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To use OBS Studio as a virtual webcam, prepare the scene you want to show, start Virtual Camera from OBS’s Controls dock, and select OBS Virtual Camera in your meeting app or browser. On macOS, the steps to approve the virtual camera depend on your OBS and macOS versions.
Set up OBS Virtual Camera
- Build the scene. In OBS Studio, add and arrange the sources you want the receiving app to see. Sources can include a webcam, screen capture, windows, or apps, depending on what you add to the scene.
- Choose the output. In the Controls dock, open Virtual Camera settings and select Program, Preview, Scene, or Source. The choice determines exactly what OBS sends; see the next section before starting.
- Start the camera. Click Start Virtual Camera in the Controls dock.
- Select it in the receiving app. Open the meeting app or browser’s camera settings and choose OBS Virtual Camera. The app must support webcam feeds.
- Stop when finished. In OBS, click the control again, now labelled Stop Virtual Camera.
OBS Project documentation describes Virtual Camera as a way to share an OBS scene with applications that can use a webcam. A physical webcam is optional: it can be a source inside OBS, but it is not required to send an OBS scene through Virtual Camera.
Choose what OBS sends
| Output | What the receiving app gets | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Program | OBS’s normal output. | Choose this for the scene currently intended for viewers. |
| Preview | The Preview in Studio Mode. | Use it only if you want to send the preview. Scene changes and edits made there can be visible to the receiving app. |
| Scene | One selected scene, regardless of the current Program output. | Choose this to keep the virtual camera on a particular scene. |
| Source | One selected source. | Choose this when the app should receive a single source rather than a full scene. |
If you use Studio Mode and do not want viewers to see in-progress changes, avoid Preview; Program reflects the normal OBS output.
Windows: start or restore the virtual camera
On Windows, start Virtual Camera from the Controls dock as described above, then select it in the receiving app. If the Start Virtual Camera control is missing, OBS’s troubleshooting guide documents a manual installation method:
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- Locate the OBS installation folder. If you are unsure where it is, use the OBS shortcut to find the installation location. For a portable installation, use that installation’s folder.
- Open
dataobs-pluginswin-dshowinside the OBS installation folder. - Run
virtualcam-install.batas administrator. - Reopen OBS and check whether the Virtual Camera control is available.
macOS: check versions and approve the component
Compatibility depends on both OBS Studio and macOS. OBS’s troubleshooting page documents the following version-specific behavior; consult the current OBS guidance if you are using later releases, since these statements describe the versions covered on that page.
- OBS Studio 30.0 or later on macOS 13 (Ventura) or later: OBS says these versions include the newer virtual camera component compatible with all Mac applications.
- OBS 29.1 or earlier on macOS 14 (Sonoma): OBS says the older virtual camera component is not compatible with macOS 14.
- Older component on macOS 12 or earlier: OBS notes it may be incompatible with some applications and recommends Chromium-based browsers such as Chrome or Edge for best compatibility, particularly with online services such as Discord.
Approve a blocked virtual camera component
On macOS 13 and later, macOS may block the OBS virtual camera component the first time OBS launches. OBS documents these approval paths:
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- macOS 13 or 14: Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Security, allow the blocked OBS system software, authenticate if asked, and restart OBS.
- macOS 15 or later: Open System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions → Camera Extensions, allow the blocked OBS system software, authenticate if asked, and restart OBS.
- macOS 11 or 12: OBS says the virtual camera is installed when you first click Start Virtual Camera.
Understand OBS’s macOS capture permissions
macOS permissions for sources OBS captures are separate from approval of the virtual camera component. OBS’s permissions guide says Camera permission lets OBS capture a webcam or capture card, while Screen Recording permission lets OBS capture the desktop, windows, and apps. Grant the relevant capture permission if an OBS source is unavailable; use the separate extension approval steps above if the virtual camera itself is blocked.
Troubleshoot when OBS Virtual Camera does not appear
- The Start Virtual Camera control is absent on Windows: Follow OBS’s documented manual installation steps and run
virtualcam-install.batas administrator fromdataobs-pluginswin-dshowin the OBS installation folder. - The camera is missing on macOS: Check the OBS and macOS versions against the compatibility notes above. If macOS blocked the component, approve it in the appropriate System Settings location and restart OBS.
- OBS Virtual Camera starts but a source is blank: Check that the chosen Program, Preview, Scene, or Source contains the material you intend to send. On macOS, also check the specific Camera or Screen Recording permission needed by that source.
- An online service does not work with the older macOS component: OBS recommends trying a Chromium-based browser such as Chrome or Edge for best compatibility with the older component.
- The receiving app shows the wrong content: Return to Virtual Camera settings and confirm the selected output mode. Preview, in particular, can expose Studio Mode changes in progress.
Or let it run in the cloud
OBS Virtual Camera sends an OBS scene to an app that accepts a webcam feed. If what you need instead is a YouTube channel that keeps looping uploaded videos live, StreamNeo is a different kind of tool: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It runs in the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home; it plays uploaded video rather than going live from a camera.
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- Note: Not suitable for MacBooks released after 2023 or devices with a protruding front camera; Not applicable to full-screen or notch-style tempered glass screen protectors; Do not use on the rear camera of the phone.
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LAPGEAR Home Office Lap Desk – Pink, Fits 15.6” Laptops
- Spacious Design: Measuring 21.1" wide and 12" deep, our lap desk comfortably fits most laptops up to 15.6". Extra room for accessories ensures convenience.
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AboveTEK Portable Laptop Lap Desk w/Retractable Left/Right Mouse Pad Tray, Non-Slip Heat Shield Tablet Notebook Computer Stand Table w/Sturdy Stable Work Surface for Bed Sofa Couch or Travel
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