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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →OBS Studio is free, open-source software for arranging video and audio sources into scenes, then streaming them live or recording them. To start a basic stream, run OBS’s Auto-Configuration Wizard, add the sources you need, confirm your audio, review output settings, connect your streaming account or stream key, and make a short test before going live.
What OBS Studio does
OBS Studio combines video and audio inputs into a scene, then sends the resulting program to a streaming service or saves it as a recording. You can use it to capture a screen, a window, a game, a webcam or capture card, images, text, media files, and audio. You do not need every kind of source—or extra hardware—to begin: choose inputs that match what you want viewers to see and hear.
OBS’s official Quick Start Guide and Overview Guide describe the core workflow. Their interface references may differ from newer OBS versions, so use the equivalent controls if labels or layout have changed.
Set up your first stream in OBS
1. Run the Auto-Configuration Wizard
Open OBS and start the Auto-Configuration Wizard. It asks about your intended use and takes your hardware and network conditions into account when suggesting settings. Treat its result as a starting point, not a guarantee: your destination platform’s current requirements and your own test results still matter.
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2. Create a scene and add sources
A scene is the overall layout viewers will see; sources are the content placed in that layout. In the Sources dock, select the add control and choose the source type for your content:
- Display Capture: capture a whole display.
- Window Capture: capture a particular application window.
- Game Capture: capture a game; OBS documents this source for Windows.
- Video Capture Device: use a webcam or capture card.
- Image, Text, Media, or audio sources: add graphics, labels, video files, or sound as needed.
Sources higher in the list appear above sources lower in the list. For example, put a webcam source above a game capture source to layer the camera over gameplay. Select a source in the preview to position or resize it; crop it when you need to trim its visible area. Use the visibility control to show or hide a source.
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
3. Check audio before streaming
Watch the Audio Mixer while speaking or playing sound. The meters should move for the microphone and other devices you intend to include. If a meter is inactive or the wrong device is selected, open Settings → Audio and choose the intended devices manually. OBS may use desktop audio and microphone defaults, but confirm the actual selections on your computer rather than assuming they are correct.
4. Review video and output settings
In Settings → Video, distinguish the base (canvas) resolution from the output (scaled) resolution. The canvas is the workspace for arranging sources; the output resolution is what OBS sends to the stream. Choose a frame rate your system can sustain. Higher frame rates can demand more from the computer, so test the combination of resolution and frame rate you intend to use.
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In Settings → Output, review the streaming output options and encoder available on your system. There is no single bitrate that is right for every destination, connection, and setup. OBS’s older Overview Guide mentions 6000 kbps as an example of a Twitch maximum, not a current universal recommendation. Check the current requirements for the service you are streaming to, and make sure your upload connection can support the chosen output reliably.
5. Connect your streaming destination
Use OBS’s stream settings to select a supported service and sign in where that option is offered, or enter the stream key supplied by your destination. A stream key authorizes OBS to send video to the associated live channel; treat it like a password. Do not share it publicly. If you suspect it has been exposed, reset or regenerate it through the destination service and update OBS with the new key.
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For YouTube, configure the live broadcast and obtain its stream key in YouTube’s current live-streaming controls, then enter that key in OBS if you are connecting by key. YouTube’s labels and live-streaming eligibility requirements can change, so follow its current instructions. Before broadcasting, confirm the title, audience, visibility, and other stream details on the destination platform.
6. Make a short test, then go live
Record locally or start a brief test stream and check the result: picture framing, overlays, audio levels, synchronization, and whether motion remains smooth. OBS’s Quick Start Guide recommends testing for a few minutes instead of jumping straight into a first stream. A test can expose capture, audio, network, or performance problems while there is still time to fix them.
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- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
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- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
When the preview and test look right, use OBS’s Start Streaming control. Watch the stream and OBS status indicators during the first minutes, especially if this is a new scene or output configuration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose the right capture source
| What you want to show | OBS source to consider | Device or platform notes |
|---|---|---|
| Your entire screen | Display Capture | Captures a display; check what is visible before going live. |
| One application | Window Capture | Captures a selected window rather than the whole display. |
| A game | Game Capture | OBS documents Game Capture as Windows-only. |
| Your face or an external video feed | Video Capture Device | Use a webcam or capture card if you have one; neither is required for screen-only streaming. |
Copyright and what you stream
OBS sends the content you choose; it does not grant rights to that content or determine whether a platform will allow a broadcast. Before streaming video, music, images, or other material, make sure you have the rights or permission needed for your use and check the destination platform’s current copyright rules. A live format does not make copyrighted material yours, and platform enforcement can interrupt a stream or affect a channel.
If you are streaming prerecorded material, consider whether the destination’s current policies allow that use and whether the broadcast offers original value. Keep records of permissions where relevant, and do not assume that adding a webcam, commentary, or a looping format automatically resolves a rights or policy issue.
Troubleshoot common first-stream problems
- No audio meter movement: confirm the intended microphone or desktop device in Settings → Audio, then check the device itself and its system permissions.
- The wrong content appears: check the selected source and its visibility, then move it up or down in the Sources list to fix layering.
- The preview is cropped or poorly framed: select the source and adjust its position, size, or crop in the preview; verify the canvas and output resolutions are appropriate for the layout.
- The stream is unstable or overloaded: test again with a more conservative resolution or frame rate and review destination-specific output requirements. System capacity and upload conditions both affect results.
- The destination does not receive the stream: confirm the selected service or server and verify that the stream key is current and entered correctly. If the key may have been exposed, replace it at the destination.
Or let it run in the cloud
OBS is useful when you want to compose a live scene on your own computer. If your goal is instead to keep uploaded videos playing as a 24/7 YouTube stream, StreamNeo is a cloud alternative: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Your computer and home connection do not need to stay on. It streams what you upload, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot; it can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly: $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for uploaded videos on YouTube, not camera-based live production. See StreamNeo or start the free trial.
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