To use OBS as a virtual webcam, build the scene you want to share, choose the output in OBS Virtual Camera settings, then start it and select OBS Virtual Camera in the meeting app or browser. The output choice determines whether the receiving app sees your normal OBS programme, a preview, or just one scene or source.
You do not need to buy a webcam to use this feature. OBS can pass its composed scene to applications that accept a webcam feed; a physical camera is only an optional input to that scene. The steps below cover Windows and macOS, with extra checks for Mac compatibility and permissions.
Prepare the OBS scene to share
Start by arranging the scene you intend to send. Add the sources it needs, such as a title card, slides, a desktop capture, a camera input or media. Check their order in the Sources list: sources higher in the list can cover the ones beneath them. Make sure the visible result is the one you want the receiving app to show.
If you are presenting a window or desktop on macOS, OBS may need Screen Recording permission before it can capture that material. If you are adding a webcam or capture card as a source, OBS may need Camera permission. These permissions control what OBS can capture; they are separate from approval of the virtual camera component itself. The OBS macOS permissions guide describes the distinction.
Check the scene at the size and framing you expect to share. A browser tab, slide deck or camera source may be cropped or positioned differently from the full desktop. If the receiving app offers a self-view, it is useful for checking framing, but confirm the scene in OBS as well: the app's preview is not a substitute for checking which OBS output mode is selected.
If you will switch between scenes, name them plainly. For example, a meeting setup might have “Opening slide”, “Presentation” and “Break” scenes. Clear labels make it easier to select a fixed scene later and reduce the chance of sending a setup screen or an unfinished layout by mistake.
The virtual camera shares what OBS outputs, not necessarily everything visible on your monitor. That can help you keep desktop clutter outside the meeting, but it also means you should check that the intended source is present and unobstructed. If your use is a YouTube broadcast rather than a meeting camera, a different workflow may fit: see this guide to scheduling a YouTube livestream to start and stop automatically.
Choose what the receiving app sees
In OBS, find the Controls dock and open Virtual Camera settings. Before starting the camera, choose the output mode. OBS offers Program, Preview, Scene and Source; each sends a different scope of content. The OBS Virtual Camera guide documents these choices and the basic start-and-select workflow.
| Output | What it sends | When it may suit you | Main thing to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program | The normal OBS output | You want the same composed output currently going live from OBS | Scene changes in the programme are sent to the app |
| Preview | The Preview in Studio Mode | You want to prepare or test a scene before moving it to Program | Preview work can be visible to the receiving app |
| Scene | One selected scene | You want a fixed layout regardless of the current Program scene | Select the intended scene in the virtual camera settings |
| Source | One selected source | You want to pass only a particular input or item | The app sees that source rather than the full composition |
Program is usually the straightforward choice if the app should see the same output as your normal OBS programme. When you change the programme scene, the output changes with it. This is useful for a presentation where you want to move between a title slide and screen capture, but you should know that ordinary scene changes will reach the call.
Preview is relevant when you have enabled Studio Mode, which gives you separate Preview and Program views. It can be useful if you intend to prepare a change before making it the normal programme output. However, the virtual camera sends the Preview itself, so edits, transitions or a scene you have not yet made public can appear in the receiving app. Do not select Preview on the assumption that it always means a private rehearsal.
Scene sends the particular scene you select, even if you switch the main Program output to another scene. That can keep the meeting image stable while you use OBS for something else. It is a useful choice when the meeting should always see one branded layout, but it also means switching the programme output will not switch what the meeting sees.
Source sends one selected source rather than a complete scene composition. That can be suitable when the receiving app needs a single feed, but it will not include surrounding overlays or other scene elements. If you need a composed layout with labels, slides and video together, choose Program, Preview or a specific Scene instead.
A simple check is to ask what should happen if you click a different scene in OBS. If the meeting should follow that change, use Program. If it should stay fixed, use Scene. If you are working in Studio Mode, only choose Preview when you intend the receiving app to show the preview area.
Start the OBS Virtual Camera
Once the scene and output mode are ready, click Start Virtual Camera in the Controls dock. The control changes to Stop Virtual Camera while it is running. OBS describes the feature as sharing an OBS scene with applications that can use a webcam feed; it is not a separate recording or livestream destination.
Keep OBS open while you use the virtual camera. The selected scene and sources need to remain available for the feed to continue showing the intended image. If a source depends on a window, media file or capture device, avoid closing or moving it in a way that changes the image OBS is capturing.
If the receiving app was already open, it may need to refresh its camera list or be restarted before it notices OBS. Select the OBS camera in the app's settings, not merely in OBS. Some apps ask you to choose a camera before you join a call; others expose the choice in a device menu after joining. The exact interface depends on the app.
When using a browser, the site may also ask the browser to grant camera access. That is distinct from the macOS permission that lets OBS capture a camera or screen. Approve only the access appropriate to the meeting site you are using, and verify the selected device in the site's own settings.
Select OBS Virtual Camera in the receiving app
Open the meeting app or browser service's video or camera settings and choose OBS Virtual Camera. It should then receive the output mode you selected in OBS. The app may call the setting “Camera”, “Video input” or “Device”; look for the list of available cameras rather than assuming OBS will be chosen automatically.
If your app has a preview tile, inspect it before speaking or presenting. Confirm that the image is current, correctly framed and not showing a setup scene. If you intended to share one fixed scene, confirm that it remains visible after you switch scenes in OBS. If you intended the call to follow Program, change scenes deliberately and check the result.
Not every application, browser version or service exposes every camera device in the same way. The feature works with applications that can use a webcam feed, but app compatibility and operating-system permissions still matter. If the OBS camera is absent, check the troubleshooting section rather than buying another camera: a physical webcam will not fix a missing software device listing.
For a long-running video source intended for YouTube, the needs are different from a meeting camera: the stream must continue even when your computer is off. StreamNeo removes that specific need to keep OBS running on your own computer by turning an uploaded video into a YouTube live stream that runs without leaving your machine on.
Stop the virtual camera when finished
When you have finished the meeting or browser session, return to OBS and click Stop Virtual Camera. The control is the same one used to start it; OBS changes its label while the feed is active. Stopping it makes the OBS feed unavailable to the receiving app until you start it again.
It is worth stopping the feed as part of your close-down routine, especially if your selected output is Program or Preview and OBS may show different material later. Close or leave the meeting as needed, then stop the camera in OBS. If you are about to use another app, check its camera selection independently rather than assuming it will use the OBS feed.
Stopping the virtual camera does not remove scenes or sources from your OBS project. It only ends the camera feed. You can leave the scene configured for next time, then recheck the chosen output mode before starting again.
Check macOS compatibility and permissions
On a Mac, first note the OBS version and macOS version. OBS's published troubleshooting guidance says OBS Studio 30.0 and later on macOS 13 (Ventura) and later use a newer virtual camera component intended to work with Mac applications. The same guidance says the component in OBS 29.1 and earlier is not compatible with macOS 14 (Sonoma). These are version-specific statements from OBS and should be checked against the current virtual camera troubleshooting page if your versions differ or the guidance has changed.
The older virtual camera component used with macOS 12 and earlier may not work with some applications. OBS recommends Chromium-based browsers such as Chrome or Edge for best compatibility in that context, including online services such as Discord. That is a compatibility suggestion, not a guarantee: the service, browser and their current versions can affect which cameras are available.
On macOS 13 and later, the system may block the OBS virtual camera component the first time. OBS documents an approval path in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Security on macOS 13 and 14. On macOS 15 and later, look under System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions → Camera Extensions. If macOS reports blocked OBS system software, allow it, authenticate when prompted and restart OBS.
For macOS 11 or 12, OBS says installation of the virtual camera occurs the first time you click Start Virtual Camera. If you see a system prompt or approval notice, follow it and restart or retry OBS as directed. Menu names can vary with macOS releases, so use the current OBS guide if the path on your screen does not match these labels.
Keep input permissions separate from extension approval. macOS Camera permission lets OBS capture a webcam or capture card as an input. Screen Recording lets OBS capture the desktop, windows and apps. Neither permission is the same as approving the virtual camera component that exposes OBS to other applications. If the OBS scene is blank, investigate source permissions; if OBS works but another app cannot list its virtual camera, investigate compatibility and component approval.
Troubleshoot a missing camera option
If the receiving app does not list OBS Virtual Camera, work through the problem in order. First confirm that the virtual camera is running in OBS: the control should say Stop Virtual Camera. Then refresh the receiving app's device list, reopen its settings or restart the app. Some applications only enumerate cameras when they launch, so starting OBS after the app can leave the new device unnoticed until a refresh.
Next, verify that the receiving application can use webcam devices and that it has permission to access the camera. On macOS, check the app's camera access separately from OBS permissions. If you are using a browser, check the site's camera choice and the browser's permission for that site. A permission to use the camera does not itself install or approve the OBS virtual camera component.
On macOS, compare the versions against OBS's compatibility guidance before changing settings. In particular, the older component and newer macOS releases have documented compatibility limits. If the operating system has blocked OBS software, use the relevant Privacy & Security or Camera Extensions approval route, then restart OBS and test again.
On Windows, if the Start Virtual Camera control is absent, OBS troubleshooting documents a manual installation step: run virtualcam-install.bat as administrator from the OBS installation's data\\obs-plugins\\win-dshow folder. If you do not know where OBS is installed, locate the application through its shortcut first. Portable installations may use a different location, so do not assume the default path.
If the device appears but the receiving app shows a black or unexpected image, return to the output choice. A Scene or Source selection may not be the one you intended; Preview may show a working scene rather than Program. Check that the relevant OBS sources are visible and that screen or camera capture permissions are in place. The OBS guide and troubleshooting page are the primary references for their documented workflow and platform-specific steps.
A sensible order is therefore: confirm the feed is started, check the output mode, refresh the app, verify app permissions, then check OS compatibility and approval. This avoids changing several settings at once and makes it easier to identify whether the fault is in OBS, the system, or the receiving app. For YouTube broadcast problems rather than webcam selection, this guide to diagnosing “no data is being received” in YouTube Live Control Room covers a separate issue.
If you are deciding whether OBS is the right tool for a specific workflow, consider where the video needs to go and whether you need a live camera composition or an always-on file-based YouTube channel. A virtual webcam is for applications that accept a webcam feed. For accessible video in a YouTube broadcast, see how closed captions for YouTube Live work; captions and camera selection solve different problems.
Before committing, compare the operating options on the pricing page. When the file and channel are ready, start free — 24-hour trial, no card.
FAQ
Do I need a physical webcam to use OBS Virtual Camera?
No. OBS Virtual Camera sends an OBS output to an application that accepts a webcam feed, so you can share scenes built from other sources, such as slides or screen capture. A USB webcam can be added as an optional source, but the virtual camera feature itself does not require buying one.
What is the difference between Program and Preview?
Program sends the normal OBS output. Preview sends the Preview area when Studio Mode is in use, so it may expose a scene or edits that are not yet in Program; choose it only if that is what you intend the receiving app to show.
Why is OBS Virtual Camera missing on my Mac?
Check OBS and macOS versions, whether the virtual camera component has been approved in system settings, and whether the receiving app has permission to use a camera. Compatibility varies by version and app, so consult OBS's current troubleshooting guide rather than assuming the device should appear everywhere.
Does macOS Camera permission enable OBS Virtual Camera?
Camera permission lets OBS capture a webcam or capture card as an input, while Screen Recording permission allows desktop, window and app capture. Approval of the virtual camera component is a separate system step, and the receiving app may also need camera access.