To capture one app’s sound in OBS, use Application Audio Capture on Windows 10 version 2004 or later and Windows 11, or the native audio-capture options available on macOS 13 (Ventura) or later. Turn off OBS’s global Desktop Audio when it would capture the same sound, then check the mixer and make a short test recording before you stream.
Choose the right method for your operating system
| System and OBS version | Recommended method | What it captures |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 version 2004 or later; Windows 11 | Application Audio Capture; on OBS 30.1 or later, you can also enable Capture Audio in a Window Capture or Game Capture source | One selected app, or audio tied to a compatible window or game capture source |
| macOS 13 (Ventura) or later; OBS 30 or later | macOS Audio Capture or macOS Screen Capture | All desktop audio or a selected app with macOS Audio Capture; screen capture can include audio |
| macOS 13 (Ventura) or later; OBS 28 or 29 | macOS Screen Capture, set to Application Capture or Window Capture | Audio associated with the captured app or window |
| Earlier macOS | Additional audio-routing software | Depends on the routing method; VB-CABLE is for desktop audio, while Loopback and Sound Siphon are identified by OBS for per-application routing |
| Linux | Use the audio capture sources exposed by your OBS build and audio system | OBS documents ALSA/PulseAudio device capture, but not a universal per-app recipe across Linux configurations |
See the OBS Project’s Application Audio Capture guide, macOS Audio Capture guide, macOS Screen Capture guide, and Audio Sources documentation for platform-specific details.
Capture one application on Windows
- In OBS, find the Sources dock, select +, and add Application Audio Capture. OBS labels this source BETA in its guide.
- Name the source clearly, such as “Game audio,” then select the window belonging to the application whose sound you want.
- Set the window match priority. Matching by type works for most applications. If a window title changes frequently, as with Chrome or Spotify, try matching by executable name so the source can remain attached as the title changes.
- If this source is capturing the same sound as OBS’s global desktop input, open Settings → Audio and disable Desktop Audio. Otherwise, the sound can be captured twice and echo.
- Play audio in the target app and watch its meter in the Audio Mixer. Make a short recording and listen back before relying on the setup for a stream.
For compatible apps, OBS 30.1 and later also offers Capture Audio in a Window Capture or Game Capture source. This can keep the app’s picture and sound together in one source. If the option is available and suits your scene, enable it in that source’s properties; avoid capturing the same audio through a second source.
Capture application audio on macOS
OBS 30 or later with macOS 13 or later
Add macOS Audio Capture as a source and choose whether to capture all desktop audio or a particular application. Alternatively, use macOS Screen Capture, which can include audio on macOS 13 and later. If you capture audio through one of these sources, check whether OBS’s global desktop input is also picking up the same signal.
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OBS 28 or 29 with macOS 13 or later
Add macOS Screen Capture, then set its mode to Application Capture or Window Capture. In this workflow, OBS says hiding the source also removes its audio. If you need the sound but not a visible captured image, keep the source visible but place it behind other sources, or set its dimensions to zero.
Earlier macOS versions
OBS documents additional routing software for older macOS versions, when native system-audio capture is unavailable through this path. VB-CABLE provides a desktop-audio route but does not support per-application capture. OBS identifies Loopback and Sound Siphon as options for per-application routing. These are alternatives for the older-version case, not prerequisites for supported macOS 13-and-later setups.
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What to expect on Linux
OBS documents Audio Capture Device sources on Linux through ALSA/PulseAudio. The OBS documentation consulted does not establish one current, general-purpose procedure for isolating any individual app across Linux distributions and desktop audio systems. In your installed OBS build, check which capture sources are available and confirm that the source can isolate the application you need before recording or going live.
Fix common capture problems
The audio meter does not move
- Confirm that the selected window or application is the one producing sound.
- Check that the app is actually playing audio, then watch the source in the Audio Mixer.
- Make a short recording and play it back to test the complete capture path. OBS’s Quick Start Guide recommends checking mixer meters and testing before a real recording or stream.
The audio echoes or sounds doubled
Look for two active sources carrying the same signal. If you use an application-specific source, disable global Desktop Audio in Settings → Audio when it duplicates that app. OBS also warns that adding an audio input or output device to a scene can cause echo if the same device is already selected in Settings → Audio.
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Capture stops following an app with a changing title
For apps such as Chrome or Spotify, change the Application Audio Capture window match priority to executable-name matching rather than relying on a changing window title.
A Windows app is still missing from Application Audio Capture
OBS notes that some applications output audio in a way the built-in source cannot capture. Its documented fallback is to install VB-CABLE, choose CABLE Input for the target app in the Windows Volume Mixer, and add the cable to OBS as an Audio Input Capture source. Use this only if the native source fails; it adds a routing step. The OBS guide covers the procedure.
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macOS audio disappears with the picture
For the OBS 28/29 Screen Capture workflow, confirm that the source is visible: OBS says hiding it removes its audio. If you need the app’s picture and sound together on macOS 13 or later, use macOS Screen Capture and check the source’s mode and visibility.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Before you record or stream
- Confirm that the target app is producing sound and that its meter moves in OBS.
- Check for duplicate capture from Desktop Audio or another scene source.
- Record a short sample and listen to it, rather than relying on meters alone.
- On macOS, verify that your OBS version and macOS version support the source workflow you chose.
- On Linux, verify the behavior of the capture source in your own OBS build and audio setup; the documented sources do not establish a universal per-app workflow.
Application-audio capture itself does not require a capture card, mixer, or other hardware: the documented workflows use OBS sources and, only in some compatibility cases, audio-routing software.
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