OBS Studio is free, open-source software for arranging video and audio into scenes, then streaming them live or recording them. To start a basic stream, run OBS’s Auto-Configuration Wizard, add the source you want viewers to see, check your audio meters, set the destination’s stream key and output requirements, then make a short test before going live.
What OBS Studio does
OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) captures video and audio, combines them in a scene, and sends the result to a streaming service—or saves it as a recording. It can capture a game, desktop, individual window, webcam, capture card, images, text, media files, and audio sources. You can switch between scenes during a broadcast, for example from a gameplay layout to a full-screen intermission screen.
OBS is software, not a camera or a streaming account. Use the sources already available on your computer for a basic setup; a webcam, microphone, or capture card is needed only if your particular setup requires one.
Set up OBS for your first stream
1. Run the Auto-Configuration Wizard
- Open OBS Studio. If the Auto-Configuration Wizard appears, follow its prompts. Otherwise, open the Tools menu and choose Auto-Configuration Wizard.
- Choose the option for streaming, then provide the requested destination and stream details. The wizard takes your intended use, available hardware resources, and network conditions into account to propose settings.
- Review the proposed configuration rather than treating it as a guarantee. A short test is still important because performance depends on your own computer, network, and platform.
2. Create a scene and add the content
A scene is a layout. Its sources are the video, images, text, and audio elements placed in that layout. Start with the scene OBS creates or add one in the Scenes dock, then select the scene before adding sources.
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- In the Sources dock, click the + button and choose the source that matches what you want to show.
- Choose Display Capture for a whole screen or Window Capture for one application window. On Windows, Game Capture can capture a game directly. For a webcam or external video device, choose Video Capture Device.
- Use image, text, or media sources for overlays, labels, and prerecorded clips. Add only what your scene needs.
- Select a source in the preview to position and resize it. Use the source’s visibility control to show or hide it. Sources higher in the list appear above sources lower in the list, so put a webcam above gameplay if you want it layered over the game.
Capture options vary by source and operating system. OBS documents Game Capture as Windows-only; if it is unavailable or unsuitable, use another supported capture method such as Window Capture or Display Capture.
3. Check your audio
Speak into the microphone or play the sound you expect to stream and watch the Audio Mixer. The relevant meters should move. OBS’s defaults may include desktop audio and a microphone, but the selected devices may not match the equipment you intend to use.
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- If the wrong device is selected or a meter does not respond, open Settings → Audio.
- Choose the intended microphone and desktop-audio devices, apply the change, then check the mixer again.
- Listen to a short test recording to confirm the sound is audible and that the desired audio sources are included.
4. Connect the streaming destination
In Settings → Stream, select the service you plan to use and connect an account if OBS offers that option, or enter the stream key supplied by the platform. A stream key authorizes OBS to send video to the correct live-stream destination. Treat it as private: anyone who obtains it may be able to broadcast to your channel. If it is exposed, replace or reset it through the platform’s live-stream settings.
Before broadcasting, confirm that the platform’s live-streaming features are enabled for your account and that the selected destination is the intended one. Platform-specific eligibility, stream-key setup, and limits can change; follow the destination service’s current instructions.
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5. Review output and video settings
Open Settings → Output to review the streaming output settings, including the encoder and bitrate. The appropriate choices depend on your computer’s capabilities, available upload bandwidth, and the destination platform’s current requirements. Do not treat a bitrate figure from an older guide or another platform as a universal recommendation.
In Settings → Video, distinguish the Base (Canvas) Resolution from the Output (Scaled) Resolution. The canvas is the layout space in which sources are arranged; the scaled output is the resolution sent to the stream. Set the frame rate to suit the content and the capacity of your system. Higher frame rates can require more processing, so test the configuration you intend to use.
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Check the destination service’s current guidance for supported resolution, frame rate, bitrate, encoder, and keyframe interval. OBS’s Overview Guide, published in 2021, gives 6000 kbps only as an example of a Twitch maximum; it is not a current universal setting or a recommendation for every service.
6. Test before going live
- Use Start Recording to check the scene and audio locally, or stream privately/unlisted if your destination supports a suitable test mode.
- Run the test for a few minutes. Check for missing sources, muted or incorrect audio, dropped frames, stutter, and unreadable overlays.
- If performance is poor, reduce output resolution or frame rate, revisit the encoder and bitrate, or simplify the scene; change one setting at a time and test again.
- When the preview and test look right, choose Start Streaming in OBS and confirm the live status on the destination platform.
OBS’s Quick Start Guide recommends testing for a few minutes instead of jumping straight into a first stream or recording. That small check can reveal setup or performance issues before viewers encounter them.
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Common OBS streaming problems
- No image in the preview: Check that the correct scene is selected and the source is visible. Verify that the source points to the intended display, window, game, or video device.
- Game Capture shows a blank screen: Game Capture is documented for Windows. Try Window Capture or Display Capture if it does not work with your game or setup.
- No microphone or desktop sound: Watch the Audio Mixer while producing sound. If the meter is still, choose the intended device in Settings → Audio and check the device’s own connection and mute controls.
- The stream does not connect: Recheck the selected service, stream key, destination, and account live-stream eligibility. If the key may have been exposed or changed, generate or copy the current key from the platform.
- Stuttering or dropped frames: Check upload conditions and the destination’s current output requirements. Lower the output resolution or frame rate, adjust output settings conservatively, and test again; the cause may be network capacity or system load.
- Overlays cover the wrong content: Reorder sources in the Sources dock. Higher sources are layered above lower ones; reposition or resize the source in the preview.
Copyright and what you stream
OBS can transmit content from a game, screen, media file, or other source, but the ability to capture something does not grant permission to broadcast it. Use game footage, music, images, and other material only when you have the rights or the applicable permission. Check the platform’s current copyright and live-stream rules, including its rules for reused content, before broadcasting prerecorded material or third-party media.
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