How to Set Up OBS Virtual Camera and Send Video to Another App

The short answer

To use OBS Virtual Camera, build your scene in OBS, click Start Virtual Camera in the Controls area, then open the other app's video settings and choose OBS Virtual Camera as the camera. The receiving app then sees your OBS output as if it were an ordinary webcam.

A few conditions change this answer. The virtual camera carries video only, not microphone or desktop audio, so sound has to be set up separately. The receiving app may need to be restarted after the virtual camera starts. Your operating system may also need to approve the virtual camera component or grant camera permission to the receiving app.

Step-by-step setup

• 1. Open OBS and add your sources to a scene, such as a Video Capture Device for your physical webcam, a display capture or an image overlay.
• 2. Arrange the scene the way you want other people to see it.
• 3. In the Controls area, click Start Virtual Camera. The button changes to Stop Virtual Camera while it is running.
• 4. Open the receiving app, such as a video-calling app, recording tool or browser-based meeting.
• 5. Go to that app's video or camera settings and select OBS Virtual Camera from the camera list.
• 6. Confirm that the preview in the receiving app shows your OBS scene.

In newer OBS versions, a settings icon next to the Start Virtual Camera button lets you choose what the virtual camera sends, such as the main program output, a specific scene or a single source. If the other app shows the wrong content, check this setting first.

Video and audio are routed separately

OBS Virtual Camera behaves like a webcam, and a webcam is a video device. It does not pass any sound to the other app. In the receiving app, you still choose a microphone in its audio settings, separately from the camera.

If you only need your voice, select your real microphone directly in the receiving app. If you need OBS-processed audio, such as audio with filters or a mix of sources, you need an additional virtual audio device or routing tool. That setup depends on your operating system and isn't covered in detail here.

Avoid two apps fighting over the same webcam

If OBS is already capturing your physical webcam, the other app should use OBS Virtual Camera, not the physical webcam. On many systems, especially Windows, a physical camera can be held by only one app at a time. Selecting the real webcam in both places can lead to a black screen or an error saying the camera is in use.

Platform-specific notes

• Windows: The virtual camera is installed with OBS. If it is missing from other apps, reinstalling or repairing OBS usually re-registers it.
• macOS: On recent macOS versions, the virtual camera runs as a system extension. The first time you start it, you may need to allow it in System Settings under Privacy & Security, and the receiving app needs camera permission.
• Linux: The virtual camera relies on the v4l2loopback kernel module. If the module isn't installed or loaded, the Start Virtual Camera option may fail or be unavailable. How you install it depends on your distribution.

If the other app doesn't show the video: order of checks

• 1. Confirm the virtual camera is running. The OBS button should read Stop Virtual Camera.
• 2. Restart the receiving app or browser. Many apps build their camera list only at launch, so a virtual camera started later may not appear until the app reopens.
• 3. Check the camera selection. Make sure the receiving app's video setting points to OBS Virtual Camera, not to your physical webcam or a default device.
• 4. Check permissions. The operating system must allow the receiving app to use the camera. For browser-based apps, the website also needs camera permission in the browser.
• 5. Check what OBS is sending. If you see a black or blank image, confirm the OBS scene isn't empty and that the virtual camera output setting points to the scene or source you expect.
• 6. Check the physical camera inside OBS. If your webcam source in OBS is black, the problem is upstream of the virtual camera. Another app may be holding the webcam, or OBS may lack camera permission.
• 7. Check platform requirements. On macOS, confirm the system extension was approved. On Linux, confirm the v4l2loopback module is loaded.

A mirrored image is usually normal

Many video-calling apps mirror your self-view, so text in your OBS scene may look reversed on your own screen. In many apps, other participants still see it the right way round. Check the receiving app's mirror setting, or ask someone on the call how the image looks to them, before changing your OBS scene.

What this guide doesn't cover

No specific version numbers, compatibility lists or app-by-app menu paths were available for this guide. Menu names in OBS and in receiving apps can differ between versions. If a step doesn't match what you see, look for the equivalent camera or video setting in your app's current documentation.