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The right OBS source depends on what you need to show. Use Browser Source to render a URL inside OBS, Window Capture to record an already-open browser window, or Display Capture to record everything visible on a monitor. On macOS 13 and later, use macOS Screen Capture for a window, application, or display. A short test recording will catch missing audio, incorrect framing, cursor problems, and performance issues before they affect the real session.
Choose the OBS capture method first
| Source | Best for | What appears | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browser Source | Building a controlled scene from a web page URL | The page rendered inside OBS at your chosen viewport | It is not an already-open browser window, so browser tabs, address bars, extensions, and ordinary browser clicks are not shown. Site behavior can differ from a normal browser. |
| Window Capture | Showing one browser window that is already open | Only the selected window | Availability and behavior vary by operating system. On macOS 13 or newer, use macOS Screen Capture instead. |
| Display Capture | Recording all activity on one monitor | Everything visible on the selected display | Other windows, notifications, passwords, and private messages can enter the recording. |
OBS describes Browser Source as an embedded web browser based on Chromium Embedded Framework. It supports a URL or local file, viewport dimensions, optional custom frame rate, custom CSS and JavaScript, refresh controls, and page permissions. See the official Browser Source guide for the current property names. Browser Source is available on Windows and macOS and through official Linux packages.
For privacy, Window Capture is usually preferable to Display Capture when a single browser window contains everything the audience needs. That is a practical consequence of capturing one window instead of an entire desktop; it is not a universal quality recommendation.
Record a website with Browser Source
Choose this route when the page itself is part of your OBS composition, such as a product demo, dashboard, livestream layout, or kiosk-style presentation.
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- Open OBS and create a scene, or select an existing scene in the Scenes dock.
- In Sources, click + and choose Browser (Browser Source).
- Give the source a descriptive name, such as Documentation page, and select OK.
- Enter the page address in URL. If you are loading a local page, select the local-file option and provide its path.
- Set Width and Height to match the space available in your scene. OBS documents 800 × 600 as the default; treat that as a starting value, not a recommendation for every video.
- Leave custom FPS disabled unless you specifically need a source frame rate. When enabled, the documented default is 30 FPS.
- Click OK, then use the red transform handles in the preview to position or scale the source. Right-click it and choose Transform for precise fit, stretch, or center options.
- Use the source properties when you need custom CSS, JavaScript, refresh behavior, or page permissions. Grant only the permissions the page requires; unnecessary permissions increase what the embedded page can access through OBS.
Browser Source starts with CSS that makes the background transparent, removes body margins, and hides overflow. A site that expects a particular browser feature, login state, cookie, or anti-bot flow may not render as it does in Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. Test the exact page and interaction you intend to record.
Browser Source limitations
- It does not automatically reproduce your normal browser profile, extensions, open tabs, or address bar.
- A page may display a consent prompt, fail an authentication flow, or use layout rules that assume a different viewport.
- Content that runs in a normal browser can generally be added within reason, but the site and its requirements determine the result.
Capture an existing browser window
Use Window Capture when you need to demonstrate clicks, browser chrome, an authenticated session, or a page already arranged in a particular window.
- Open the browser and arrange the window exactly as it should appear. Close private tabs and disable desktop notifications that could reveal information.
- In OBS, select or create your scene.
- In Sources, click + and choose Window Capture on platforms where it is available.
- Name the source, click OK, and select the browser window from the Window list.
- Inspect the preview. If the wrong tab, application, or window is shown, return to the properties and select the correct entry.
- Crop or resize the source only after confirming that the browser window itself is the one you intend to record.
Window Capture records a single selected window rather than the whole monitor. That makes it a better fit when other desktop content must remain private. Some operating-system graphics settings, browser hardware acceleration modes, or minimized windows can affect what appears; a test clip is the quickest verification.
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On macOS 13 and newer, OBS directs users to macOS Screen Capture instead of the older Display Capture source. Add it from Sources → + → macOS Screen Capture, then choose its Window or Application method and select the browser. The macOS Screen Capture guide documents the current source and its choices. Approve macOS screen-recording permission for OBS in System Settings if the source is blank or unavailable.
Rank #2
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Record the entire monitor with Display Capture
Display Capture is appropriate when the tutorial must show the browser together with other visible desktop activity, or when a window-specific source does not fit your setup.
- Add Display Capture from the Sources + menu on Windows or Linux.
- Choose the monitor to record and confirm the preview.
- On macOS 13 or later, add macOS Screen Capture and choose its display method instead.
- Move private windows away, silence notifications, and hide passwords before pressing Record.
Because the complete display enters the recording, Display Capture can include unrelated windows, pop-ups, system alerts, and cursor movement. The Display Capture documentation explains platform-specific source behavior.
Make browser audio record correctly
OBS says desktop audio and microphone capture are enabled by default in its Quick Start workflow, but defaults do not guarantee that the desired browser sound is reaching the desired track.
- Play a video or sound in the browser before recording.
- Watch the Audio Mixer meters. The desktop-audio meter should move for browser playback; the microphone meter should move only if narration is intended.
- If the wrong device is active, open Settings → Audio and select the intended desktop-audio and microphone devices manually.
- Check that the source is not muted and that its mixer fader is not at zero.
- Record 15–30 seconds, then play the file back with headphones. Confirm that browser sound, narration, and channel balance are correct.
For a lesson that needs only the web page and its audio, Window Capture plus desktop audio is often simpler than Display Capture. If you need a separate narration track for editing, configure the recording tracks deliberately in Settings → Output and verify them in your editor.
Rank #3
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- 【Easy Plug and Play, Compact & Portable】No driver or external power required—just plug and play via USB 3.0 or Type-C connection to your Windows or macOS computer. Lightweight and compact design makes it easy to carry for outdoor streaming, live shows, or mobile recording setups.
- 【Wide Compatibility & Multi-Device Support】Compatible with Windows 7 8 10 11, macOS, Linux,Android and supports most popular software such as OBS, Zoom, VLC, Twitch Studio, and more. Works seamlessly with PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch, DSLR cameras, TV boxes, and other HDMI-output devices for streaming to YouTube, Twitch, etc.
- 【What You Get】Includes: HDMI Capture Card, USB 3.0 to USB-C Adapter, User Manual. Tips: Make sure your tablet’s OTG function is enabled before connecting. Test your HDMI device with a monitor first to confirm video and audio output, then connect to the Video Capture Card for recording.
Set recording format, quality, and frame rate
Open Settings → Output → Recording and select a recording path, format, encoder, and quality appropriate for your destination and hardware. OBS recommends MKV because an unclean stop will not corrupt the entire file. When you need an MP4 for editing or upload, use File → Remux Recordings after recording. Remuxing changes the container without requiring you to capture the session again; it is safer than recording directly to a format that can become unusable after a crash.
There is no single correct resolution, frame rate, or encoder for every browser recording. Match the output canvas to the page and destination, then balance quality against available CPU, GPU, and disk throughput. OBS notes that 60 FPS can be more demanding than 30 FPS. A static article or software demonstration often needs less motion than a game or animation, but readability should take priority over an arbitrary frame-rate target.
Before the real recording
- Confirm the page is at the intended zoom and viewport size.
- Check that text is readable in the OBS preview and in a saved test file.
- Decide whether the cursor should be visible. Capture-source properties expose cursor controls; enable it for a pointer-led lesson and disable it when it distracts.
- Close notification-heavy applications and remove confidential browser tabs.
- Watch OBS’s status indicators for dropped frames, encoder overload, or insufficient disk space.
The OBS Quick Start Guide strongly encourages a several-minute test before an important stream or recording. Playback the test rather than trusting the preview alone: preview audio can be muted, and a source can look correct while the saved file has the wrong track or framing.
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The Browser Source is blank
- Confirm the URL includes the correct scheme, such as
https://. - Reload the source from its properties and check whether the page requires a login, cookie, permission, or browser feature unavailable to the embedded environment.
- Test a simple public page. If that works, the original site—not the scene layout—is the likely cause.
- Verify the source is visible (eye icon enabled) and not hidden behind another source.
The browser window does not appear in Window Capture
- Make sure the intended window is open and selected in the source properties.
- Try macOS Screen Capture on macOS 13 or later.
- Check operating-system screen-recording permissions and restart OBS after changing them.
- If a minimized or hardware-accelerated window is not captured correctly, restore it, disable browser hardware acceleration as a diagnostic test, and make another short clip.
There is video but no browser sound
- Play audio while watching the Audio Mixer meters.
- Choose the correct desktop-audio device in Settings → Audio.
- Check mute buttons, faders, and the recording-track selection.
- Play back the saved file; a meter moving in OBS does not prove that the intended track was written to the container.
The recording contains private desktop content
Replace Display Capture with Window Capture or macOS Screen Capture’s window/application method when possible. If the entire monitor is required, hide notifications and unrelated windows, then inspect the complete preview before recording.
Rank #4
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The file is damaged after a crash or forced stop
Record to MKV as recommended in OBS’s Standard Recording Output Guide. After a normal stop, use File → Remux Recordings to create an MP4 copy.
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FAQ
Can OBS record a browser tab without showing the rest of the desktop?
Use Browser Source for a URL rendered inside OBS, or Window Capture/macOS Screen Capture for an existing browser window. A single tab inside a multi-tab window is not the same as a standalone capture source.
Should I use Browser Source or Window Capture for a logged-in site?
Window Capture is usually simpler when the authenticated page is already open. Browser Source has its own embedded context, so you may need to reproduce login, cookies, or permissions.
Why does my recording look blurry even though the preview is sharp?
Check the output and canvas resolutions, source scaling, recording quality, and the player used for playback. Scaling a small Browser Source viewport up to a large canvas can reduce text clarity.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCan I record browser audio without recording my microphone?
Yes. Select the desired desktop-audio device and disable or mute the microphone source, then verify the saved file’s tracks with a short test.
Quick Recap
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