Camera not working in OBS Studio
If your camera works in the browser test but not in OBS Studio, the wrong camera is selected inside OBS Studio or it lacks permission. Confirm the camera first, then fix OBS Studio.
Step-by-step fix
-
Confirm the camera works: run the CheckMyMic webcam test.
-
In OBS Studio, open the video settings and select the correct camera.
-
Make sure your video isn't turned off inside OBS Studio.
-
Grant OBS Studio camera permission at the OS level, then restart OBS Studio.
Frequently asked questions
Camera works in the test but not OBS Studio — why?
OBS Studio has its own camera selector. Open its video settings and choose the same camera that showed a preview in the test.
Why does OBS Studio show a black screen?
Another app may be holding the camera. Close other video apps, then restart OBS Studio.
The camera still won't show in OBS Studio — what else can I try?
Update OBS Studio, then sign out and back in — camera lists cache hard. Confirm the camera still previews in the CheckMyMic webcam test, and check our webcam guide for your operating system: OS privacy toggles silently block desktop apps more often than OBS Studio itself misbehaves.
Why is my Video Capture Device source black in OBS?
Double-click the source and check the Device dropdown, then use the Deactivate/Activate button to force it to re-open the camera. Only one program can own a webcam — close Zoom or Teams first. If the device list is empty on Windows, enable "Let desktop apps access your camera" in privacy settings.