How to remove a webcam background in OBS

The short answer

OBS Studio removes a webcam background by applying a filter to your camera source. There are two main approaches, and the right one depends on what is physically behind you. If you have a green or blue backdrop, use OBS's built-in Chroma Key filter. If you don't, you need a filter that uses machine learning to separate you from the room, which is usually called segmentation. That comes either from a third-party background removal plugin or, on supported NVIDIA graphics cards, from an NVIDIA background removal filter. Once the background is transparent, you can place any image, video or color behind yourself by adding it as a separate source.

Background removal in OBS is a virtual effect applied to live video. It is separate from your physical background and from editing the background of a still photo. It is also separate from the background blur or replacement built into apps like Zoom or Teams, or into your operating system's camera settings. If you only need a background for one call app, that app's own effect may be simpler. OBS is most useful when you want more control or want to send the same processed video to several apps.

Which method to use

Method | What you need | Strengths | Limitations

Chroma Key (built-in) | An evenly lit green or blue backdrop | Clean edges when lighting is even; no extra software | Requires a physical screen; clothing that matches the key color will also disappear

Third-party background removal plugin | The plugin installed into OBS | Works with an ordinary room behind you | Edges around hair and hands can be rough; uses extra processing power

NVIDIA background removal filter | A supported NVIDIA graphics card and NVIDIA's effects software installed | No backdrop needed; processing runs on the graphics card | Only available on supported hardware

This guide does not include tested figures for edge quality, processor load or the exact hardware and OBS versions each option supports. Check the current requirements from OBS and from the plugin or driver provider before you rely on a particular method.

Before you start

• Install OBS Studio and confirm that your webcam appears as a Video Capture Device source with a live image in the preview. If the preview is black, fix camera access first. That includes operating-system camera permissions and closing other apps that may be holding the camera.
• Close any other app that is using the webcam. Many cameras can only be used by one program at a time.
• Light your face evenly from the front. Both chroma keying and segmentation struggle with shadows, backlighting from a window and low light.
• For chroma key, hang the backdrop flat with as few wrinkles as possible. Light it separately if you can, and leave some distance between yourself and the screen to reduce colored light reflecting onto you.

Method 1: Remove a green screen with Chroma Key

• 1. In the Sources panel, right-click your webcam source and choose Filters.
• 2. Under Effect Filters, click the plus button and choose Chroma Key. Give it a name and confirm.
• 3. Set Key Color Type to Green or Blue to match your backdrop. If your screen is an unusual shade, choose Custom and pick its color.
• 4. Adjust Similarity until the backdrop disappears completely, without parts of you becoming transparent.
• 5. Adjust Smoothness to soften the transition at the edges.
• 6. Raise Key Color Spill Reduction if a green or blue fringe remains around your outline.
• 7. Close the Filters window.

There are no universal correct values for these sliders. The right settings depend on your lighting, your camera and the color of your backdrop, and no tested starting values are provided here. Change one slider at a time while watching the preview.

Method 2: Remove the background without a green screen

• 1. Install a background removal plugin, or the NVIDIA effects software if you have a supported NVIDIA card, following the provider's instructions for your operating system and OBS version.
• 2. Restart OBS so it loads the new filter.
• 3. Right-click your webcam source, choose Filters, click the plus button under Effect Filters, and select the background removal filter. Its exact name depends on which one you installed.
• 4. Adjust the filter's options, such as its threshold or segmentation mode, until the room is removed and your outline stays intact.
• 5. If the edges flicker, improve your lighting before changing settings further. Segmentation depends heavily on clear contrast between you and the background.

Some of these filters can blur the background instead of removing it. Blurring is often more forgiving at the edges if a soft background is all you need.

Add a replacement background

• 1. In the Sources panel, click the plus button and add an Image, Media Source or Color Source for your new background.
• 2. Drag the new source below the webcam source in the list. OBS draws sources from the bottom up, so anything lower in the list appears behind.
• 3. Resize the background to fill the canvas by right-clicking it and choosing Transform, then Fit to screen or Stretch to screen.

If your camera is rotated for portrait video

If your webcam is mounted sideways for vertical video, rotate it in OBS. Right-click the webcam source and choose Transform, then rotate 90 degrees in the needed direction. To produce a vertical output, also change the base (canvas) and output resolutions in Settings, under Video, to a portrait shape. The background removal filter works on the camera image itself, so rotation does not stop it working. Your replacement background, however, needs to be resized to fit the new portrait canvas.

How to know it worked

• In the OBS preview, the area behind you shows your replacement background, or black if you haven't added one, with no leftover patches of the room or backdrop.
• Move your head, raise your hands and turn side to side. Your outline should stay solid, without parts of your hair, fingers or shoulders vanishing or flickering.
• Check your clothing and anything you hold. With chroma key, anything close to the key color will turn transparent.
• Watch the preview for a minute under your normal lighting. Changing daylight can break a key that looked good at first.

Use the result in a video call

Click Start Virtual Camera in the OBS Controls panel. Then, in your call app's video settings, choose the OBS Virtual Camera as your camera instead of your physical webcam. Keep OBS open for the whole call, because the call app only receives what OBS is sending.

Each check covers a different part of the setup. A clean OBS preview shows the filter is working. Seeing your processed image in the call app's camera preview shows the virtual camera is reaching that app. Neither check tells you how the video looks to other people, because the call service may compress the video or lower its resolution on a weak connection. To check that, join a test call or ask someone to tell you whether your edges and movement look acceptable at their end. If the call app also applies its own background effect, turn that off to avoid two effects interfering with each other.

Common problems

• Patches of the backdrop remain: light the backdrop more evenly or smooth out wrinkles, then raise Similarity slightly.
• Parts of you disappear: lower Similarity, or change clothing that is close to the key color.
• Colored fringe around your outline: increase Key Color Spill Reduction and move further from the screen.
• Segmentation edges are rough or flicker: add front light, reduce backlighting, or use the blur option instead of full removal.
• OBS slows down or video stutters: AI-based removal uses significant processing power. Try a lower camera resolution, close other demanding apps, or switch to chroma key.
• The call app shows no image from OBS: confirm the virtual camera is started, then restart the call app so it detects the camera.