How do I use OBS virtual camera for Zoom or Discord?

What Is OBS Virtual Camera?

OBS Virtual Camera turns your entire OBS scene output into a webcam device that other apps can use. Instead of a plain webcam feed, you can show your full production — gameplay, overlays, alerts, and all — in Zoom meetings, Discord calls, or Microsoft Teams.

Step 1 — Start OBS Virtual Camera

Build the scene you want others to see — it can include your webcam, slides, game capture, or text. Click Start Virtual Camera in the Controls panel. OBS creates a virtual device named OBS Virtual Camera on your system.

Step 2 — Select It in Zoom

Open Zoom, go to Settings → Video, and choose OBS Virtual Camera from the camera dropdown. Your OBS scene now appears as your Zoom video feed. The same works during an active call — click the arrow next to the camera icon and select OBS Virtual Camera.

Step 3 — Select It in Discord

In Discord, open User Settings → Voice & Video → Video Settings and set the camera to OBS Virtual Camera. Join a video call or Go Live to share your OBS output. Discord Go Live shares your screen separately — Virtual Camera is for showing your composed OBS scene as your face cam replacement.

Step 4 — Fix Black or Frozen Virtual Camera

If other apps show a black feed, confirm OBS Virtual Camera is running (the button should say Stop Virtual Camera). Restart the target app after starting Virtual Camera. On macOS, grant OBS screen recording permission. Only one scene outputs to Virtual Camera at a time — switch scenes in OBS to change what others see.

Step 5 — Adjust Output Resolution

Virtual Camera uses your OBS output resolution. For video calls, set Settings → Video → Output Resolution to 1280x720 to reduce CPU load and avoid lag in Zoom or Discord. 720p is standard for meetings and looks sharp enough.

Virtual Camera Use Cases

• Present a polished scene in Zoom with overlays and slides
• Share a composed layout in Discord video calls
• Use OBS filters on your webcam before it reaches any app
• Switch scenes mid-call without reconfiguring the meeting app
• Set output to 720p for smooth performance in calls

Virtual Camera is one of OBS's most underrated features — it brings broadcast-quality production to everyday video calls.