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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsTo change what viewers see, customize your stream’s scenes, overlays, and widgets—not OBS Studio’s application theme. In OBS, build the broadcast from scenes and sources; in Streamlabs, install an overlay and customize its widget theme. The word “theme” can mean either the streamer’s software interface or the graphics on the live stream, so start by deciding which you want to change.
What “theme” means in a livestream
An application theme changes the look of the software controls on your computer. It does not change the broadcast. Viewer-facing design is made from elements such as scenes, images, text, webcam frames, alerts, and chat widgets. OBS gives you direct control over scenes and sources; Streamlabs offers prebuilt overlays and widget themes that you can install and customize.
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Change the OBS Studio interface theme
- Open OBS Studio and choose Settings.
- Select General, then find Theme.
- Choose one of the available built-in themes, or select an installed custom theme.
- Apply the setting and return to OBS. Only the appearance of the OBS interface changes.
The OBS Project’s Themes Guide identifies Yami as the default beginning with OBS Studio 28. Available themes can vary with the installed version and any custom themes you have added. See the OBS Themes Guide.
Customize what viewers see in OBS
Build the layout with scenes and sources
A scene is a layout for a particular moment or purpose, such as a talking segment, a gameplay screen, or a break screen. In OBS, select or create a scene, then add and arrange sources within it. Depending on your setup, sources may include a webcam, image, text, browser window, or capture card. Make separate scenes when the broadcast needs distinct layouts; you do not need to use every type of source.
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Set scene transitions and preview changes
Choose a transition for moving between scenes. Before changing the live output, use Studio Mode to preview scene or source adjustments and then take the prepared change live. This helps you check the composition before viewers see it. OBS supports scenes, sources, transitions, plugins, and scripts; the right arrangement depends on your content and setup. Learn about OBS Studio’s scene and source features.
Keep the layout focused on what viewers need to see. The reviewed OBS guidance does not prescribe universal source dimensions or performance settings, so choose sizes and placements based on your own output and equipment rather than assuming one layout fits every stream.
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Install and customize an overlay in Streamlabs
Choose an overlay for the content and format
In the Streamlabs overlay library, look for a design whose visual style and category suit your broadcast. Use the library’s keyword, color, and matching-widget filters where available, and check whether the design is made for horizontal or vertical output. A horizontal overlay may not fit a vertical composition cleanly, and an overlay should leave the important part of your content visible.
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Follow the library’s Select and Install flow for the chosen overlay. A bundle can include starting, live, BRB, or ending screens; webcam frames; labels; alerts; event lists; chat; and goals. Treat these as optional components, not a checklist: add only the elements that serve the stream.
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- 10 LCD KEYS & 4 SMART KNOBS: Fully customizable with GIF-supported icons. Features 10 LCD keys, 4 RGB backlit knobs (with touch displays), and an editable TouchBar per scene for unlimited layout and dynamic visual control.
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Style widgets and check the scene collection
Customize widgets through the Streamlabs dashboard. In Streamlabs Desktop, widget themes can be associated with scene collections, so check that the selected scene collection is paired with the theme you intend to use if alerts or chat appear in the wrong style. For other streaming software, Streamlabs documents adding widgets as browser sources using their URLs; in integrated software, add the widgets as sources.
If you want a different style for alerts and chat, Streamlabs documents combining widget links as browser sources or creating a custom theme. That approach offers more control but requires managing separate widget elements. Streamlabs describes alert themes as supporting Twitch, YouTube, Kick, Facebook, Patreon, Tiltify, and some Streamlabs services; compatibility and product details can change, so check the current library information for your destination. Read Streamlabs’ overlay and widget-theme guide.
Choose the workflow that fits your stream
| What you want | A practical starting point | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Change the controls’ appearance | OBS Settings > General > Theme | This changes OBS’s interface, not the stream viewers see. |
| Build a custom broadcast layout | Use OBS scenes, sources, and transitions | Offers direct composition control; you arrange and maintain the elements yourself. |
| Start from a coordinated graphic package | Install a Streamlabs overlay and customize its widgets | Check output orientation, destination compatibility, and which bundle components you actually need. |
Streamlabs says basic features are free and optional Ultra includes premium overlays; its library says many themes are free and full-library access is part of Ultra. Access can change, so verify current terms in the product before choosing a design. Streamlabs’ getting-started guide.
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Keep the stream’s content and rights in view
Graphics do not grant permission to use the music, video, images, or other material inside a broadcast. Use assets you created, have permission to use, or are otherwise entitled to broadcast, and review the applicable platform rules. A polished overlay also cannot guarantee more viewers, retention, or revenue; the cited product guidance establishes setup and feature details, not audience outcomes.
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- Support HDMI embedded audio and external audio mixing, support audio delay adjustment；Remote control via PC/smartphone APP
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