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To switch scenes in OBS, create separate compositions in the Scenes dock, add and arrange their sources, then select a scene or assign it a hotkey. For a change you want to prepare before viewers see it, enable Studio Mode and transition the prepared scene to the live output. Save scene arrangements in a Scene Collection; use a Profile separately when you need different stream or recording output settings.
Understand scenes, sources, and saved settings
A scene is a composition; its sources are the individual video, image, browser, text, and audio elements within it. A scene might show a game and webcam, while another uses a full-screen break graphic. Each scene can have its own source arrangement.
- Scene: one composition of sources.
- Source: an input or visual or audio element used in a scene.
- Scene Collection: a saved group of scenes and sources, including global audio sources.
- Profile: stream, video, and output settings. It does not save scenes.
- Studio Mode: a workspace for preparing one scene while another remains live, then transitioning the prepared scene to the program output.
OBS keeps these saved elements separate: Scene Collections store scenes and sources, while Profiles store output-related settings. They can be used together. See the official Scene Collections guide and Profiles guide.
Create a custom layout
- Add a scene. In the Scenes dock, create a scene and give it a name that describes when it is used, such as “Starting,” “Gameplay,” “Break,” or “Ending.” Make separate scenes for genuinely different views rather than rebuilding one composition mid-show.
- Add sources. Select the scene, then use the plus button in the Sources dock to add the required inputs. Depending on your platform and setup, available source types include display or window capture, game capture on Windows, a video capture device such as a webcam or capture card, images, browser pages, media, text, and audio sources. The OBS Sources Guide describes the source types and controls.
- Set the layer order. Sources higher in the Sources list render above those below them, so an upper source can cover a lower one. Drag sources into the order you want, and use the eye control to hide or show an element.
- Position, resize, and crop. Drag sources in the preview for a quick layout. For precise placement, use the source’s transform controls or Edit Transform. To crop while dragging, hold Alt on Windows or Linux, or Option on macOS. Check the preview after cropping: a source can be present but hidden behind another layer or outside the visible canvas.
- Repeat for each view. Add and arrange the sources needed in each scene. A capture card is only relevant if your setup needs to bring in an external camera or console; OBS supports capture cards through a Video Capture Source, but scene switching itself does not require buying one.
For additional positioning and cropping controls, consult the Sources Guide. Source availability and interface labels can vary with platform and installed OBS release.
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Switch scenes during a stream or recording
Select a scene directly
Click the scene you want in the Scenes dock. Without Studio Mode, selecting a scene changes the program output immediately, using the active transition. This is the simplest approach when an immediate change is acceptable.
Assign a scene hotkey
- Open Settings → Hotkeys.
- Find the action named “Switch to [scene]” for the scene you want to control.
- Enter a keyboard shortcut, then apply the setting.
- Test it in a recording or before going live. Choose a shortcut that does not conflict with another application or an action you use during the show.
Hotkeys are useful when you need to change views without clicking the Scenes dock. Verify the binding works in your setup before relying on it live.
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Prepare a change with Studio Mode
- Enable Studio Mode in OBS.
- Use the left area to select and edit the next scene; the right area shows the current live scene.
- Check the prepared scene and its sources, then click Transition to send it to the live output. A configured Quick Transition or hotkey can also be used.
Studio Mode is useful when a direct change could reveal an unfinished layout or an intermediate edit. OBS describes it as a way to change scenes in the background before viewers see the change; see the OBS Studio Overview Guide.
Choose a transition
OBS offers a Scene Transitions area where you can select a transition and set its duration. Cut changes scenes immediately; Fade blends between them. The OBS Overview Guide also documents Swipe, Slide, Fade to color, and Luma Wipe, though available options may differ by installed release. Pick a transition that suits the show and check its timing in a test recording rather than assuming it will behave as intended.
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Save and organize layouts
Save related scenes and their sources as a Scene Collection. Separate collections can help keep distinct shows or use cases organized; global audio sources are included in a collection. If the stream service, canvas resolution, or other output settings also need to change, use a Profile for those settings rather than expecting the Scene Collection to store them. OBS supports mixing Profiles with Scene Collections.
Test before going live
Record a short test or run a brief stream before relying on a new layout. Confirm the selected scene is the intended one, sources appear in the correct order, devices and audio work, and the chosen transition looks right. OBS’s Quick Start Guide also recommends a short test before streaming.
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- Check that the intended camera, capture, image, and browser sources are visible.
- Confirm no upper source unintentionally covers another element.
- Verify that audio sources are present and behaving as expected.
- Test scene selection, hotkeys, Studio Mode, and transitions using the same workflow planned for the show.
Troubleshooting scene and layout problems
A source does not appear
Check its eye control in the Sources dock and make sure it is not covered by a source above it. Select it and inspect its position and transform in the preview; it may be outside the visible area or cropped too far.
The wrong scene appears after a hotkey
Reopen Settings → Hotkeys and verify the shortcut is assigned to the intended “Switch to [scene]” action. Test for conflicts with other applications or shortcuts before going live.
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A scene change is visible before it is ready
Use Studio Mode to prepare the next scene separately, check it in the edit area, and click Transition only when it is ready for the live output.
The scene setup is saved but output settings differ
Scene Collections save scenes and sources, not output settings. Use a Profile for stream, video, or output settings, and pair it with the appropriate Scene Collection if both the layout and output configuration need to change.
A capture device is missing from the source options
Capture devices are added through a Video Capture Source, and source availability depends on platform and device setup. Check the installed OBS release and device configuration; a capture card is only needed for setups that require one, such as bringing in some external cameras or consoles.
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