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In Streamlabs Desktop, the quickest way to add an overlay is to install a theme from the Streamlabs Overlay Library or the app’s overlay search. If you already have an .overlay file, import it through Settings → Scene Collections → Import Overlay File. You can also build a simple custom overlay from image files, or use Streamlabs’ documented plugin or scene-import routes to bring overlays into OBS Studio.
Choose the right overlay method
| What you have | Best route | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
| You want a ready-made design | Browse the Streamlabs Overlay Library or search in Streamlabs Desktop | Install selected components in your current scene collection |
An existing .overlay file |
Import the file from Streamlabs Desktop settings | A scene collection in Streamlabs Desktop |
| Separate image files for your design | Add images as sources in the scenes where you want them | A custom scene collection in Streamlabs Desktop |
| You use OBS Studio | Install the Streamlabs plugin, or follow Streamlabs’ no-plugin scene-import guide | OBS Studio |
Streamlabs’ Overlay Library and overlay guides describe these installation paths. Library contents and access can change; check the individual theme listing before assuming it is free. Some themes are Ultra-only. Streamlabs’ overlay guide was published February 6, 2026; its interface labels may change over time.
Install a theme from the Streamlabs Overlay Library
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Open streamlabs.com/library, or open the overlay search inside Streamlabs Desktop.
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Browse featured or trending themes, or use Advanced Search with keywords and available filters such as color and type.
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Open a theme you want and select Select and Install.
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Choose the components you want included. A theme may offer multiple elements, so select only the pieces you plan to use.
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When prompted, open Streamlabs Desktop, confirm the components, and install them. The overlay should then appear in the scene collection.
If a theme routes you to checkout or shows an Ultra requirement, that particular theme is not available on the same terms as a free theme. Check the listing for current access details before proceeding.
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Open Streamlabs Desktop and select Settings.
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Go to Scene Collections.
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Select Import Overlay File, choose your
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Open the imported scenes and inspect the overlay. Adjust positioning or other settings if needed.
Build an overlay from image files
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Create a fresh scene collection in Streamlabs Desktop.
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Add the scenes you need, such as Starting Soon, Live, and BRB.
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In each scene, select Sources + and add the image files you want to use as overlay elements.
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Review the scene on your canvas and adjust each image’s placement and settings to suit the design.
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Add the images to each scene where you want them to appear; a source added to one scene is not a substitute for adding it to other scenes where it is needed.
Use Streamlabs overlays in OBS Studio
Streamlabs documents two ways to use its overlays in OBS Studio:
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With the Streamlabs plugin: install the plugin for OBS, then use the Streamlabs → Overlay controls to find and install a theme.
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Without the plugin: transfer a Streamlabs scene collection into OBS by following Streamlabs’ scene-collection import guide. Use that guide for the current steps rather than assuming the Desktop menu labels also apply in OBS.
Add or change alerts and other widgets
Overlay graphics and widgets are related, but they are not identical. A widget theme is a profile of alert and widget settings; a graphic overlay is the visual composition placed in a scene. Streamlabs’ widget-theme guide explains how to create a theme or customize an individual widget in the Streamlabs dashboard, then apply it as a source in Streamlabs Desktop.
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If you use streaming software that is not integrated with Streamlabs, add the widget as a browser source using its widget URL. Streamlabs Desktop also lets you associate widget themes with scene collections. If a widget looks wrong after switching collections, check that association. The widget and library guides were originally published in 2024 and show a July 8, 2026 update; labels and available options may change.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Troubleshoot a missing or incorrect overlay
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The installed overlay is not in the scene you expected: check the scene collection where you installed it, then inspect its scenes.
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The file import did not produce the expected scenes: verify that you selected the intended
.overlayfile and wait for the import to complete; then inspect the resulting scene collection. -
A theme asks you to pay: check whether that specific theme is marked Ultra-only. Availability varies by theme.
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A widget’s appearance changes after switching collections: check which widget theme is associated with the active scene collection.
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A widget does not appear in other streaming software: add it there as a browser source using the widget URL, rather than expecting a Streamlabs-integrated source to transfer automatically.
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An overlay does not appear in OBS: use the Streamlabs plugin route or follow the official scene-collection import guide; the Streamlabs Desktop import menus should not be assumed to exist in OBS.
Or let it run in the cloud
Overlays configure how your scene looks; they do not keep a computer-powered broadcast running after you shut down your streaming setup. StreamNeo is a separate cloud service for looping uploaded videos as a 24/7 YouTube live stream, not a way to stream a camera or install overlays in Streamlabs.
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Nothing has to stay on at home: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live from the cloud.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
