How to back up and move OBS to a new installation

Tips:

• If you’re using any OBS plugins, make sure to back them up as well.
• If you’re having any trouble with your new OBS installation, try restoring your backup files from Step 3.
• Make sure to backup all media files from all your scenes to a backup location — and restore them to the same location on your new installation (if new computer or new installation of your operating system)

Step 1: Download and install OBS on your new system.

If you don’t already have OBS installed on your new system, download and install it from the official OBS Studio website (https://obsproject.com/).

Step 2: Locate your OBS data and configuration files.

Open OBS on your old installation and ensure that it’s closed properly. Navigate to the OBS Studio folder, which typically can be found in the following directories based on your operating system:

• Windows: C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\obs-studio or %appdata%/obs-studio
• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/obs-studio
• Linux: ~/.config/obs-studio

Note: AppData or Application Support folders might be hidden, so make sure to enable “Show hidden files” in your operating system settings if you can’t find the OBS Studio folder.

Step 3: Backup your OBS configuration and profile files.

Copy the entire OBS Studio folder to a safe location, such as an external hard drive or cloud storage. This will ensure you have a complete backup of your OBS settings.

Step 4: Backup your scenes and profiles.

Inside the OBS Studio folder, look for subfolders named “basic” or “profile,” depending on your setup. These folders contain your scene collections and profiles. Copy these folders to your backup location as well.

Step 5: Move your backup to your new installation.

Transfer the OBS Studio folder and the scene/profile folders from your backup location to the same locations on your new OBS installation. This is typically the same directory structure mentioned in Step 2.

Step 6: Open OBS on your new installation.

Launch OBS on your new installation.

Your scenes, sources, profiles, and settings should now be present, exactly as they were on your old installation.

Step 7: Adjust settings if necessary.

Double-check your settings and configurations to ensure everything is working as expected. You may need to reconfigure some settings, such as your stream or recording settings if you’ve changed your hardware or preferences.

Step 8: Test and verify.

Run some test recordings or streams to make sure everything is working as intended.

I hope this helps!