How to Use an iPad as a Camera in OBS

The short answer

OBS Studio does not detect an iPad's camera by itself. To get the iPad's video into OBS, you need a bridge, and there are three main options. The first is a webcam app on the iPad paired with matching software on the computer. The second is a network video protocol such as NDI, which OBS can receive through a plugin. The third, on a Mac, is a wired connection that lets OBS capture the iPad's screen while the iPad shows its camera view. Which one fits depends on your computer's operating system, whether you want a cable or a wireless link, and whether you can accept on-screen controls appearing in the picture.

One point of confusion: "using an iPad as a camera" can also mean plugging an external webcam into an iPad. That is the reverse setup and is not covered here. This guide covers sending the iPad's own camera image into OBS on a computer.

Choose a connection method

Method | How it reaches OBS | Works on | Main trade-off

Webcam app with desktop companion | The computer-side software creates a camera device or source that OBS can select | Depends on the app; check its stated support for your iPad model, iPadOS version and computer OS | Relies on a third-party app; some features may require payment

NDI-capable camera app | The iPad sends video over the local network, and OBS receives it through an NDI plugin | Windows, macOS and Linux, wherever the plugin and NDI runtime are supported | Both devices must be on the same network, and quality depends on that network

Wired screen capture (Mac only) | macOS can expose a connected iPad as a video capture device, which shows the iPad's screen | Mac with a cable connection | You capture the whole screen, so camera app controls may appear unless the app can hide them

If you mainly want a clean camera image, a dedicated webcam or NDI app is usually the better choice. Use wired screen capture on a Mac when you would rather avoid installing anything on the computer and can crop out the interface.

Before you start

• Install a current version of OBS Studio on the computer.
• Charge the iPad or keep it plugged in. Running the camera continuously drains the battery.
• Mount the iPad on a stand or tripod so the camera you plan to use (front or rear) points at you.
• For a wireless method, connect the iPad and computer to the same network.
• For a wired method, have a cable that fits the iPad's port and supports data transfer, not just charging.

Option 1: Webcam app with a desktop companion

• 1. Install the webcam app on the iPad and the matching computer software from the same developer. Confirm that both support your iPad model and your computer's operating system.
• 2. Open the app on the iPad. When iPadOS asks for camera access, allow it. If you denied it earlier, turn camera access back on for that app in the iPad's Settings.
• 3. Connect the iPad by cable or Wi-Fi, following the app's instructions. Check: the computer software should show a live preview from the iPad.
• 4. In OBS, click + under Sources, choose Video Capture Device, and select the device name the companion software created. Some apps instead provide their own OBS source or plugin. In that case, use the method the app describes.
• 5. Check: moving in front of the iPad should update the image in the OBS preview with no long freeze.

Option 2: NDI over your local network

• 1. Install an iPad camera app that can output NDI.
• 2. On the computer, install an NDI plugin for OBS and the NDI runtime it requires. Restart OBS afterward.
• 3. Open the app on the iPad, allow camera access and start its NDI output.
• 4. In OBS, click + under Sources and add the NDI source type that the plugin provides. Pick the iPad's stream from the list.
• 5. Check: the iPad's stream name appears in the source list, and the OBS preview shows live motion. If the name does not appear, make sure both devices are on the same network and that a firewall on the computer is not blocking local network traffic.

Option 3: Wired screen capture on a Mac

• 1. Connect the iPad to the Mac with a data cable. Unlock the iPad and tap Trust if it asks whether to trust the computer.
• 2. On the iPad, open a camera app and frame the shot. Look for an option to hide on-screen controls.
• 3. In OBS, click + under Sources, choose Video Capture Device, and select the iPad from the device list.
• 4. Check: the OBS preview mirrors the iPad screen live.
• 5. To remove buttons or overlays, crop the source. Hold Option while dragging an edge of the source in the preview, or use a Crop/Pad filter.
• 6. Turn off auto-lock and notifications on the iPad, or enable a Focus mode, so the screen stays on and no alerts appear in the shot.

Permissions on the computer

On a Mac, OBS may need permission to use camera devices before it can open a virtual camera driver or a capture device. If a device appears in the list but shows only a black image, open System Settings, go to Privacy & Security, then Camera, and make sure OBS is allowed. Restart OBS after you change it. On Windows, check the camera privacy settings, which have a separate switch for desktop apps. Granting permission only gives OBS access to the device. It does not mean video is actually arriving, so confirm that with the live-motion check.

Using the iPad feed in a video call

To send your OBS scene, including the iPad camera, to a call app, click Start Virtual Camera in OBS. Then choose OBS Virtual Camera as the camera in the call app's video settings. Check: the call app's self-view shows the same image as the OBS preview. If the self-view is blank, close and reopen the call app after you start the virtual camera. Also confirm that the browser or app has camera permission.

Audio is a separate check

Video and audio from the iPad do not always travel together. Some webcam and NDI apps also send the iPad's microphone audio, while wired screen capture may or may not carry sound, depending on the setup. In OBS, watch the Audio Mixer: a moving meter for the source means input is arriving. That tells you sound is reaching OBS, but not that it is clear. Record a short clip and listen back to judge clarity. This guide does not recommend a specific input-level target, because no verified figure was available for this setup. If a separate microphone is already connected to the computer, it is often simpler to use that and mute the iPad audio source to avoid echo or doubled sound.

What your checks confirm and what they leave untested

• A live, moving image in the OBS preview confirms that the connection and capture work. It does not confirm image quality, framing or lighting.
• A matching self-view in a call app confirms the virtual camera works on your end. It does not confirm what other participants receive, since the call service may compress or resize the video. Ask someone to join a short test call to check this.
• A short local recording lets you judge lag and dropped frames under your current conditions. Wireless results can change if network traffic changes during the actual session.
• Running the setup for a while shows whether the iPad stays awake, stays connected and avoids overheating. A quick test does not cover this, so do a longer trial before an important call or stream.

Common problems

• Device not listed in OBS: restart OBS after installing drivers or plugins. Reconnect the iPad, and make sure it is unlocked and trusts the computer.
• Black or frozen image: check camera permission on both the iPad and the computer, and make sure the iPad app is open in the foreground and actively streaming.
• Image mirrored or sideways: use the iPad app's orientation settings, or right-click the source in OBS and choose Transform to flip or rotate it.
• Noticeable delay on a wireless link: move closer to the router, reduce other network traffic, or switch to a wired method if the app supports one.

Gaps in this guide

No verified data was available on specific apps, their prices, supported resolutions or frame rates, or measured latency. App features and compatibility also change between versions. Before you rely on a particular app, check its current listing and documentation for your iPad model, iPadOS version and computer operating system.