Streaming your OBS Studio output directly to Discord can seem tricky at first, but once you know the steps, it’s simple to create a professional-looking broadcast with clear audio and seamless video inside your Discord server. Want your friends or your community to see exactly what you’re doing in OBS, or to combine advanced sources before showing them off on Discord? Here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to stream OBS to Discord, including tips for handling audio tracks, screen sharing, and optimizing your OBS Discord setup.
Ready to get noticed for your streaming skills? You’re in the right place. This tutorial walks you through every piece of the process, so you can maximize what OBS Studio and Discord together can do.
What You Need Before Streaming OBS to Discord
Before starting, check that you have:
- The latest version of OBS Studio installed.
- Discord installed (desktop app preferred for best performance).
- A stable internet connection.
- A basic understanding of scenes and sources in OBS (don’t worry, you’ll get by even if you’re just starting).
You’ll use the OBS Virtual Camera feature. This acts just like a webcam for Discord, letting you stream whatever you see in OBS—including overlays, game footage, browser sources, and custom scenes.
How To Stream OBS to Discord (Step-by-Step)
You don’t need any third-party plugins or complicated settings. Here’s how to stream video from OBS to Discord, with working audio and the ability to use multiple tracks.
1. Start Your OBS Virtual Camera
Open OBS Studio and set up the scenes and sources you want to show on Discord. Once you’ve got your display looking the way you want:
- Look for the Start Virtual Camera button. It’s directly below the recording controls.
- Click it. You’ll see confirmation in OBS that the virtual camera is now active.
Think of the virtual camera as a live feed—just like a webcam, but displaying whatever is on your OBS scene instead.
2. Open Discord and Join a Voice Channel
Switch to Discord (keep OBS running in the background). Join a voice channel where you want to stream. Most streamers go for the “General” or a dedicated streaming channel, but any will work.
- Click “Share Your Screen” at the bottom of the channel controls.
- In the popup, select the “Devices” tab.
- Choose OBS Virtual Camera from the list of cameras.
- Click “Share Screen”.
Your Discord channel will now show your OBS output as a stream. Everyone in the channel can watch whatever you’re showing in OBS.
3. Control Your Stream from OBS
If you make changes inside OBS—switching scenes, hiding or showing overlays, muting sources—those updates appear live in Discord. For example, if you turn your OBS scene completely black, your Discord stream will reflect that instantly.
- Stopping the virtual camera in OBS cuts off the video feed in Discord. Your viewers will just see a blank OBS icon until you turn the virtual camera on again.
This flexibility makes it much easier to control exactly what your friends or viewers see when you stream on Discord with OBS.
4. Handling OBS Audio in Discord Streams
Discord picks up audio from your default system playback device or any mic you select. To stream OBS audio to Discord:
- Set up your desktop audio and any mic sources inside OBS as you would for normal recording or streaming.
- Use “Stereo Mix” or a virtual audio cable if you want to bring OBS audio directly into Discord as a source. This can get technical but unlocks advanced audio routing options.
If you want to share Discord audio in OBS, check out tutorials on splitting and capturing tracks. Having trouble? Try this approach for adding a chat overlay or advanced audio elements in OBS Studio.
Why OBS Studio and Discord Streaming Are So Powerful Together
Streaming to Discord directly from OBS Studio gives you total control over what you show and how it looks. It’s perfect for:
- Displaying games, artwork, or browser sources with overlays.
- Sharing YouTube or Twitch streams.
- Running live events, classes, or tutorials inside your server.
You’re not limited to the basic “Share Window” or “Share Screen” options in Discord. With OBS, you stack all your media and show it as if you’re a live TV studio.
Tips for Streaming on Discord with OBS Like a Pro
Get more out of your streams using these practical tips:
- Monitor Audio Levels: Make sure your viewers on Discord can hear both your mic and any system or game audio you want to share.
- Test Before Going Live: Preview your stream with a trusted friend. Confirm both video and audio are coming through.
- Organize Scenes: Create dedicated scenes for breaks, intros, games, or special displays.
- Quickly Stop Streaming: Toggle the OBS Virtual Camera button to pause or end your stream instantly—much faster than exiting Discord.
- Use Custom Overlays: Stand out by mixing webcam feeds, alerts, or graphics into your Discord stream, just like you would on Twitch or YouTube.
How to Separate Audio Tracks in OBS Studio for Discord Streaming
The real power of OBS Studio comes from its multiple audio track capabilities. You can set up separate tracks for your mic, desktop audio, and Discord voice chat. This makes it easy to mute or re-balance one audio source without affecting the others.
- Right-click your audio sources and assign each to its own track.
- In your OBS Settings under the Audio tab, configure each source by track.
- When recording or streaming, use the “Advanced Audio Properties” window to check which sources go to which tracks.
If you want to record or stream different tracks (maybe mic only, or system audio plus game audio), this feature is essential to a clean, professional stream.
Troubleshooting: Common Problems When Using OBS with Discord
If your Discord stream isn’t showing your OBS feed, or viewers only see a blank badge:
- Verify OBS Virtual Camera is running.
- Make sure Discord is on the desktop app (browser support is limited).
- Double-check the correct camera source is selected in Discord’s share screen settings.
- Restart both OBS and Discord if things get stuck.
Audio not coming through? Ensure the right input and output devices are chosen in both programs, and test your system’s default sound devices.
Quick Reference: Streaming OBS Studio to Discord
Here’s a handy table for the main actions you’ll need:
| Task | Where to Set It Up | How to Do It |
|---|---|---|
| Start OBS Virtual Camera | OBS Studio | Click “Start Virtual Camera” below controls |
| Join Voice Channel/Share Screen | Discord app | Join channel, press “Share Your Screen,” pick OBS Camera |
| Stream OBS Audio | OBS/Discord | Route audio via default device or use a virtual audio cable |
| Control Stream Output | OBS Studio | Adjust scenes/sources live—instantly updates in Discord |
| End Stream | OBS Studio | Click “Stop Virtual Camera”—stream stops in Discord |
Advanced Tricks: Going Beyond Basic Streaming
If you’re looking to elevate your Discord stream:
- Combine OBS Studio’s audio mixer tools, which lets you separate tracks for advanced editing or live mixing.
- Add a live chat overlay for cross-platform streams with guides like this: Add YouTube Chat Overlay in OBS Studio.
- Use hotkeys in OBS to switch scenes or activate/deactivate sources, so your Discord audience never sees setup screens.
Conclusion
Streaming your OBS Studio output directly into Discord is a fantastic way to show off your content, teach, or connect with friends—way beyond what basic screen sharing can offer. Whether you’re running a game night, showing off your creative projects, or managing an event, you’ll get better video, richer audio, and total control over your presentation.
Just remember the key steps: turn on OBS’s virtual camera, select it as your video device in Discord, and manage everything from inside OBS. Once you’re set up, you’ll never want to settle for plain screen sharing again.
Try these tips next time you stream on Discord with OBS, and you’ll sound and look like a pro—no expensive hardware or tricky plugins required. The tools are free, the learning curve is short, and the results speak for themselves.
Ready to upgrade your Discord streaming setup? Fire up OBS Studio, follow these steps, and share your world.
Want To Learn How to Find Your Discord ID. Here’s a Step-by-Step Guide Article on how to do so.