardware, test device sources and encoder behavior rather than assuming they will work as before.
- Before returning to the scheduled loop, open YouTube Live Control Room, check the stream preview and monitor the stream for picture, sound and quality. YouTube recommends preview checks and ongoing quality monitoring: YouTube live-streaming tips.
An imported configuration is not proof that YouTube is receiving the intended picture and sound. Verify the actual preview before relying on the restored setup.
Protect the YouTube stream key
YouTube describes a stream key as the password and address for your stream. Do not post OBS exports publicly or send them casually: they may contain credentials. If you believe a key has been exposed, reset it in YouTube Live Control Room and update the key in OBS before streaming. See YouTube stream settings and key management.
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Do not rely on the YouTube replay as your only archive
YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours can be automatically archived, recommends keeping a local archive, and warns that streams exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all. The 12-hour guidance is about YouTube archiving, not a guarantee that a particular replay will be complete. For a loop stream, retain your original local video and verify any local recording you choose to make. YouTube archive guidance.
Which backup method should you use?
| Method | What it preserves | Important limitation | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile export | Stream, video and output settings | Does not include scenes | One essential part of every OBS configuration backup |
| Scene Collection export | Scenes, sources and global audio sources | Does not include output settings or the media files sources reference | The other essential part of the backup |
| Separate media copy | Loop video and other source assets | You must restore files and check paths | Making scenes usable after a restore |
| Settings-folder copy | A broader copy of local OBS configuration | Folder paths depend on installation and platform; it is an additional recovery copy, not a replacement for exports | Extra protection for users who want a copy of local configuration |
| Windows Portable Mode | Keeps configuration beside the OBS application for relocation or separate instances | Does not bundle referenced media and is not supported by OBS on macOS or Linux | A Windows deployment arrangement, not a complete backup plan |
For an additional local configuration copy, OBS provides File > Show Settings Folder to locate the settings folder. Paths vary by platform and installation, so the in-app export options are the clearer baseline; retain the folder copy only as an extra. OBS forum discussion.
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Troubleshooting a restore
Scenes appear, but the loop video is missing
The Scene Collection records the source setup, not a portable copy of the media. Restore the video file and relink the media source to its current location in OBS.
Scenes work, but the stream settings are wrong
The Scene Collection does not contain output settings. Import the matching Profile and check the stream destination, key, video and output values.
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The Profile or Scene Collection does not appear as expected
Confirm that you imported the correct export through its matching OBS menu. Profile and Scene Collection exports are separate; check the filenames and dates if you have several backups.
The preview is black, silent or not the intended loop
Inspect the active scene and its sources, confirm that media paths resolve, and check audio sources. Then verify the preview in YouTube Live Control Room before resuming the scheduled stream.
The stream key may have been exposed
Reset the key in YouTube Live Control Room, replace it in OBS and keep the updated configuration export private.
Or let it run in the cloud
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