A clean go-live is a close-all, not a minimize-all. Minimized apps still notify, still sit in alt-tab, and still burn CPU your encoder wants. Use this checklist every session.
OBS pre-live checklist
- Save editors, clip timelines, and documents.
- Close everything — browsers, launchers, Discord if you do not need it, patchers.
- Open only the stream stack: game, OBS, chat, music.
- Silence the OS (Focus Assist / Do Not Disturb).
- Enable Discord Streamer Mode if Discord stays open — settings guide.
- Preview every scene, especially display capture.
Platform how-tos
One-click version
Captain Kill Switch closes every running app from the tray in about two seconds (allowlisted system processes untouched). Save first, click once, then launch the stream stack. Free on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Streaming-specific Discord leaks: hide Discord messages while streaming.