Capture Windows Virtual Desktops in OBS Studio

This article explains how to successfully capture and isolate a single virtual desktop workspace in Windows using OBS Studio. Because the standard “Display Capture” tool mirrors your physical monitor and displays any active workspace you switch to, capturing a single virtual desktop requires specific configurations. Below, you will learn how to use Windows Graphics Capture and virtual display workarounds to stream or record a designated virtual workspace without accidental interruptions.

The Limitation of Standard Display Capture

By default, the “Display Capture” source in OBS Studio records the physical output of your monitor. If you use Windows Virtual Desktops (accessible via Win + Tab) and switch between them, OBS will continue to record whatever physical screen is currently visible to you. To lock OBS to a specific virtual workspace, you must use alternative capture methods.

Method 1: Use Window Capture with Windows Graphics Capture

The most efficient way to capture applications on a specific virtual desktop—without recording your main workspace—is by using the Window Capture tool configured with the correct capture API.

  1. Create your Virtual Desktop: Press Win + Tab, click New desktop, and open the applications you want to record on that second desktop.
  2. Open OBS Studio: Keep OBS open on your primary virtual desktop.
  3. Add a Window Capture Source: In the Sources dock, click the + icon and select Window Capture. Name the source and click OK.
  4. Select the Target Window: In the properties window, select the application running on your secondary virtual desktop from the Window dropdown menu.
  5. Change the Capture Method: Change the Capture Method dropdown from “Automatic” to Windows 10 (1903 and up) (also known as Windows Graphics Capture).

This method allows OBS to lock onto the specific application window. Even if you switch virtual desktops on your physical monitor, OBS will continue to record only that application in the background.

Method 2: Create a Virtual Monitor for True Display Capture

If you need to capture an entire desktop workspace (including the taskbar, desktop icons, and multiple changing windows) rather than just a single app, you must create a virtual display.

  1. Install a Virtual Display Driver: Download and install a free virtual display driver (such as IddSampleDriver or spacedesk) to trick Windows into thinking you have a second or third physical monitor plugged in.
  2. Extend Your Display: Go to Windows Settings > System > Display and ensure your desktop is set to “Extend these displays.”
  3. Configure the Virtual Workspace: Move the windows you want to record to the newly created virtual screen.
  4. Set Up OBS Display Capture: In OBS Studio, add a Display Capture source. In the properties menu, set the Display dropdown to target the newly created virtual monitor.

By recording the virtual monitor, you can switch between your physical virtual desktops freely while OBS continuously and cleanly captures the dedicated virtual screen.