Using OBS Studio Virtual Camera for Zoom Calls

A simple guide to download OBS, set up the virtual camera, and use it as your Zoom video source for better control over your video feed (scenes, overlays, multiple cameras, etc.)

What is OBS Studio?

OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) is free, open-source software for video recording and live streaming. One of its most useful features is the built-in Virtual Camera, which lets you turn your OBS scene (webcam + overlays + screen share + effects) into a "webcam" that apps like Zoom can use.

This is perfect for Zoom meetings when you want:

Custom backgrounds or overlays
Multiple camera angles switched live
Screen sharing with face overlay
Filters, zooms, crops, or chroma key (green screen)

Step 1: Download and Install OBS Studio

Always download from the official site to avoid fake/malware versions.

Official download page: https://obsproject.com/download

Choose your operating system:

Windows → Download the Installer (supports Windows 10/11)
macOS → Choose Intel or Apple Silicon version (macOS 12+)
Linux → Use your package manager or download from the site

Install it like any other program. No extra plugins are needed for the virtual camera in recent versions (OBS 26+ has it built-in).

Step 2: Basic OBS Setup for Virtual Camera

Open OBS Studio after installation.
In the Sources panel (bottom), click the + button and add your inputs:
- Video Capture Device → select your webcam
- Display Capture or Window Capture → add screen sharing if desired
- Arrange layers, resize/crop as needed (right-click → Transform or hold Alt to crop)
- Optional: Add filters (right-click source → Filters) like Chroma Key, color correction, etc.
Preview your scene in the main OBS window – arrange everything how you want it to appear in Zoom.

Step 3: Start the OBS Virtual Camera

In OBS, look at the bottom-right Controls panel.
Click Start Virtual Camera (the button may say "Stop Virtual Camera" once activated).
Keep OBS running in the background – do NOT close it.

Tip: Start the virtual camera before opening or joining a Zoom meeting for best reliability.

Step 4: Select OBS in Zoom

Open Zoom and join/start a meeting (or go to Settings → Video).
Click the small arrow next to your video button (or go to Video settings).
In the camera dropdown, choose OBS Virtual Camera.
Your OBS scene should now appear as your video feed in Zoom.

You can switch scenes in OBS live (using hotkeys or the Scenes panel) to change layouts without anyone noticing in Zoom.

Troubleshooting Tips

OBS Virtual Camera not showing in Zoom? → Restart Zoom after starting the virtual camera in OBS. Make sure you're on a recent Zoom version.
Low quality or lag? → Lower your OBS output resolution (Settings → Video) or canvas size to 1280×720 or 1920×1080 @ 30fps.
Audio issues? → Virtual camera only sends video – use your normal microphone in Zoom.
Want to stop it? → Click "Stop Virtual Camera" in OBS.

Learn More

Official OBS Virtual Camera Guide: https://obsproject.com/kb/virtual-camera-guide

Full OBS documentation and community help: obsproject.com

Experiment with scenes – it's a game-changer for professional-looking Zoom calls!