To capture an already-open Google Chrome window in OBS, add a Window Capture source and select Chrome. On macOS 13 or later, use macOS Screen Capture instead; on Linux, the available window-capture source depends on your desktop session and OBS build. Check the preview and make a short test recording before going live.
Choose the right OBS source for Chrome
The right source depends on whether you want OBS to show the existing Chrome application window, the whole monitor, or a webpage rendered inside OBS. OBS’s Window Capture Sources guide describes Window Capture as capturing a specific window and its contents.
| What you want to show | OBS source to use | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| One existing Chrome window | Window Capture on supported platforms; on macOS 13 or later, macOS Screen Capture | Captures the selected window rather than the whole monitor, even when other windows overlap it where Window Capture is supported. |
| The full monitor, including the desktop | Display Capture; on macOS 13 or later, macOS Screen Capture can also capture a display | Other windows and desktop content may appear in the recording. |
| A webpage rendered inside OBS, not the open Chrome application | Browser Source | OBS loads the webpage inside the scene using Chrome Embedded Framework. It is not a capture of your existing Chrome window. |
For Windows, Window Capture is the straightforward option when you want Chrome without other desktop windows. On macOS 13 and later, use macOS Screen Capture. On Linux, choose the supported window or display source for your installed OBS build and session.
Capture a Chrome window in OBS
- Open the page in Chrome. Bring up the tab and browser window you intend to show. If you have several Chrome windows, keep the target window easy to identify.
- Open the intended OBS scene. Sources belong to a scene, so select the scene that will be used for the recording or stream.
- Add the capture source. In the Sources dock, click + and choose Window Capture. Give it a recognizable name if OBS asks.
- Select Chrome. Open the source’s properties and select the intended Chrome window from the Window list. If you do not see Chrome, make sure the target window is open, then check the list again.
- Check the preview and layout. Confirm the captured window is visible. Resize or reposition the source in the scene if needed. If the scene includes other sources, their order matters: sources higher in the list appear above sources below them. The OBS Sources Guide explains source selection and layering.
- Set cursor behavior if needed. Use the cursor option shown in the capture source’s properties to decide whether the mouse pointer should appear. Check the preview so the result matches your presentation.
- Make a brief test recording. Inspect the recording for the correct window, framing, cursor visibility and expected performance before the real session. OBS recommends a short test in its Quick Start Guide.
Platform-specific guidance
Windows
Use Window Capture and select Chrome in the source properties. OBS documents Automatic as the default capture method and also provides capture-method and window-match settings; the exact choices presented can depend on the installed version and capture setup. If a multi-GPU laptop has capture or performance trouble, check whether OBS and Chrome are assigned to different GPUs. OBS’s GPU Selection Guide gives Windows graphics-settings guidance for this situation.
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macOS 13 and later
Use macOS Screen Capture, then choose a window or application for a Chrome-only view, or a display for the whole monitor. OBS documents this source as based on ScreenCaptureKit and says it supports audio capture on macOS 13 and later. The older Window Capture source is marked deprecated for macOS 13 and later. See OBS’s macOS Screen Capture Source documentation for the source and its options.
macOS 12.3–12.6
OBS documents macOS Screen Capture as available in this range without audio capture. Its 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. Display Capture includes the monitor rather than isolating Chrome, so test the trade-off with your installed OBS version and Mac before relying on it.
Linux
OBS documents Window Capture (Xcomposite) and Window Capture (PipeWire) as Linux options. Which source is available depends on the installed OBS build and desktop session. PipeWire capture requires Wayland according to OBS’s Display Capture Sources documentation. Use the available source for your session rather than assuming every Linux system has the same menu or capture behavior.
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Window Capture, Display Capture, or Browser Source?
Use Window Capture for the existing Chrome app
This is the usual choice for a Chrome-only recording on supported platforms. It captures the selected window and can keep other overlapping windows out of view. It is useful for demonstrating browser settings, showing a website while retaining Chrome’s interface, or recording an already-open page.
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Use Display Capture when the monitor itself is the subject
Display Capture is appropriate when a tutorial needs to show desktop actions across multiple apps or when capturing a selected window is not suitable. Because it captures the monitor, it may also show notifications, other windows, and desktop content. Close or hide anything private before recording.
Use Browser Source to render a webpage inside OBS
Browser Source is different from capturing Chrome: OBS loads a webpage in its own source using Chrome Embedded Framework. Choose it when you want the page itself in the scene rather than the current Chrome window and browser UI. OBS documents this source in its Browser Source guide.
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Fix common setup problems
Chrome is missing from the Window list
Confirm the Chrome window is open, then reopen or recheck the source properties. If the list remains empty, the available capture method may not match your operating system or desktop session; use the platform guidance above to select a supported source. OBS’s documentation does not establish one universal fix for every empty-window-list case.
The preview shows the wrong window
Open the source properties and select the intended Chrome window from the Window list. If several browser windows are open, identify the one with the page you want and verify the result in the preview before recording.
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Other windows or the desktop appear in the capture
Check whether the scene uses Display Capture. That source captures the monitor, so unrelated desktop content can be visible. Switch to Window Capture where supported, or to macOS Screen Capture configured for the Chrome window or application on macOS 13 and later.
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Chrome appears behind other scene content
Review the Sources list in the active scene. Sources higher in the list render above those below them, so another source may cover the Chrome capture. Reorder the sources as needed and check the preview.
Capture is slow or performs poorly
On macOS, OBS notes that its older Window Capture source is less performant than on other platforms; for macOS 12.3–12.6, Display Capture may be smoother, but it captures the whole monitor. On a multi-GPU Windows laptop, check the GPU assignments for OBS and Chrome using OBS’s GPU Selection Guide. In all cases, make a short test with the intended scene and settings; performance varies with the computer, OS, OBS version and capture path.
The source is blank or a particular video will not appear
There is no universal Chrome-specific fix established for blank captures, protected video, browser hardware acceleration, or every Linux compositor. First verify that the correct window and source type are selected and test a different ordinary page. If the problem persists, consult the OBS documentation for your operating system and session rather than assuming one setting will resolve every case.
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Or skip the browser setup
If you need a static screenshot or PDF of a webpage rather than a live OBS recording, ScreenshotNeo can return one from a single GET request. It does not replace OBS for a live Chrome window or video capture. The API accepts a URL and returns a screenshot in PNG, JPEG or WebP, or a PDF. See the ScreenshotNeo documentation for the request options.
cURL:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpPython:
import requests
r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"}, timeout=90)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js:
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const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);- Cookie and consent banners are accepted, and known consent platforms, newsletter popups and chat widgets are removed before capture; each of those steps can be turned off.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Window Capture record Chrome when another window overlaps it?
On supported platforms, Window Capture is designed to show the selected window even when other windows overlap it. Check your specific setup with a short test recording.
Can OBS capture a Chrome tab without showing the rest of the browser?
The described OBS workflow selects a Chrome window, not an individual tab. To show a webpage without capturing the existing Chrome application, use Browser Source and configure it to render the page inside OBS.
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