Adding a webcam in OBS takes three steps: launch the program, create a source, and select your camera

Open OBS Studio and look at the bottom left corner where it says "Sources". Click the plus sign next to it. A menu will appear with different source types — select "Video Capture Device". A dialog box opens asking you to name this source (you can call it "Webcam" or leave the default). Click "Create New" and then "OK".

In the next window, find the dropdown menu that says "Device". Click it and select your webcam from the list. Most computers have only one camera, so it will be the only option. Once selected, you will see your live camera feed appear in the main preview window. That is the entire process — your webcam is now part of your stream.

If you do not see your camera feed appear, your webcam may not be plugged in, or OBS may not have permission to use it. Check that the USB cable is connected (for external cameras) or that the camera is not disabled in your system settings. On Windows, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and make sure the toggle is on. On Mac, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and check that OBS has permission listed.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the plus sign in the Sources panel, select "Video Capture Device", and choose your camera from the dropdown menu to add a webcam to your stream.
  • Your camera feed will appear in the main preview window when ready after you select the device, and you can resize or reposition it by dragging the corners.
  • If OBS does not detect your camera, check that it is plugged in and that you have granted OBS camera permission in your system settings.
  • You can add multiple webcams by repeating the process and creating separate sources for each camera.

Positioning and resizing your camera in the frame

Once your webcam appears in the preview, you can move it and change its size. Click and drag the camera feed to reposition it anywhere in your frame. To resize it, grab one of the small squares at the corners or edges and drag outward to make it larger or inward to make it smaller.

Most streamers position the camera in one corner of the screen so it does not cover the main content — game footage, a document, or a presentation. Right-click on the camera source in the Sources list to access additional options like "Scale to Screen Size" (which stretches the camera to fill the entire frame) or "Rotate 90 Degrees" (useful if your camera is mounted sideways).

Adjusting camera settings for better image quality

Right-click your camera source and select "Properties" to open the settings panel. Here you can adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation to improve how you look on stream. You can also change the resolution — lower resolutions use less of your internet bandwidth, while higher resolutions look sharper but demand more from your computer.

If your camera image looks blurry or washed out, try adjusting the brightness first. If the image is too dark, increase the brightness slider. If it is too bright and loses detail, decrease it. The contrast slider makes dark areas darker and light areas lighter, which can help if your lighting is flat. Test these changes in the preview window before you go live.

Some cameras have a "Deactivate" option in the Properties panel — this turns the camera off without removing it from your scene, which is useful if you want to hide your camera temporarily during a stream without deleting the source.

Using multiple cameras or switching between them

If you have more than one camera connected, you can add each one as a separate source. Create a new Video Capture Device source for each camera and position them however you want — side by side, stacked, or one hidden behind another. You can then show or hide each camera by clicking the eye icon next to its name in the Sources list.

To switch between cameras during a stream, click the eye icon to hide one camera and show another. This is faster than trying to change the device setting in Properties while you are live. Some streamers use this to switch between a front-facing camera and a side angle, or between a webcam and a document camera pointed at a desk.

Troubleshooting when your camera does not appear

If you create a Video Capture Device source but the Device dropdown is empty, your camera is not being detected by OBS. First, unplug the camera and plug it back in — wait 10 seconds for the system to recognize it. Then close OBS completely and reopen it. Sometimes OBS needs to restart to see a newly connected camera.

If the camera still does not appear, check your system settings. On Windows, open Settings > Devices > Cameras and confirm your camera is listed and enabled. On Mac, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and verify OBS has permission. If OBS is not listed, click the plus sign, find OBS in your Applications folder, and add it.

If your camera is listed in system settings but still does not show in OBS, try updating your camera driver (on Windows) or restarting your computer. Occasionally a camera will work in other programs like Zoom but not in OBS — this usually means OBS needs permission or the camera driver needs updating.

Reducing lag and improving performance with your camera

If your stream is stuttering or your computer is running slowly after you add the camera, lower the camera resolution in Properties. A 720p camera uses less processing power than a 1080p camera. You can also reduce the frame rate — 30 frames per second is standard and uses less power than 60 fps.

If you are streaming from a laptop, close other programs that use your camera, like Zoom or Discord, before you go live. Only one program can use a camera at a time, and having multiple programs compete for it causes lag. If your internet connection is slow, lowering the camera resolution also reduces the amount of data you are sending, which helps prevent dropped frames.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my phone as a webcam in OBS?

Not directly through the Video Capture Device option. You need a third-party app like NDI HX Camera (free on iOS and Android) or Droidcam. These apps send your phone's camera to OBS over your network. Install the app on your phone, install the companion software on your computer, and then add an NDI source in OBS instead of a Video Capture Device.

Why does my camera feed look upside down or sideways?

Right-click the camera source and select "Properties". Look for a "Rotate" option and choose the correct orientation. If there is no rotate option, right-click the source in the Sources list and select "Rotate 90 Degrees" or "Rotate 270 Degrees" until it is correct. Some cameras also have a physical rotation setting in their own software.

Can I blur my background while using a webcam in OBS?

OBS does not have a built-in background blur for video sources. You can use a green screen and OBS's chroma key filter to replace your background, or you can use third-party software like Virtual Camera or Snap Camera that adds blur before sending the feed to OBS. The green screen method is more reliable if you have the space and lighting for it.

What if I want to use my camera but hide my face during part of the stream?

Click the eye icon next to your camera source in the Sources list to hide it when ready. Click the eye icon again to show it. You can also create a second scene without the camera and switch to it during your stream — this is useful if you want to show just your screen for a portion of the broadcast.

Does adding a webcam increase my internet upload requirements?

Yes, but only slightly if you keep the resolution low. A 720p camera at 30 fps adds roughly 1 to 2 megabits per second to your upload speed. If your internet is already slow, lower the camera resolution to 480p or reduce the frame rate to 24 fps. You can test your upload speed at speedtest.net before you stream.