How to Customize OBS Studio Dock Layout

This article provides a straightforward guide on how to customize, rearrange, lock, and reset the docking panels surrounding the central preview window in OBS Studio. By tailoring your user interface, you can optimize your streaming or recording workflow to keep your most important tools right where you need them.

Step 1: Unlock Your Docks

Before you can move any panels (such as Scenes, Sources, Audio Mixer, or Control), you must ensure they are not locked. 1. Open OBS Studio. 2. Click on the Docs menu at the top of the screen. 3. Look for the Lock Docks option. If there is a checkmark next to it, click it to uncheck and unlock the docks.

Step 2: Reposition Panels (Drag and Drop)

Once unlocked, you can freely move any dock to a new position around the central preview window. 1. Click and hold the title bar of the dock you want to move (e.g., the “Sources” bar). 2. Drag the dock toward any edge of the OBS window (left, right, top, or bottom of the preview screen). 3. A blue highlight overlay will appear, indicating where the dock will snap into place. 4. Release the mouse button to drop and lock the panel into its new position.

Step 3: Create Tabbed Docks

To save screen real estate, you can stack docks on top of each other to create a tabbed interface. 1. Click and drag a dock’s title bar. 2. Drag it directly over the center of another dock instead of the edges. 3. Release the mouse button when the target dock highlights. The two panels will now exist in the same space, accessible via clickable tabs at the bottom.

Step 4: Add or Remove Docks

You can clean up your interface by hiding unnecessary panels or adding new ones. 1. Go to the Docks menu. 2. Toggle the checkmarks next to the default docks (such as Stats, Transitions, or Audio Mixer) to show or hide them. 3. You can also select Custom Browser Docks… from this menu to add web-based widgets, such as your twitch chat or stream alerts.

Step 5: Lock the Layout

To prevent accidental clicks from dragging your panels out of place during a live stream, lock your final layout. 1. Go back to the Docks menu. 2. Click Lock Docks to secure your current arrangement.

How to Reset the Layout

If your layout becomes disorganized or you want to start over, you can easily revert to the default OBS setup. 1. Go to the Docks menu. 2. Click Reset UI. 3. Confirm the reset when prompted to restore the default layout.