OBS Studio provides a plugin API that we use for the desktop plugin. Please do not contact the OBS Studio team for support with this app or plugin — use our contact page instead.

What iOS hardware do I need?

There are two different bars: what the App Store allows, and what works well over USB.

Rule of thumb

iOS 12 shipped in 2018. As a simple cut:

Bought in roughly the last 7–8 years (about 2018 onward) — safe for installing the app and everyday use (USB or NDI).
Bought 2016–2017 (iPhone 7 era) — still fine, and what we treat as the floor for reliable USB.
Older than that — only if the device can still run iOS / iPadOS 12+; USB is often poor even when the app installs.

If you’re buying a used phone as a dedicated camera, anything from the iPhone 7 / 2016 generation or newer is the practical “won’t regret it” line; 2018+ is the easy “don’t overthink it” line.

1. Software requirement (App Store)

The app requires iOS 12 or iPadOS 12 or later. Always check the App Store listing for the current minimum — Apple can raise it in a future update.

Your device must be able to install that OS. Many older models never go higher than iOS 11 or earlier, so they cannot run the app even if they still turn on.

Use these tables to see each model’s first and maximum iOS / iPadOS version:

If Max iOS / iPadOS on that table is below 12, the device cannot meet the App Store requirement.

Examples that can still reach iOS / iPadOS 12 (from those tables; not a full inventory):

Family	Can install iOS/iPadOS 12+ (rough cutoff)
iPhone	iPhone 5s, 6, 6 Plus, and newer (5s / 6 / 6 Plus max out at iOS 12)
iPad	iPad Air 2, mini 4, 5th generation, all iPad Pro, and newer (some earlier minis/Air max out at 12)
iPod touch	6th generation (max iOS 12) and 7th generation

Not sure which iPad you have? Identify your iPad model.

2. USB performance (our recommendation)

Even when the OS is new enough, USB encoding is harder on the device. For a stable USB setup we recommend hardware released in 2016 and later:

iPhone

iPhone 7 and newer

iPad

iPad (5th generation) and newer
iPad mini 4 and newer
iPad Air 2 and newer
All iPad Pro models

Earlier phones that can still run iOS 12 (for example iPhone 5s / 6 / 6 Plus) may install the app, but we don’t recommend them for USB — on-device encode can struggle. Prefer NDI only if you must use that hardware, or use a newer device for USB.

3. NDI (Wi‑Fi)

Any device that meets the App Store OS requirement can use the wireless NDI path. Network quality matters more than the 2016 USB cutoff.

Cables

Use a known-good data cable (the one that came with the device is ideal), not charge-only. USB-C and Lightning both work when the cable and ports support data.

Which plugin should I download for my OBS version?

Download the plugin build that matches your OBS Studio major version from Getting Started.

Check your OBS version: Help → About (wording may vary slightly by platform).
On Getting Started, pick that OBS version and your OS (Windows or macOS).
On Mac, choose the Apple silicon (arm64) or Intel (x86_64) package when both are listed.
Quit OBS completely, install the plugin, then reopen OBS.
Add a source → iOS Camera.

If the installer finishes but you still don’t see iOS Camera on Windows, follow the Windows manual installation guide.

Current builds are also listed on the plugin releases page.

Should I use USB or NDI?

Prefer USB when…	Prefer NDI (Wi‑Fi) when…
You want the lowest latency and a stable cable run	You need the camera to move freely
You’re streaming or recording for a long time	You’re on a solid local network and accept Wi‑Fi variability
You’re on Windows or Mac with OBS Studio and the plugin	You need NDI in OBS or another NDI-compatible app
You’re running multi-cam and can cable each phone	A phone can’t reach the computer with USB

USB uses the desktop iOS Camera plugin (this site’s installers).
NDI uses the app’s wireless output plus an NDI source in OBS (or another NDI app). You do not need the USB plugin for NDI-only.
USB guide: iOS Camera plugin over USB
NDI guide: NDI + Wi‑Fi

If you’re unsure, start with USB.

Is Camera for OBS Studio compatible with Streamlabs Desktop?

Partly. Streamlabs Desktop (formerly Streamlabs OBS) does not load third-party OBS Studio plugins, so the low-latency USB plugin path will not work there.

You can use the app’s NDI / Wi‑Fi path and bring the phone in as an NDI source, if Streamlabs on your setup supports NDI input. See:

App setup: NDI + Wi‑Fi guide
Streamlabs: receiving NDI in Streamlabs Desktop

If you need the USB plugin, multi-device reliability, or the full OBS Studio workflow, use OBS Studio with this product instead.

Can I use this in Zoom, Teams, or other apps?

Yes — via OBS Virtual Camera, not as a direct Zoom/Teams plugin.

Get video from your iPhone into OBS (USB or NDI).
In OBS Studio, start Virtual Camera.
In Zoom, Teams, Meet, Discord, or similar, choose OBS Virtual Camera as the camera (not the phone’s Continuity/webcam entry if both appear).
For meeting audio, use your normal mic path in that app — phone audio in OBS does not automatically become the meeting mic unless you set that up separately.

This app feeds OBS Studio. Other apps only see the virtual camera OBS provides.

How does this compare to Continuity Camera on Mac?

Continuity Camera is often enough for a simple single iPhone cam into a Mac meeting app.

Camera for OBS Studio is a better fit when you need:

Windows (Continuity Camera is Mac-only)
Multiple iPhones as separate OBS sources
Manual camera controls, remote control, or NDI
A full OBS Studio scene workflow (PiP, multi-scene, recording/streaming layouts)

They’re complementary: use Continuity for quick calls; use this app when you outgrow a single built-in webcam path. See also USB vs NDI.

How do I uninstall the plugin?

macOS

Remove:

/Library/Application Support/obs-studio/plugins/obs-ios-camera-source

In Finder: Go → Go to Folder…, paste that path, then delete the folder.

Windows

Remove:

C:\Program Files\obs-studio\data\obs-plugins\obs-ios-camera-source
C:\Program Files\obs-studio\obs-plugins\64bit\obs-ios-camera-source.dll
C:\Program Files\obs-studio\obs-plugins\64bit\obs-ios-camera-source.pdb (if present)

Features & Settings

How do I stream in landscape mode?

Turn off Rotation Lock on the iOS device. With the app open, rotate the phone to landscape — the output should follow.

If the image stays portrait, you may not be using the iOS Camera source. See How do I remove the app's buttons from the video stream?.

How do I change the output resolution?

In the app, open Settings, then pick a resolution and frame rate.

Higher values (for example 4K or high frame rates) need more CPU/GPU on both the phone and the computer. Good starting points for most streams: 720p60, 1080p30, or 1080p60 if your machine handles it.

What is bitrate?

Bitrate is how much video data the phone sends each second. Change it in the app under Settings.

Higher — usually sharper; more heat, CPU, and (on NDI) Wi‑Fi load.
Lower — if you see dropped frames, stutter, or network warnings.

Start in the middle of the available range. Only max it out if the stream is already stable and you still want more detail.

What is keyframe interval?

Keyframe interval controls how often the stream sends a full frame (other frames only send changes). Set it in the app Settings.

Example: interval 30 at 30 fps ≈ one full frame per second.

If an older device freezes or takes a long time to recover, try a lower interval (full frames more often). That can use more CPU and bandwidth. Leave the default if the stream is stable.

Can I use multiple cameras?

Yes. Add another iOS Camera source in OBS and select the second device. How many you can run depends on your computer, connection type, and resolution — many people run two or three phones; more is possible on stronger machines.

After adding a second device you may need to open the first source’s settings and tap Reconnect. That is a known quirk.

For multi-cam:

Prefer USB when every phone can be cabled.
Use NDI when a camera must move.
Keep Camera for OBS Studio open in the foreground on each phone.
If you use multiple scenes, use reference copies so sources don’t drop — see Connection drops when I switch scenes.
Manual controls and remote control help with locked-off cameras — see camera controls.

Your App Store purchase covers a limited number of devices — see Billing.

I don't see audio input in OBS Studio

Current versions of the app and plugin include microphone audio on the iOS Camera source. If you don’t hear or see it:

Use a current app and plugin build from Getting Started.
Allow microphone permission on the iPhone/iPad.
Confirm the mic is enabled in the app settings.
In OBS, check the mixer: the iOS Camera source isn’t muted or set to zero.
Make sure another app isn’t holding the mic exclusively.
If you use a Bluetooth mic, confirm it’s connected and selected in the app when available.

Still stuck? Contact support and attach an OBS log file (Help → Log Files → Show Log Files).

Troubleshooting

Install

There is no 'iOS Camera' option in OBS Studio

You need the desktop plugin installed. Follow the USB Getting Started guide.

Then check:

You installed the plugin for your OBS major version (which plugin?).
OBS was fully quit during install, then restarted.
You’re on a supported OS for current plugin builds: Windows 10 or 11, or macOS 12+. Older OBS/plugin combos may list different OS minimums on Getting Started.

Windows

If the installer ran but you still don’t see iOS Camera, follow theWindows manual installation guide.

If it still fails, send us an OBS log (Help → Log Files → Show Log Files).

Plugin won't load after updating OBS Studio

After a major OBS update, install a new plugin build that matches that OBS version.

Note your OBS version (Help → About).
Download the matching installer from Getting Started or GitHub releases.
Quit OBS, install, reopen, and look for iOS Camera.

OBS 28 changed the plugin API, which is when many people first hit this. The same rule applies for later majors (29, 30, 31, 32, …): use the build listed for your version, not an old leftover install.

macOS says Unidentified Developer

Current signed plugin builds from this website should not trigger Gatekeeper’s “Unidentified Developer” warning.

Download the latest macOS package for your OBS version from Getting Started (not an old copy from email or a mirror).
Quit OBS fully before installing.
Open the .pkg from Finder (double-click), complete the installer, then reopen OBS.

If macOS still blocks a freshly downloaded package, contact support with your macOS version and a screenshot of the dialog. To remove the plugin entirely, see How do I uninstall the plugin?.

USB connection

Not connecting — app shows "Waiting for Connection"

Keep Camera for OBS Studio open in the foreground on the phone. Locking the screen or switching apps can interrupt USB. Disable Auto-Lock while testing or streaming.

Try a clean reconnect:

Unplug the device.
Force-close Camera for OBS Studio on the phone.
Quit OBS Studio on the computer.
Open OBS Studio.
Ensure an iOS Camera source exists in the scene.
Open the app on the device (leave it on screen).
Plug in a data-capable cable directly to the computer (not a hub).

Windows: Complete Apple trust and confirm the phone appears in Apple Devices or iTunes first — full checklist: I'm on Windows and my iOS device isn't connecting. If the phone trusts the PC but OBS never connects, allow OBS through firewall/antivirus.

Cable issues: see Third-party cables, extensions, or USB hubs.

Third-party cables, extensions, or USB hubs

Charge-only cables and poor hubs are a common failure point.

Confirm the computer can see the iPhone/iPad in Apple Devices, Finder (Mac), or iTunes (if installed).
Prefer the data cable that shipped with the device.
Plug directly into the computer for the first successful connection; add extenders/hubs only after that works.

I'm on Windows and my iOS device isn't connecting

Windows needs Apple’s USB support stack so the PC can talk to the iPhone. Do this before deep OBS troubleshooting.

Install Apple Devices (Microsoft Store) and/or iTunes from Apple — either provides mobile device support.
Launch it at least once.
Unlock the phone, connect USB, tap Trust This Computer.
Confirm the device appears in that app.
Open OBS Studio, add iOS Camera, open Camera for OBS Studio on the phone, then plug in (or use Reconnect in the source settings).
If it still fails, leave Apple Devices/iTunes open while you test, try another USB port, and check that firewall/antivirus is not blocking OBS.

Then use the Waiting for Connection steps if the app still never leaves that state. Cable checks: cables/hubs.

OBS Studio crashed after plugging in my iPhone

Try this order:

Quit OBS completely.
Unplug the iOS device.
Open OBS and ensure the iOS Camera source is in the scene.
Open Camera for OBS Studio on the device.
Plug the device in.

If it still crashes:

Grab Help → Log Files → Show Log Files and note whether it dies on plug-in or when adding iOS Camera.
Try another USB port.
Reinstall the matching plugin.
Send the log — crash logs help more than a description alone.

How do I remove the app's buttons from the video stream?

If you see the app UI in the OBS preview, the phone is almost certainly coming in as a generic video device — not the iOS Camera source.

Install the plugin and add iOS Camera (not a generic capture device):

If iOS Camera is missing, see There is no 'iOS Camera' option and the USB Getting Started guide.

NDI / Wi‑Fi

NDI source not showing or wireless keeps dropping

Phone and computer must be on the same local network (avoid guest Wi‑Fi / client isolation).
On the iPhone, allow Local Network access when iOS asks (Settings → Privacy if you denied it earlier).
In the app, start the NDI / Wi‑Fi connection path (not USB).
In OBS Studio, use an NDI source (via your NDI/DistroAV plugin or tools) and pick the phone when it appears — see the NDI + Wi‑Fi guide.
Temporarily disable VPN on phone or PC.
Check Windows/macOS firewall rules for OBS and NDI-related tools.
Prefer 5 GHz Wi‑Fi when you can; lower resolution/bitrate if the stream stutters.

For multi-hour reliability, prefer USB when a cable is practical.

Scenes

Connection drops when I switch scenes

Cause: each scene that uses the phone needs a reference to the same iOS Camera source — not a second independent source.

Copy the iOS Camera source.
In each other scene, Paste (Reference) — not a full duplicate that creates a second connection.
Hide the source in scenes where it shouldn’t be visible; it still needs to exist in the scene to hold the connection.

Paste by reference keeps every scene pointed at the same live connection.

Billing & Licensing

How many devices can I use with a subscription?

One purchase works across devices when you use the same App Store account on each phone/iPad and tap Restore if the subscription doesn’t appear.

The App Store listing is the source of truth for plan types and any device limits. Check the current Camera for OBS Studio product page. If something doesn’t restore as expected, contact support with the Apple ID email used for the purchase (don’t send passwords).

Do you offer a Volume Purchase Program (VPP) option?

Yes, by request. Email your Organization ID and organization name (they must match Apple’s records). If you need help finding your Organization ID, see Apple’s guide.

Contact Camera for OBS Studio support.

Still stuck?

New setup: Getting Started — pick USB or NDI.
Windows install missing the source: Windows manual installation.
Need a human: Contact support and attach the OBS log from Help → Log Files → Show Log Files (pick the log from when the issue happened).
Controls & multi-cam tips: Camera controls, Remote controls, Use cases.