How to Screen Record with OBS on Windows, Mac, and Linux

When it comes to recording your screen on Windows, Mac, or Linux, there are numerous software options available. However, none quite match the smooth operation and reliability of OBS (Open Broadcaster Software). To simplify the process for you, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to explain how OBS works and outline all the methods you can use to record your screen with it.

Method 1: Recording Screen with OBS on Windows

Let’s begin with the most commonly used platform, Windows. Since OBS has no restrictions on Windows, the steps are pretty straightforward.

1. Install OBS on Windows

There are two ways you can download and install OBS. You can either go to the OBS official website and click the Windows button. After that, follow the basic installation steps. Alternatively, you can visit the Microsoft Store and search for OBS Studio, where you’ll find an install button. Clicking this button will automatically install OBS on your system.

2. Change OBS Settings

After opening OBS, the first thing you need to do is adjust your settings for recording. Here’s how:

• Click on the ‘Settings‘ button on the bottom right of the OBS interface.

• In the settings window, click on ‘Output‘ from the sidebar, and then locate the ‘Recording‘ section.

• Here, you can select the recording files path by either typing the path name or browsing the path location.

• You can also adjust the recording quality and recording format according to your preferences, although keeping the default settings is usually sufficient.

• Once you’ve configured your settings, click on Apply and then OK to save the changes. That’s it! Your settings are now configured for recording.

3. Start Recording in OBS

• Navigate to the scene section on the bottom left of your screen. If there isn’t a scene already, press the plus icon under the scene tab to add one.

• After adding a scene, press the Plus icon on the sources tab.

• From the menu that appears, select ‘Display Capture‘.

• A new pop-up window will appear to confirm adding a new display capture source. Give it a name and click on ‘OK’.

• Once confirmed, it will prompt you to choose the display you want to record. If you have multiple screens, select the appropriate one and click on ‘OK’ again.

• Now that you have selected a display, navigate your cursor to the ‘Start recording‘ button on the bottom right and click when you are ready to begin recording.

4. Specific Window Capture

In OBS, you can use ‘Game Capture‘ and ‘Window Capture‘ to record specific game screens or application windows without capturing the entire display. Here’s how to set it up:

• To record a specific game screen, select the ‘Game Capture‘ or ‘Capture specific window‘ option.

• Choose the game you want to record from the list and click ‘Start Recording‘.

Alternatively, you can utilize ‘Window Capture’ to capture any application window in OBS without recording the entire screen.

Method 2: Recording Screen with OBS on Mac

Recording your screen on Mac using OBS is quite similar to Windows, with a few minor restrictions. However, we’ll guide you through the process step by step.

1. Install OBS on Mac

Before proceeding to the OBS download page on their official website, ensure that your macOS version is 11 or higher. Once confirmed, download the appropriate version for your Mac – either the Mac Intel version or the Mac Apple silicon version – and follow the installation steps provided.

2. Start Recording

To begin recording your screen using OBS on Mac, follow these steps:

• If a scene hasn’t been added already, click the ‘Plus’ button under the scene tab located in the bottom left corner of OBS to add a new scene.

• Next, click the ‘Plus’ button on the source tab to access the sources menu.

• Select ‘macOS Screen Capture’ to add a new screen capture source from the menu.

• Confirm by clicking ‘OK’ to add the source.

• Once confirmed, choose the screen you wish to record and click ‘OK.’

• After selecting the screen, click the ‘Start Recording’ button located at the bottom right of OBS to commence recording your screen.

• To modify the file location of the recording, navigate to ‘Settings.’

• Under ‘Settings,’ click on ‘Output’ from the sidebar and locate the ‘Recording’ section. From there, select the desired save location.

Method 3: Recording Screen with OBS on Linux

Using OBS on Linux can involve some complexities, but with the right guidance, it’s manageable. Here are the steps to get started:

1. Install OBS on Linux

Before we delve into the steps for recording your screen, let’s first discuss how to install OBS on Linux. OBS is officially supported on Flatpak and Ubuntu. You can obtain the Flatpak version by using the provided link.

For Ubuntu users running Ubuntu 20.04 or a later version, you can install OBS by opening your terminal and typing the following command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:obsproject/obs-studio
sudo apt update
sudo apt install ffmpeg obs-studio

2. Start Recording

Recording in Linux using OBS follows a similar process to Windows with a few differences. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Launch OBS and navigate to the ‘Scene‘ box. Click the ‘Plus‘ button to create a new scene if one isn’t already present.

• Next, create a new source by clicking the ‘Plus‘ button under the ‘Sources‘ tab.

• In the menu that appears, select ‘Screen Capture.’ This option functions similarly to ‘Display Capture‘ in Windows and Mac.

• If you have multiple screens, choose the one you want to record and click ‘OK.’

• Once you’ve selected the screen, press the ‘Start Recording‘ button to begin capturing.

• To adjust the recording file path or location, navigate to the settings.

• Go to the ‘Output‘ tab and configure the recording path.

That’s how you can record your screen using OBS on any platform. If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to let us know in the comments below!