What Open Broadcaster Software Does

Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) is a free program that captures what is on your screen, your camera, or both, and sends it to a streaming platform like Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook Live. You read it to your computer, arrange your sources (game window, webcam, microphone), and hit a button to go live. It does not cost money, does not require special hardware beyond what you already have, and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Most people use OBS when they want to stream gameplay, record tutorials, broadcast a presentation, or host a live event. The software sits between your computer and the streaming platform — it takes the raw video and audio from your machine and packages it in a format the platform can receive.

Key Takeaways

  • read OBS from obsproject.com, install it on your computer, and open it — no account or payment required.
  • Add sources by clicking the plus button in the Sources box: your game window, browser, camera, or screen capture.
  • Connect OBS to your streaming platform by copying your stream key from Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook and pasting it into OBS settings.
  • Test your audio and video levels before going live by watching the mixer and checking that your microphone and camera are working.
  • Click Start Streaming to go live; the platform will show your broadcast within seconds.

read and Install OBS on Your Computer

Go to obsproject.com and click the large read button. The site detects your operating system and offers the right version — Windows, Mac, or Linux. read the installer file, open it, and follow the setup steps. On Windows, you will see a folder icon and an uninstall option; on Mac, you drag the OBS icon into your Applications folder. The whole process takes a few minutes.

When you open OBS for the first time, you will see a blank window with sections labeled Scenes, Sources, Audio Mixer, and Controls. Do not worry about what these mean yet — you will fill them in as you go. OBS starts with no sources, so your screen will be black until you add something to broadcast.

Add Your First Source — Screen, Game, or Camera

In the Sources box (lower left), click the plus button and choose what you want to broadcast. The most common choices are:

  • Game Capture: Select this if you are streaming a video game. OBS will ask you to choose which game window to capture. This is faster and cleaner than capturing your entire screen.
  • Window Capture: Use this for a browser window, Discord, or any other program. Click the dropdown and pick the window you want.
  • Display Capture: This records everything on your monitor — your desktop, all open windows, and your cursor. Use it if you are showing multiple programs or your entire screen.
  • Video Capture Device: This is your webcam. Select it if you want to show your face or a camera pointed at something physical.

After you choose a source, it appears in the Sources list. Click and drag the edges of the preview window to resize it, or right-click the source to adjust settings like resolution or frame rate. You can add multiple sources — for example, your game window plus your webcam — and arrange them however you want.

Set Up Your Microphone and Audio Levels

The Audio Mixer section shows your microphone and any other audio inputs. Before you go live, make sure your microphone is selected and working. Speak into it and watch the green bars next to your microphone name — they should bounce when you talk. If they do not move, right-click the microphone in the mixer and check that the correct device is selected.

Adjust the slider under your microphone so the bars stay in the green zone when you talk — not too quiet (barely moving) and not so loud that the bars turn red. Red means the audio is distorted and will sound bad to viewers. If you are playing game audio or music, add that source to the mixer the same way and balance it so viewers can hear both you and the game.

Connect OBS to Your Streaming Platform

Before you can stream, you need to tell OBS where to send the video. Go to your streaming platform (Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook Live), log in, and find your stream key — a long string of letters and numbers that acts like a password for your broadcast. On Twitch, this is in Settings > Stream. On YouTube, it is in Go Live > Stream Setup. On Facebook, it is in Video > Go Live.

Copy the stream key. In OBS, click Settings (bottom right), then Stream on the left side. Choose your platform from the Service dropdown. Paste your stream key into the Stream Key field. Do not share this key with anyone — it lets them broadcast to your account. Click OK to save.

Test Before You Go Live

Before you broadcast to an audience, do a test run. Make sure your game or window is open, your camera is positioned where you want it, and your microphone is on. Click the Preview button (if available) or start a test stream to a private YouTube video or Twitch channel so only you can see it. Watch for problems: Is the video clear? Can you hear yourself? Is anything cut off at the edges?

Check that your internet connection is stable — streaming needs at least 2.5 Mbps upload speed for 720p video. If your connection is slower, lower your bitrate in Settings > Output. A bitrate of 2500 works for most setups; lower it to 1500 if you have a slower connection. After you test, you can delete the test stream from your platform.

Start Streaming and Monitor Your Broadcast

When you are ready to go live, click the Start Streaming button (bottom right). OBS will connect to your platform and begin sending video. Within a few seconds, your broadcast will appear on Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook. You will see a red dot and a timer showing how long you have been live.

While you stream, watch the Audio Mixer to make sure sound is coming through. If you need to pause, click Pause Streaming (not Stop, which ends the broadcast). If something goes wrong — your game crashes, your internet drops, or you want to end the stream — click Stop Streaming. Your platform will show the broadcast as offline, and viewers will see a replay if your platform saves it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a powerful computer to use OBS?

OBS works on older computers, but streaming uses CPU power. If your computer struggles to run both your game and OBS at the same time, lower your resolution or frame rate in Settings > Output. A modern processor (Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 or newer) handles 1080p streaming without much trouble.

Why is my stream laggy or pixelated?

Lag usually means your internet upload speed is too slow for your bitrate. Lower your bitrate in Settings > Output to 2500 or 1500. Pixelation means the same thing — the video is compressed too much. If your internet is slow, accept lower quality or stream at 720p instead of 1080p.

Can I stream to multiple platforms at once?

Yes. In Settings > Stream, choose Multistream from the Service dropdown, then add each platform and its stream key. OBS will send your broadcast to all of them at the same time. This uses more internet bandwidth, so make sure your connection can handle it.

What if my camera or microphone is not showing up in OBS?

Restart OBS. If that does not work, check that your camera or microphone is plugged in and turned on. In Windows, go to Settings > Privacy > Camera or Microphone and make sure OBS has permission to use it. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Camera or Microphone.

Can I record my stream instead of broadcasting it live?

Yes. Click Settings > Output, then choose a folder where you want to save the file. Click Start Recording instead of Start Streaming. OBS will save the video to your computer in MP4 format. You can then upload it to YouTube or another platform later.