How to Capture a Specific Window in OBS Studio

Capturing a specific application window in OBS Studio is a fundamental skill for streamers, content creators, and educators who want to share a single program without exposing their entire desktop. This guide provides a direct, step-by-step walkthrough on how to use the “Window Capture” source in OBS Studio to record or stream a specific application, along with quick troubleshooting tips for common issues.

Step 1: Prepare Your Software

Before opening OBS Studio, launch the application window you want to capture (such as a web browser, a document viewer, or a game). Ensure the target window is not minimized to your taskbar, as OBS cannot capture minimized applications.

Step 2: Add a Window Capture Source

1. Open OBS Studio.
2. Go to the Sources dock at the bottom of the screen.
3. Click the + (plus) icon at the bottom of the Sources dock.
4. Select Window Capture from the pop-up menu.
5. In the “Create/Select Source” window, give the source a recognizable name (e.g., “Browser Capture”) and click OK.

Step 3: Select and Configure the Target Window

A properties window will appear automatically after you name the source. Configure the following settings:

• Window: Click this dropdown menu and select the specific application you want to capture.
• Capture Method: Leave this on Automatic. If the window appears black or doesn’t render correctly, change this setting to Windows 10 (1903 and up).
• Window Match Priority: If you are capturing a window that changes titles frequently (like a web browser tab), set this to Match title, otherwise find window of same type. Otherwise, the default setting is sufficient.
• Capture Cursor: Check or uncheck this box depending on whether you want your mouse movements to be visible in the capture.

Click OK to apply the settings.

Step 4: Adjust the Capture in Your Scene

The captured window will now appear in your OBS canvas. You can click and drag the red boundary box to resize or reposition the window within your scene.

• To resize proportionally, click and drag any corner of the red box.
• To crop the window, hold the Alt key (Option key on Mac) while dragging the edges of the red box.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Black Screen: If the preview window is black, ensure the target application is not minimized. If it still does not appear, try running OBS Studio as an administrator, or turn off hardware acceleration in the settings of the target application (especially common with Discord, Chrome, or Spotify).
• Missing Window in Dropdown: If your application does not appear in the “Window” dropdown menu, restart OBS Studio or close and relaunch the target application.