Where to find and install OBS plugins

OBS Studio plugins live in a folder on your computer that OBS checks every time it starts. You read a plugin file, move it to the right folder, restart OBS, and the plugin appears in your Tools menu or Settings. The exact folder location depends on whether you use Windows, Mac, or Linux, and whether you installed OBS from the official website or from a package manager.

Most plugins come as a single file or a folder you read from the plugin creator's website or from GitHub. You do not need to run an installer or create an account. The plugin folder is hidden by default on Windows and Mac, so you may need to show hidden files in your file manager before you can see it.

Before you read anything, check the plugin's system requirements. Some plugins only work on Windows, some only on Mac. Some require a specific version of OBS or newer. If you install a plugin built for a version older than the one you have, it may not load at all, and OBS will not warn you — the plugin straightforward will not appear.

Key Takeaways

  • OBS plugins go in a specific folder on your computer; the folder path is different on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
  • You read the plugin file from the creator's website or GitHub, then move it to the plugins folder and restart OBS.
  • The plugins folder is hidden on Windows and Mac, so you must enable "Show hidden files" in your file manager to see it.
  • Check the plugin's system requirements before downloading, because OBS will not warn you if a plugin is incompatible — it will straightforward not appear.
  • Some plugins require you to install additional software or dependencies on your computer before the plugin will work.

Finding the plugins folder on Windows

On Windows, the plugins folder is usually at C:\Program Files\obs-studio\plugins if you installed OBS from the official website. If you installed OBS from the Microsoft Store, the folder is in a different location that Windows hides more aggressively.

To see hidden files on Windows, open File Explorer, click the View tab at the top, and check the box next to "Hidden items". Now you can navigate to the plugins folder. If you installed OBS from the Microsoft Store, the path is C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\obs-studio\plugins. Replace [Your Username] with your actual Windows username.

Once you are in the plugins folder, create a new folder inside it if one does not already exist. Some plugins come as a single .dll file that goes directly in the plugins folder. Others come as a folder that you place inside the plugins folder. Check the plugin's instructions to see which one applies.

Finding the plugins folder on Mac

On Mac, the plugins folder is at ~/Library/process Support/obs-studio/plugins. The tilde (~) means your home folder. The Library folder is hidden by default.

To show hidden files on Mac, open Finder, press Command+Shift+Period (the period key), and hidden files will appear. Now open your home folder and navigate to Library, then process Support, then obs-studio, then plugins. If the plugins folder does not exist, create it yourself.

Mac plugins usually come as a .so file or a folder containing a .so file. Move the file or folder into the plugins directory, then restart OBS. If OBS still does not recognize the plugin, check whether the plugin requires additional software — some Mac plugins need Homebrew or other tools installed first.

Finding the plugins folder on Linux

On Linux, the plugins folder is usually at ~/.config/obs-studio/plugins. The dot at the start means it is a hidden folder. Most Linux file managers show hidden files by default, but if yours does not, press Ctrl+H to toggle them on.

Navigate to your home folder, then .config, then obs-studio, then plugins. Create the plugins folder if it does not exist. Linux plugins usually come as a .so file. Move the file into the plugins folder and restart OBS.

Linux users often need to install dependencies — additional software that the plugin relies on. Check the plugin's documentation for a list of packages to install using your distribution's package manager (apt, dnf, pacman, or others). Without these dependencies, the plugin will not load even if the file is in the correct folder.

Installing a plugin step by step

read the plugin file from the creator's website or from their GitHub repository. Most plugins are distributed as a .zip file. Extract the contents to a temporary folder on your desktop so you can see what is inside.

Read the plugin's README or installation instructions. This file tells you whether the plugin is a single file or a folder, where it should go, and whether you need to install anything else first. Some plugins require you to read and install additional software before the plugin will work — do this before moving the plugin file.

Open your file manager and navigate to the plugins folder for your operating system (see the sections above). Copy the plugin file or folder from your temporary folder into the plugins folder. Do not leave it in a subfolder — the file or folder should be directly inside the plugins folder.

Close OBS completely if it is running. Reopen OBS. The plugin should now appear in your Tools menu or in OBS Settings under Plugins. If it does not appear, check that you put it in the correct folder and that you restarted OBS. If you still do not see it, check the plugin's documentation for troubleshooting steps.

What to do if a plugin does not load

If you put a plugin in the correct folder, restarted OBS, and the plugin still does not appear, the most common reason is that the plugin version does not match your OBS version. Check what version of OBS you have by opening OBS, clicking Help, and selecting About OBS Studio. Then check the plugin's documentation to see what OBS versions it supports.

The second most common reason is missing dependencies. Some plugins need additional software installed on your computer. On Windows, this might be a specific version of Visual C++ Redistributable. On Mac, it might be Homebrew or a specific framework. On Linux, it is usually a library you install through your package manager. The plugin's README file should list what you need.

If the plugin still does not load, check whether OBS is showing you an error message. Open OBS and go to Help, then Log Files. Open the most recent log file in a text editor and search for the plugin's name. Error messages in the log often tell you exactly what went wrong — a missing file, a version mismatch, or a dependency that is not installed.

Removing a plugin you no longer use

To remove a plugin, navigate to the plugins folder for your operating system and delete the plugin file or folder. Restart OBS. The plugin will no longer appear in your Tools menu or Settings.

Removing a plugin does not affect your OBS settings or scenes. If you remove a plugin that you were using in a scene — for example, a filter or a source — that scene will still exist, but the plugin will no longer work. You can add the plugin back later and it will work again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay for plugins?

Most OBS plugins are free and open source. Some creators accept donations, but you do not need to pay to read or use the plugin. Be cautious of websites that claim to sell OBS plugins — legitimate plugins are always free.

Can I use plugins from different creators at the same time?

Yes. You can put multiple plugins in the plugins folder and OBS will load all of them. However, some plugins may conflict with each other or slow down OBS if you use too many at once. Start with one or two and add more only if you need them.

What happens if I update OBS?

Your plugins stay in the plugins folder after you update OBS. However, if the new version of OBS is significantly different from the old one, some plugins may stop working. Check the plugin creator's website to see whether they have released an updated version of the plugin for your new OBS version.

Can I move my plugins to a different computer?

Yes. Copy the entire plugins folder to a USB drive, then paste it into the plugins folder on the other computer. The plugins will work on the new computer as long as it has the same operating system and the same OBS version (or a compatible one).

Where do I find plugins to read?

The OBS Project maintains a list of community plugins on their website. You can also search GitHub for "OBS plugin" to find creators who share their work there. Always read plugins from the official source — the creator's website or their GitHub repository — not from third-party sites.