OBS is a tool that allows customizable live streaming and screen sharing on platforms like Zoom and YouTube. However, many people struggle with OBS not showing up on Zoom, don’t they?

In this article, we will introduce solutions for when OBS doesn’t appear on Zoom. Additionally, we will explain in detail how to record and share Zoom with OBS.

By reading this article, even beginners can easily display OBS on Zoom, so make sure to read till the end.

Solutions for When OBS Doesn’t Show on Zoom

We will introduce six ways to address issues when the OBS camera is not recognized in Zoom or when the recording screen appears completely white.

• Check if there’s a virtual camera button
• Ensure the virtual camera is enabled
• Restart your PC
• Run OBS with administrator privileges
• Uninstall
• Install plugins

By trying these six methods, even beginners can easily display OBS on Zoom.

We will go over each method in detail, so please refer to them.

Check if There’s a Virtual Camera Button

First, check if there is a virtual camera button in OBS. There is a “Start Virtual Camera” button under “Controls” at the bottom right of the OBS screen.

If you don’t have a virtual camera, it’s likely because your OBS version is outdated, and you need to update to the latest version.

Here’s how to update:

1. Click “Check for Updates” under “Help (H)” at the top of the OBS screen.

2. If there’s an update available, a window saying “A new update is available” will appear. Click “Update Now.”

※ If no updates are available, a message saying “No updates available” will be displayed.

Ensure the Virtual Camera is Enabled

If an error screen is displayed on Zoom, the virtual camera may not be enabled in OBS. Click the “Start Virtual Camera” button in OBS and check if the OBS display screen is created.

Next, verify that the OBS virtual camera is selected in Zoom. If a camera other than OBS is selected, OBS will not appear in Zoom, so be careful.

Restart Your PC

Restarting your PC is one way to address the issue when OBS doesn’t appear in Zoom.

Restarting your PC can initialize resources and drivers used by OBS and Zoom, potentially resolving any issues.

Additionally, if there is prolonged use or repeated setting changes, communication errors may occur between OBS and Zoom. Restarting can reset these errors effectively.

Restarting is as simple as clicking “Restart” from the power button. After restarting, check to see if OBS appears in Zoom.

Run OBS with Administrator Privileges

Running OBS with administrator privileges may allow OBS to be displayed in Zoom.

“Running with administrator privileges” means launching OBS with special permissions for the computer system.

Accessing settings not available with normal user privileges can enable smoother operation of OBS.

Here’s how to run with administrator privileges:

1. Right-click the OBS icon

2. Click “Run as administrator”

3. When asked “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?” click “Yes.”

Uninstall

If OBS doesn’t appear on Zoom, one solution is to uninstall OBS and then reinstall it.

Zoom may not display OBS due to damaged configuration files or installation errors. Returning to the initial state can often resolve these issues.

Here’s how to uninstall:

1. Open your computer’s settings

2. Select OBS Studio from Apps

3. Click “…” and select “Uninstall”

4. After uninstallation, download OBS studio again from the website

Install Plugins

When OBS doesn’t appear on Zoom, installing a plugin like “Virtual Cam” may solve the problem.

Virtual Cam was used as a plugin before OBS had a built-in virtual camera feature.

Here’s how to install Virtual Cam:

1. Download Virtual Cam

2. Click “Run,” and when “Do you permit the app to make changes to your device?” appears, click “Yes.”

3. Press “Next,” click “Install,” and then “Finish.”

You can select Virtual Cam from “Tools (T)” at the top of the screen.

How to Record and Share Zoom with OBS

With OBS, you can record Zoom screens and share edited content from OBS to Zoom.

We’ll explain how to record and share Zoom with OBS in concrete steps, so please refer to these methods.

How to Record Zoom with OBS

Here’s how to record Zoom with OBS (starting after downloading OBS and Zoom):

1. First, connect Zoom to OBS

Click the “+” in sources and select “Display Capture”

Enter a name, select “OK,” and add the source

2. Next, configure the output file

Click “Settings” at the bottom right

Click “Video” on the left and adjust the output resolution

3. Check the output destination

Click the “Settings” button at the bottom right

Click “Output” on the left, check the recording file path, click the “Browse” button, then click “OK”

4. Configure audio recording

When meeting with OBS, ensure the desktop is enabled (default setting is fine)

5. Start recording when ready

Click the “Start Recording” button under “Controls” at the bottom right

Once the Zoom meeting is over, click the “Stop Recording” button to finish

How to Share OBS Screen on Zoom

Here’s how to share your OBS screen on Zoom:

1. Click “Start Virtual Camera” at the bottom right of the OBS screen

2. Start a Zoom meeting

3. Change the video on the bottom left of Zoom to “OBS Virtual Camera” to complete the process

※ If you want to display a slide screen on Zoom, select “Window Capture” from the source to complete the setup.

Points to Note When Outputting OBS on Zoom

Here are three points to consider when outputting OBS on Zoom.

• Start OBS first
• Restart the PC immediately after installing OBS
• Turn off the Zoom background

If you don’t pay attention to these points, OBS may not display as expected. Therefore, make sure you fully understand each point. We will explain them in detail.

Start OBS First

If you want to display the OBS screen on Zoom, start OBS before Zoom.

If Zoom is started first, the virtual camera of OBS may not display correctly, and there is a possibility that the video will not appear in Zoom.

Starting OBS first ensures that the virtual camera is ready when Zoom starts, allowing the video to be displayed smoothly.

To output OBS video to Zoom, import the webcam as a video capture device in OBS, launch Zoom, and select OBS Virtual Camera.

Restart PC Immediately After Installing OBS

Restart your PC immediately after installing OBS.

This is because after installing OBS, the virtual camera feature is added to the system, but without a restart, the system and Zoom may not properly recognize the virtual camera.

Restarting will correctly reflect the necessary files and drivers within the system. So restart the PC shortly after installing OBS.

Turn Off the Zoom Background

Turn off the Zoom background when outputting OBS to Zoom.

If the Zoom background feature is on, the video sent from the OBS virtual camera might be replaced or overwritten by Zoom’s virtual background. Thus, custom videos or layouts set in OBS may not be displayed correctly.

Moreover, since Zoom’s background removal process uses AI or system processing, it can make the video look unnatural, so caution is needed.

Frequently Asked Questions When OBS Doesn’t Show on Zoom

Here are three frequently asked questions for when OBS doesn’t show on Zoom.

• Is it okay if the image is flipped?
• How can I mirror stream using OBS?
• What if the video part doesn’t show when captured with Window Capture?

We will answer each question in detail. If you have any more questions, be sure to read to the end.

Is it okay if the image is flipped?

There is no problem if the image is flipped.

Even if the image appears flipped on your side, it is displayed normally to those viewing the Zoom screen.

If you don’t want the image on your side to be flipped, open Zoom’s video settings and uncheck “Mirror my video” for normal display. If you’re concerned about it, try this out.

How can I mirror stream using OBS?

Here’s how to mirror stream using OBS:

1. Click the “+” in sources at the top of the OBS screen

2. Select “Browser” from the menu and enter a name, then click OK

3. In the new window, add the URL of the Twitch you want to mirror stream

4. Adjust the width, height, FPS as needed

5. Use the mirror stream tag on Twitch creator dashboard

6. Click “Start Streaming” when you’re ready

What if the video part doesn’t show when captured with Window Capture?

Switch the “Capture Method” in Window Capture properties from “Automatic” to “Windows Graphics Capture” which might resolve the issue.

Moreover, setting the “Video Rendering Method” in Zoom’s video settings to options other than “Auto” or “Flip” may also work.

After Outputting Video to Zoom with OBS, What’s Next?

This time, we explained how to output video to Zoom with OBS and what to do when it doesn’t appear. By leveraging the virtual camera, you can customize Zoom screen sharing more freely and achieve professional broadcasting.

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