OBS Virtual Camera: Use OBS as a Webcam in Zoom, Teams, Meet and Discord

Updated: June 2026

Quick answer: OBS Virtual Camera turns your entire OBS scene into a fake "webcam" that any video call app can pick. Build your scene in OBS (camera + overlays + green screen + slides), click "Start Virtual Camera", then in Zoom/Teams/Meet select "OBS Virtual Camera" as your camera source. Works on Windows, macOS and Linux; on Mac you may need to grant Screen Recording permission.

TL;DR — Set up in 5 minutes

  1. Install OBS Studio 28 or newer (free, obsproject.com).
  2. Add Video Capture Device → your webcam as a source.
  3. Add any overlays/text/images you want.
  4. Click "Start Virtual Camera" in the Controls panel.
  5. In your call app, choose "OBS Virtual Camera" as the camera.

Why use OBS Virtual Camera instead of webcam directly?

  • Overlay your name, lower-third graphics or sponsor logos during calls.
  • Combine multiple sources: webcam + screen share + slides in one frame.
  • Apply OBS filters (colour grade, chroma key) the call app doesn't support.
  • Pre-built scenes for sales calls vs. team standups, switched with one click.
  • Use a DSLR or capture card output that the call app can't see natively.

Detailed Guide

1. Install OBS Studio

Download from obsproject.com. Versions 28+ include Virtual Camera natively on all three platforms. On macOS, first launch will ask for Screen Recording and Camera permissions in System Settings → Privacy & Security.

2. Build your basic scene

  • Sources panel → + → Video Capture Device. Name it "Webcam". Pick your webcam from the dropdown. Click OK.
  • Right-click the source → Transform → Fit to screen to fill the canvas.
  • Add Image source for logo. Add Text (GDI+ / FreeType 2) for name banner.

3. Start Virtual Camera

In the Controls panel (bottom-right), click "Start Virtual Camera". A green indicator appears. Now any app that lists OS-level cameras will see "OBS Virtual Camera".

4. Pick OBS Virtual Camera in the call app

  • Zoom: Settings → Video → Camera → "OBS Virtual Camera".
  • Microsoft Teams: Settings → Devices → Camera → "OBS Virtual Camera".
  • Google Meet: click gear → Video → Camera → "OBS Virtual Camera".
  • Discord: User Settings → Voice & Video → Camera → "OBS Virtual Camera".

5. Common output settings for calls

OBS → Settings → Video:

  • Base Canvas: 1920×1080.
  • Output (Scaled) Resolution: 1280×720 (matches what most call apps actually transmit).
  • Downscale Filter: Lanczos.
  • FPS: 30.

6. Two-source layout (webcam + screen)

Add Display Capture or Window Capture as a source. Resize the webcam to a corner using Transform handles. Save this as Scene "Talking head + slide". Add a second Scene "Webcam fullscreen" with just the camera. Switch between them mid-call with hotkeys.

7. Colour and beautify filters

Right-click webcam source → Filters → Add Colour Correction, increase contrast and saturation slightly. Add Sharpen at 0.3. Avoid heavy filters — they add CPU load and look unnatural.

8. Chroma key without a real green screen

OBS has a built-in Chroma Key filter. For best results, get a real green screen. NVIDIA Broadcast can replace it on RTX GPUs but introduces 50–100 ms of latency.

9. CPU and GPU load

Virtual Camera streams uncompressed video at your chosen resolution and FPS. On older CPUs (4 cores, <2.5 GHz), use 720p 30 fps. On modern GPUs (NVENC), the load is minimal.

10. Audio — don't forget

OBS Virtual Camera only sends video. Your microphone still goes through the call app directly. If you want OBS audio routing too, use OBS-VirtualCam audio plugin or VB-Cable on Windows / BlackHole on macOS.

FAQ

Why don't I see "OBS Virtual Camera" in the call app?
Make sure OBS Virtual Camera is started (green icon in Controls). On macOS, grant Screen Recording permission to OBS and restart. Restart the call app after starting OBS.

Does OBS Virtual Camera record what I send?
Only if you also click "Start Recording" in OBS. The virtual camera output itself isn't logged.

Can I use OBS Virtual Camera and the regular webcam at the same time?
Yes — pick "OBS Virtual Camera" in one app and the real webcam in another. Two apps can't use the same physical webcam, but virtual cams duplicate fine.

Why is the image laggy on the receiving end?
Your CPU/GPU may be overloaded. Drop output to 720p 30 fps. Close other apps. Use hardware encoding (NVENC, QuickSync) if available.

Can I mirror or flip the image?
Right-click camera source → Transform → Flip Horizontal. Most call apps already mirror the preview but not the outgoing feed, so this fixes "text appears backwards" issues.

Key Takeaways

  • OBS Virtual Camera turns OBS scenes into a webcam any call app can use.
  • Output at 1280×720 30 fps for the smoothest call quality.
  • On macOS, grant Screen Recording + Camera permissions before first use.
  • OBS sends video only — audio still routes through the call app's mic.

Related