Run Program on Scene Change in OBS Advanced Scene Switcher

Automating your stream setup can save time and improve production quality. This guide explains how to configure the Advanced Scene Switcher plugin in OBS Studio to automatically launch an executable (.exe) file or application whenever you switch to a specific scene. By setting up simple macro rules within the plugin, you can seamlessly integrate external tools, overlay controllers, or specialized software directly into your streaming workflow.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have OBS Studio installed along with the Advanced Scene Switcher plugin. If you do not have the plugin, download and install it from the official OBS Resources forum.

Step 1: Open Advanced Scene Switcher

  1. Launch OBS Studio.
  2. In the top menu bar, click on Tools.
  3. Select Advanced Scene Switcher from the dropdown menu.

Step 2: Ensure the Switcher is Active

  1. In the Advanced Scene Switcher window, navigate to the General tab.
  2. Check the State of the plugin. If it says “Inactive,” click the Start button to enable it.

Step 3: Create a New Macro

To trigger an external application based on a scene change, you need to create a custom macro rule. 1. Click on the Macro tab at the top of the window. 2. Click the + (plus) button at the bottom-left of the macro list to add a new macro. 3. Give your macro a descriptive name (e.g., Launch Program on Scene Change) and press Enter.

Step 4: Configure the Trigger Condition (The “If” Statement)

  1. In the macro editor section on the right, find the first dropdown menu under the green checkmark (the “If” section).
  2. Set the dropdown menus to read: If -> Scene -> [Your Scene Name] -> is active. (Replace “[Your Scene Name]” with the specific OBS scene you want to trigger the program launch).

Step 5: Configure the Action (The “Then” Statement)

  1. Locate the action section below the trigger condition (the “Then” section).
  2. Set the dropdown menus to read: Then -> System -> run.
  3. In the text field that appears, enter the full file path to your executable (e.g., C:\Program Files\YourApp\application.exe). You can also click the Browse button next to the field to locate and select the executable file directly from your computer.
  4. (Optional) If your program requires specific command-line arguments to launch, enter them in the arguments field provided.

Step 6: Prevent Repeat Launches

By default, the plugin might attempt to launch the executable continuously while the scene is active. To prevent this: 1. Look at the bottom of the macro settings panel. 2. Ensure that Perform actions only on state change is checked. This setting ensures the executable only runs once at the exact moment the scene becomes active.