To launch OBS with the right saved settings and looping scene, select the Profile and Scene Collection in OBS first, then start OBS with --profile and --collection. Add --scene to select a specific scene and --startstreaming only if you intend OBS to begin streaming automatically. The command below is an illustrative Windows-style example, not a tested command; OBS’s executable path and launch method vary by installation and platform.
What the Profile and Scene Collection control
OBS keeps stream and output configuration separate from the scenes and sources you use to build a broadcast. The OBS Project’s Profiles guide says Profiles hold most stream, video, and output settings, including the stream configuration and Video and Output settings. A Profile does not store scenes. The Scene Collections guide explains that collections store scenes, sources, and Global Audio Sources, but not output settings.
- Profile: use this to choose the saved stream destination or account and the video and output settings.
- Scene Collection: use this to choose the saved scenes and their sources, including the scene containing your looping video.
- Scene: optionally name the specific scene OBS should select when it opens.
This separation matters: choosing the correct collection does not also choose the matching output settings. Confirm both names and configurations before automating a launch.
Prepare a looping scene in OBS
Loop one local video file
- In OBS, select or create the Profile you intend to use. Set its stream destination or account, video, and output settings. OBS documents that Profiles can be duplicated and exported for backup in its Profiles guide.
- Select or create a Scene Collection for the loop setup, then create or select the scene you want OBS to show.
- In that scene, add a Media Source and select the local video file. In the Media Source properties, enable Loop. OBS’s Media Sources guide says Loop is off by default.
- Check the scene preview and confirm the file plays. If the video has audio, check that the source is producing audio in OBS as expected.
Loop a playlist
For a playlist rather than one file, add a VLC Video source and configure its playlist. Its Loop Playlist setting is on by default, according to OBS’s Media Sources guide. VLC must be installed, and its bitness must match OBS: 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. See the OBS Sources Guide for background on sources.
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| Input | OBS source | Loop setting | Dependency |
|---|---|---|---|
| One local file | Media Source | Enable Loop; default is Off | The media file must be available at the configured path |
| Playlist | VLC Video | Loop Playlist; default is On | VLC installed with matching bitness; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC |
Launch OBS with the saved configuration
OBS lists the --profile, --collection, --scene, and --startstreaming launch parameters on its Launch Parameters page. For a Windows-style installation, the pattern is:
obs64.exe --profile "YouTube Loop" --collection "Loop Scenes" --scene "Loop" --startstreaming
Replace the example names with the exact Profile, Scene Collection, and scene names in your OBS menus. Keep quotation marks around names that contain spaces. The command is an example of the documented parameter pattern, not confirmation that this exact executable name, path, or invocation works for every installation.
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- Create and select the Profile: configure the stream destination or connected account, video, and output settings you intend to use.
- Create and select the Scene Collection: include the loop scene and configured media source.
- Confirm the exact names: copy the Profile, collection, and optional scene names as OBS displays them.
- Add launch arguments: pass
--profile "Profile Name"and--collection "Collection Name". Add--scene "Scene Name"if you need to select a scene explicitly. - Choose whether to start streaming automatically: append
--startstreamingonly when automatic streaming is intended. Otherwise, open OBS and start the stream manually after checking it.
Set up a shortcut or platform-specific launch
Windows shortcut or scheduled launch
For a shortcut, make a copy of the OBS shortcut, open its properties, and append the launch arguments after the executable in the Target field. Preserve the executable path and separate it from the arguments with a space. For a scheduled or automated launch, set Start in to the folder containing obs64.exe, as described by OBS’s Launch Parameters guidance. The executable name or install location may differ on your system.
OBS marks --version as unavailable on Windows on that page, so do not use that switch as a Windows version check.
macOS
OBS documents passing launch arguments on macOS with open -a "OBS" --args, followed by the desired parameters. For example, the documented pattern can be adapted to include --profile, --collection, and optional scene or streaming arguments. OBS also describes using this approach in an Automator Run Shell Script action. Refer to the official Launch Parameters page for the platform example.
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Verify the stream before relying on automation
Launching OBS successfully does not prove the stream is live, the correct media is playing, or the content meets YouTube’s requirements. The OBS documentation cited here covers launch parameters and media looping; it does not establish YouTube’s current eligibility rules or limits for continuous looping. Check YouTube’s current requirements for your channel and content before planning an unattended broadcast.
- Confirm the intended Profile and Scene Collection loaded.
- Check the preview, selected scene, video playback, and audio.
- If you used
--startstreaming, confirm in OBS that the stream is actually active and verify the result on YouTube before leaving it unattended. - Review the rights and permissions for every video and audio track. A loop setting does not grant permission to rebroadcast copyrighted material.
- Do not assume launch flags schedule a YouTube broadcast, satisfy channel eligibility, or resolve policy issues.
Troubleshooting launch and playback problems
OBS opens the wrong Profile or collection
Check for spelling differences in the names and make sure each argument is paired with the correct value: --profile for the Profile and --collection for the Scene Collection. Keep quotes around names containing spaces. Remember that one does not select the other.
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The desired scene is not selected
Add --scene "Scene Name" using the exact scene name. Confirm that the scene belongs to the selected collection.
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The file does not play or the playlist fails
Check that the media file is reachable at its configured path and that the correct scene and source are active. For a single Media Source, verify Loop is enabled. For VLC Video, verify VLC is installed and matches OBS’s bitness; the OBS Media Sources documentation specifies 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS.
OBS opens but does not stream
Check that the selected Profile has the intended stream destination or account and that you included --startstreaming only if automatic start was intended. Then inspect OBS’s stream status and the YouTube end of the connection. A process launch alone is not confirmation of a live broadcast.
A copied setup loses its media
OBS portable mode changes where configuration is loaded from; it does not make scene collection media files portable. OBS’s Running in Portable Mode page also says portable mode is unsupported on macOS and Linux. Do not use portable mode as a presumed fix for missing media paths; ensure the files remain available at the paths configured by the sources.
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