How to Rename OBS Virtual Camera

The short answer

OBS Studio does not include a setting for renaming its virtual camera. Video-call apps, browsers and recording tools list the device under the name OBS registers with the operating system, usually "OBS Virtual Camera". Changing that label requires a workaround outside OBS, and the right one depends on your operating system. On Windows you can edit the registered name in the registry. On Linux you can give the loopback device a custom label. On macOS there is no practical, supported way to change it.

Before you change anything, check what you are trying to achieve. The camera name is normally visible only to you, in the device menus on your own computer. In most call apps, other participants see your video, not the name of the device that produced it. If your goal is to hide the fact that you use OBS from people on the call, renaming the device may not be needed. Also note that renaming a scene or source inside OBS does not change the camera name that other apps display.

Before you start

• Use OBS Studio's built-in virtual camera. Its Start Virtual Camera button is in the Controls panel. Older setups that used a separate virtual camera plugin may register a different name.
• Start the virtual camera at least once, so you know it works before you rename it.
• Close OBS and every app that might be using the camera, including browsers with open call tabs.
• Make sure you have administrator rights on Windows or sudo access on Linux.
• Expect an OBS update or reinstall to possibly restore the original name. Note down your steps so you can repeat them.

Windows: change the name in the registry

On Windows, the virtual camera is registered as a video capture device. Its display name is stored in a registry value called FriendlyName. Editing the registry carelessly can cause problems, so back up each key before you change it.

• 1. Close OBS and all apps that use cameras.
• 2. Open Registry Editor: press Windows+R, type regedit and confirm the administrator prompt.
• 3. Open Edit > Find, enter OBS Virtual Camera, tick only "Data", and search.
• 4. When the search stops on a FriendlyName value with that text, right-click the parent key in the left pane and choose Export to save a backup.
• 5. Double-click FriendlyName, enter the new name and click OK.
• 6. Press F3 to find the next match. The name may be registered more than once, for example once for 64-bit apps and once for 32-bit apps. Repeat the backup and edit steps for each FriendlyName match.
• 7. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer, or at least the apps where you want to see the new name.

Some matches may be values other than FriendlyName. Leave those unchanged. To undo the change, double-click the exported backup files and confirm the import.

Linux: set a custom label on the loopback device

On Linux, OBS sends its output through v4l2loopback, a kernel module that creates a virtual video device. When OBS loads the module itself, it supplies its own label. You can create the device yourself with a custom label before starting OBS. For example:

sudo modprobe -r v4l2loopback
sudo modprobe v4l2loopback devices=1 exclusive_caps=1 card_label="My Camera"

The first command unloads the module, which only works if nothing is using the device. The second command creates one loopback device with your chosen label. The exclusive_caps option helps browsers and call apps recognize the device as a camera. Then start OBS and click Start Virtual Camera.

This change lasts only until the next reboot. To keep it, add the same options to your distribution's module configuration files. Exact file locations vary by distribution, so check its documentation. Whether OBS uses your existing device or loads its own can also depend on the OBS version. If the old name reappears, confirm which device OBS is writing to.

macOS: a limitation

On macOS, the virtual camera ships as part of the signed OBS application. Modifying the name inside the app bundle would break that signature, and macOS may then refuse to load the camera. There is no supported way to rename it. If a custom device name matters on a Mac, the alternative is a different virtual camera tool that lets you set a name. No specific tool was verified for this guide, so check any candidate's documentation for that feature.

How to confirm it worked

Test in stages. Each check confirms one thing and leaves the next untested.

• Name check: Open the camera list in your call app or browser settings. Your new name should appear, and "OBS Virtual Camera" should not appear as a separate entry. This confirms the system registered the new label, but not that video is flowing.
• Capture check: Start OBS, click Start Virtual Camera and select the renamed device in your call app's preview. You should see your OBS scene. A black or frozen frame means the app can open the device but OBS is not sending output. Make sure the virtual camera is running and the scene is not empty.
• Call check: Make a short test call or recording. This is the only step that shows how the picture looks to others. The rename itself has no effect on resolution, frame rate or quality.

If the new name appears in some apps but not others, close those apps fully and reopen them, since many read the device list only at startup. On Windows, a 32-bit app may still show the old name if only the 64-bit entry was edited. If the name reverts after an OBS update, repeat the steps for your system.