OBS Uptime to File Lua Script

This OBS Studio Lua script writes your current stream uptime to a text file, with customizable formatting. You can use this file as a source in OBS (e.g., with a Text GDI+ source) to display your live stream duration.

Features

• Writes the current stream uptime to a file while streaming.
• Lets you choose the output file location via the script settings.
• Lets you customize the output format (e.g., 01:23:45, 1h 23m, 83 minutes).
• When the stream stops, the file is automatically erased (emptied).

Installation

1. Download or copy the obs_uptime_to_file.lua script to your computer.
2. Open OBS Studio.
3. Go to Tools > Scripts.
4. Click the + button and select obs_uptime_to_file.lua.
5. Set the Output File Path to where you want the uptime to be written.
6. (Optional) Set the Format String to customize how the uptime appears.
7. (Optional) Set the Update Interval (seconds) to control how often the file is updated (default: 1 second).

Format String

You can control how the uptime is displayed using the Format String property. Use these placeholders:

• {d}: Days (zero-padded, e.g., 02)
• {h}: Hours (zero-padded, e.g., 01)
• {m}: Minutes (zero-padded, e.g., 09)
• {s}: Seconds (zero-padded, e.g., 05)
• {D}: Days (no padding, e.g., 2, 12)
• {H}: Hours (no padding, e.g., 1, 12)
• {M}: Minutes (no padding, e.g., 9, 23)
• {S}: Seconds (no padding, e.g., 5, 45)

Examples:

• {h}:{m}:{s} → 01:23:45
• {H}:{M}:{S} → 1:23:5
• {D}d {H}h {M}m → 2d 3h 15m (or just 3h 15m if under 1 day, or 15m if under 1 hour)
• {M} minutes → 83 minutes

How It Works

• When you start streaming, the script begins writing the uptime to your chosen file at the interval you set (default: every second).
• When you stop streaming, the file is erased (emptied), so nothing will display if you use it as a text source.

Use Case

Add the output file as a Text (GDI+) source in OBS to show your stream uptime on your overlay. The file will always be up-to-date while you are live, and will be blank when you are not streaming.

License

MIT License. Feel free to use, modify, and share.