How to Launch OBS Studio with Command Line Parameters

Launching OBS Studio with command-line parameters allows you to automate your streaming and recording workflows by bypassing manual setup steps. By appending specific arguments to the OBS executable, you can force the program to start recording instantly, load a specific profile, choose a designated scene collection, or run in portable mode. This article provides a direct guide on how to configure these parameters on Windows and macOS, followed by a list of the most useful commands.

How to Use Parameters on Windows

On Windows, the easiest way to launch OBS Studio with command-line parameters is by editing a desktop shortcut.

1. Locate your OBS Studio shortcut on your desktop. If you do not have one, find the obs64.exe file (usually located in C:\Program Files\obs-studio\bin\64bit\), right-click it, and select Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).
2. Right-click the shortcut and select Properties.
3. In the Properties window, find the Target field. It will look similar to this:
   "C:\Program Files\obs-studio\bin\64bit\obs64.exe"
4. Place your cursor at the very end of the text in the Target field, add a space, and type your desired command-line parameters. For example, to start streaming automatically, change it to:
   "C:\Program Files\obs-studio\bin\64bit\obs64.exe" --startstreaming
5. Click Apply and then OK. Clicking this shortcut will now launch OBS with your specified settings.

Alternatively, you can run these commands directly from the Command Prompt by navigating to the OBS directory and typing obs64.exe followed by your parameters.

How to Use Parameters on macOS

To launch OBS Studio with parameters on macOS, you must use the Terminal application.

1. Open the Terminal app.
2. Type the path to the OBS executable, followed by --args and your desired parameters. For example:
   /Applications/OBS.app/Contents/MacOS/OBS --args --startrecording
3. Press Enter to launch OBS Studio with the active parameters.

Common OBS Studio Command-Line Parameters

Here are the most useful command-line arguments you can use to customize your OBS Studio startup:

• --startstreaming: Automatically starts streaming as soon as OBS launches.
• --startrecording: Automatically starts recording as soon as OBS launches.
• --startvirtualcam: Activates the OBS Virtual Camera immediately upon startup.
• --profile "<Profile Name>": Launches OBS using a specific profile. Replace <Profile Name> with the actual name of your profile in quotation marks.
• --collection "<Collection Name>": Launches OBS using a specific scene collection. Replace <Collection Name> with your designated collection name.
• --minimize-to-tray: Starts OBS minimized in the system tray instead of opening the main window.
• --portable: Runs OBS Studio in portable mode, saving all settings, profiles, and scenes within the OBS installation folder rather than the system app data folder.