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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →To capture only an open Google Chrome window in OBS, add a Window Capture source, open its properties, and select Chrome. Put the source in the scene, check the preview, and make a short test recording. On macOS 13 or newer, use macOS Screen Capture instead of the deprecated legacy Window Capture source.
Choose the right OBS source first
Your choice depends on whether you need the existing Chrome window, the entire monitor, or only a webpage rendered inside OBS.
| OBS source | Use it when | What appears |
|---|---|---|
| Window Capture | You want one open Chrome window | The selected window and its contents, even when another window overlaps it |
| macOS Screen Capture | You are on macOS 13 or later | A selected window, application or display; audio capture is supported on macOS 13 and later |
| Display Capture | You need the complete monitor or window capture is unsuitable | Everything visible on the selected display, including other windows and desktop content |
| Browser Source | You want OBS to render a webpage itself | A page loaded through Chrome Embedded Framework, not your already-open Chrome application and its browser UI |
OBS describes Window Capture as capturing “a specific window and its contents.” See the official Window Capture documentation and the Sources Guide for source behavior and platform availability.
Capture Chrome with Window Capture
- Open Chrome. Navigate to the page, document or web app you intend to show. Keep the Chrome window open while configuring OBS.
- Open OBS and select the scene. In the Scenes dock, choose the scene that will contain the recording or stream.
- Add the source. In the Sources dock, click +, choose Window Capture, and give it a descriptive name such as “Chrome – demo.”
- Select Chrome. In the source properties, open the Window list and choose the Chrome window. If more than one Chrome window is open, use its title to identify the correct one.
- Confirm the preview. Chrome should appear in the canvas. Drag the red transform handles to resize it, or right-click the source and use the transform options to position it precisely.
- Set source order. Sources higher in the Sources list are drawn above sources below them. Move overlays, camera feeds or text above Chrome if they must remain visible.
- Choose pointer behavior. In the source properties, use the documented cursor option to show or hide the mouse pointer.
- Test before going live. Record a short clip, stop it, and inspect the resulting file. OBS recommends a brief test instead of starting an important stream or recording without checking the result; its Quick Start Guide covers the broader preflight process.
If Chrome is missing from the Window list
Make sure Chrome is open and return to the source properties to check the list again. The official guidance establishes checking that the target window is open and selecting an available source; it does not document one universal Chrome-specific fix for an empty list. If the list remains empty, confirm that your OBS build and desktop session provide a window-capture source, then try the platform-specific source described below.
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Platform-specific instructions
Windows
Windows OBS provides Window Capture. Automatic is the default capture method, and the properties also expose capture-method and window-match settings documented by OBS. Select the Chrome window, verify the preview, and test motion, scrolling and audio separately.
On a multi-GPU laptop, OBS and Chrome can run on different graphics processors. OBS warns that this arrangement can cause performance or capture-type problems. If capture behaves incorrectly, follow the GPU Selection Guide to assign OBS and the application appropriately in Windows graphics settings.
macOS 13 and later
Add macOS Screen Capture from the Sources dock, then choose the Chrome window or application in its properties. OBS marks the older Window Capture source as deprecated for macOS 13 and newer. macOS Screen Capture is based on ScreenCaptureKit and supports a single window, an application or a display, with audio capture on macOS 13 and later. Consult the macOS Screen Capture documentation.
macOS 12.3–12.6
OBS documents macOS Screen Capture for this range without audio, while the older Window Capture source is documented for macOS 10.15–12.6. OBS notes that Window Capture is less performant on macOS than on other platforms and suggests Display Capture for a smoother capture experience. The practical choice depends on your installed OBS version and whether audio is required, so test the exact scene you will use.
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Linux
Available names depend on your distribution, OBS package and desktop session. OBS documents Window Capture (Xcomposite) and Window Capture (PipeWire), and its display-capture guidance points Linux users to the window or display source exposed by their session. PipeWire requires Wayland. Select the Chrome window when that option is available; otherwise use the supported display source and test for compositor-specific behavior.
Window Capture versus Display Capture
Use Window Capture for a Chrome-only recording
Window Capture is the straightforward option when the audience should see Chrome but not unrelated desktop windows. You can move another window over Chrome without intentionally switching the captured target.
Use Display Capture for the whole monitor
Display Capture is appropriate for a desktop tutorial, multiple applications or a setup where window capture is unavailable. It also captures notifications, other windows and desktop content, so close or hide anything confidential before recording.
Use Browser Source for a page-only render
Browser Source opens a URL inside OBS through Chrome Embedded Framework. It is useful when you need a clean webpage render without the Chrome tab bar, extensions or user session. It is not a way to show the exact already-open Chrome window, its current login state or browser controls.
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Make the capture reliable
Prepare the scene
- Use a clear source name so you can identify the Chrome capture later.
- Keep the Chrome window at a sensible size and avoid changing display scaling during the session.
- Place alert, camera and text sources above Chrome in the Sources list.
- Check that the intended Chrome tab is visible before each important take.
Check video and audio independently
A window source supplies the selected visual window; it does not automatically guarantee that the page’s audio is present in your recording. Confirm your chosen desktop or application audio source in OBS, watch the audio meters, and play a short clip during the test recording. On macOS 13 and later, macOS Screen Capture can provide audio according to OBS’s source documentation.
Test the actions your audience will see
Do not test only a static page. Scroll, switch tabs if needed, open menus, play the media and resize the window exactly as you will during the real session. Review the saved file, not just the live preview, because encoding and audio problems can appear only in the recording.
Troubleshooting
The Chrome window does not appear
Confirm Chrome is open, then reopen the Window Capture properties and select it from the Window list. If you are on macOS 13 or newer, replace legacy Window Capture with macOS Screen Capture. On Linux, check which Xcomposite or PipeWire source your current desktop session exposes.
The preview is blank or does not update
Recheck that the selected title is the window you intend to show and make another short test. Blank captures can depend on the application, operating system, compositor or protected content; the cited OBS guidance does not establish one universal Chrome fix. If the problem is limited to a multi-GPU Windows laptop, review OBS’s GPU assignment guidance.
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Other desktop windows are visible
You are probably using Display Capture, or the scene contains another display source. Remove or hide that source and add Window Capture for Chrome, or crop and arrange the scene only when showing the full display is intentional.
The wrong Chrome window is selected
Close unnecessary Chrome windows, give the target page a distinctive title if possible, reopen the source properties and select the matching entry. Make a test recording after switching windows.
The recording is slow or stutters
Reduce unnecessary scene complexity, test at the output resolution you actually need, and check GPU assignment on Windows laptops with multiple GPUs. On macOS, compare macOS Screen Capture and Display Capture where the installed OBS version supports both; OBS specifically notes that legacy Window Capture can be less performant on macOS.
Protected video is black
Some services restrict capture of protected content. The official material cited here does not promise a Chrome or OBS setting that bypasses those restrictions. Respect the service’s terms and use content you are authorized to record.
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open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js
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Final preflight checklist
- Correct source chosen for your operating system
- Chrome window selected and visible in the preview
- Source order keeps overlays above Chrome
- Pointer visibility set as intended
- Audio meters moving when page audio should be recorded
- Scrolling, playback and other on-screen actions tested
- Short recording reviewed before the real stream or session
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I capture Chrome without showing the browser tabs?
Yes. Window Capture includes the selected Chrome window as rendered, so the tab bar and browser controls remain part of that window. Use Browser Source when you need OBS to render only a webpage instead.
Will Window Capture follow Chrome if I move it to another monitor?
It targets the selected window rather than a fixed display. Test your OBS build and desktop session after moving the window, especially on Linux or older macOS versions.
Does capturing Chrome automatically record its sound?
No. Configure and verify the appropriate OBS audio source separately; macOS Screen Capture supports audio on macOS 13 and later.
Quick Recap
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