How to Save Different Settings with OBS Profiles
An OBS Profile saves settings for how OBS streams or records, including the streaming destination, video settings, and output settings. Use profiles when you need to switch between setups without manually changing those settings each time.
Profiles do not save your scenes or their sources. OBS uses Scene Collections for those.
When a separate profile is useful
You might want one profile for recording content and another for live streaming. Or you may need different output settings for two platforms that have different requirements.
For example, you could name your profiles Live Stream and Content Recording. The names are only for your organization; they do not apply any settings automatically.
If you stream on more than one platform, a separate profile can help keep each destination and its output settings together. It does not make OBS broadcast to several platforms at once.
Create a new profile
- 1.Open the Profile menu at the top of OBS.
- 2.Choose New.
- 3.Enter a clear name and confirm.
- 4.Configure the Stream, Output, and Video settings for that use.
- 5.Apply your changes and test the setup.
A new profile starts with default settings. Do not assume it already contains your existing platform connection or recording preferences.
For a streaming profile, follow the destination platform's instructions for the server, stream key or account connection, and accepted output settings.
Duplicate a working profile
Duplicating is useful when most of your existing settings are already correct.
- 1.Select the profile you want to copy.
- 2.Open Profile → Duplicate.
- 3.Give the copy a different name.
- 4.Change only the settings that need to differ.
Check the destination carefully: a duplicate begins with the original profile's settings. Renaming it does not change where it sends a stream.
Keep the original working profile while you test the copy so you have a known setup to return to.
Switch between saved profiles
When you are off air and have stopped recording, open Profile and select the setup you want.
Before the next session, check the selected profile name, streaming destination, recording folder, output resolution, and frame rate. Make a short recording to check local performance. For live settings, also use your platform's supported test method where available.
A profile is a saved configuration, not a guarantee that your current connection or hardware can handle it.
Know what belongs in a Scene Collection
| What you want to save | OBS feature |
|---|---|
| Streaming destination or connected account | Profile |
| Recording and encoding settings | Profile |
| Video resolution and frame rate | Profile |
| Camera placement, overlays, scenes, and sources | Scene Collection |
You can use profiles and scene collections together. Check both when switching between a recording layout and a live-stream layout.
If a profile changes your base canvas resolution, inspect your scene afterward. Sources may need resizing or repositioning to fit the new canvas.
Back up the settings you need
Use the Profile menu's Export option to save a copy of the selected profile. Use Import when you need to add an exported profile to an OBS setup.
A profile export is not a complete backup of your scenes, plugins, or media files. Keep those separately, and treat exported streaming settings as private because they may include account connection details.