MotionShineShort answer: go to obsproject.com/download, choose the macOS installer that matches your Mac (Apple Silicon or Intel), open the .dmg and install the app. Open OBS, run the Auto-Configuration Wizard, allow Screen Recording when macOS asks, add a macOS Screen Capture source and click Start Recording. OBS is free, and its download page says the macOS release supports macOS 13.0 and newer.
This post is only about getting OBS installed and running for the first time. For a full recording walkthrough, see how to use OBS Studio on Mac for screen recording. For quality choices, see best OBS settings for screen recording on Mac. For a quiet microphone, see OBS noise suppression settings for Mac.
OBS facts come from obsproject.com (the download page and its knowledge base), read on 24 October 2026. Apple facts come from Apple Support. Neither shows a publish date for the pages used, so menus can change. This post is by the maker of MotionShine, a Mac screen recorder that competes with OBS for some people. The steps are from the documentation, not a hands-on test of the app, and where a page does not say something, this post says "not found".
Step 1: find out which Mac you have
OBS offers two Mac installers, so you need to know your Mac's processor. Apple's steps:
- Click the Apple menu in the corner of your screen.
- Choose About This Mac.
- Look at the item in the window. If it says Chip followed by a chip name, you have Apple silicon. If it says Processor followed by an Intel processor name, you have an Intel Mac.
| About This Mac shows | You have | OBS installer to pick |
|---|---|---|
| Chip, then a name | Apple silicon | Apple Silicon (arm64) |
| Processor, then an Intel name | Intel | Intel (x86_64) |
The OBS download page says the same thing in its own words: choose the installer that matches your Mac's processor. Check the macOS version while you are in the same window. OBS's page says the macOS release supports macOS 13.0 and newer, so a Mac on an older system cannot use the current version.
Step 2: download OBS from the official site
Open obsproject.com/download and pick the macOS section. When this page was read, it listed OBS Studio 32.2.2 with these options for macOS:
| Option | What the page lists |
|---|---|
| Installer (.dmg) for Intel | Yes |
| Installer (.dmg) for Apple Silicon | Yes |
| BitTorrent, one file each for Intel and Apple Silicon | Yes |
| Steam listing | Yes |
| Source code and previous releases on GitHub | Yes |
Use the official site and not a search ad or a mirror, because you are installing a program that can see your screen. We make no claim about any particular link being safe beyond that: type the address yourself, or follow the link from the official OBS site. The page shows a version number and a date, but the page does not state a year, so check the version number against what you see when you read this.
Step 3: install it
The OBS pages read for this post give no install steps for Mac, so that part is not found. The usual Mac routine for a .dmg file, as general advice and not an OBS instruction, is to open the file and drag the app into your Applications folder, then eject the disk image.
If macOS blocks the app the first time you open it, Apple's page on opening an app that macOS blocks says you can go to System Settings, then Privacy & Security, find the blocked app in the Security section, click Open and then Open Anyway, and enter your password. Apple adds that this option is only available for about an hour after you tried to open the app. It also warns strongly that overriding security settings is the most common way a Mac gets infected with malware, and says not to do it for an app Apple has not checked. So treat that as a reason to stop and check where your copy came from. If you got OBS from the official site, a block is unusual, and a block on a copy from anywhere else is a reason to delete it and download again.
Step 4: the first run
The first time you open OBS, two things happen.
The Auto-Configuration Wizard. OBS's Quick Start Guide says it appears the first time you run OBS and tunes settings based on your goals, your computer's hardware and, for streaming, your network. To run it again, choose Tools, then Auto-Configuration Wizard. If you plan to record and not stream, pick the recording option.
The permission prompts. OBS's macOS Permissions Guide says OBS Studio 28 and higher asks macOS for four permissions, reviewed in a Review App Permissions window under the OBS Studio menu:
| Permission | What OBS says it is for | Do you need it for a first recording? |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Recording | Capturing displays, windows and applications | Yes |
| Camera | Webcams and capture cards | Only if you add a webcam |
| Microphone | Microphones and audio devices | Only if you want your voice |
| Accessibility | Keyboard shortcuts when OBS is not the frontmost app | Optional |
The guide does not say what happens if you deny a permission, or whether you must restart OBS after allowing one, and its manual-steps section says only "Coming soon". If you need to switch Screen Recording on by hand, Apple's steps are: open System Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Screen & System Audio Recording, and turn on the switch for OBS. If OBS is not in the list, click the Add button below it and choose the app. Apple's page does not say whether you must quit and reopen the app afterwards. If the capture stays black, quitting and reopening OBS is an ordinary thing to try, but that is not an OBS or Apple instruction.
Step 5: make your first scene
OBS's Quick Start Guide says it starts with a blank scene. A scene is a layout, and a source is an item in it: an image, text, a video, a webcam or your desktop.
- In the Sources dock at the bottom of the main window, click the + button.
- Choose macOS Screen Capture. The guide lists this as the macOS source for capturing your desktop or a single window.
- In the source's settings, pick what to capture. The Quick Start Guide does not describe the settings inside this source, so the exact options are not found on that page. Our OBS how-to covers display, window and application capture from OBS's Sources Guide.
- Click OK. You should now see your screen inside the OBS preview.
Step 6: record a short test
- Open Settings, then Output and look at the recording settings. The Quick Start Guide says to check these before you test.
- Click Start Recording in the Controls dock.
- Talk for a few seconds, then click Stop Recording.
- Play the file back.
The guide recommends a test recording of a few minutes before you rely on OBS for anything real. It does not say where recordings are saved, so that is not found there. The Output settings let you choose a Recording Path, so set it yourself and you will always know where the file goes. Where do screen recordings go on Mac covers other apps.
Step 7: add sound
For your voice, make sure the Microphone permission is on and check the meter in the Audio Mixer moves when you talk. For your Mac's own sound, OBS's desktop audio guide says that on macOS 13 or later with OBS Studio 30 or newer, you use the macOS Audio Capture source to capture all desktop audio or a single application, and that the macOS Screen Capture source also captures audio. Older macOS versions need extra software such as VB-CABLE, Loopback or Sound Siphon, according to the same guide.
What can go wrong on a first install
- You picked the wrong installer. Check About This Mac again. Apple silicon needs the arm64 build and Intel needs the x86_64 build, as the OBS page says.
- Your macOS is too old. The page says macOS 13.0 and newer.
- The screen capture is black. Switch on Screen Recording for OBS in System Settings, as above.
- macOS blocks the app. Read Apple's warning above before you override anything.
- Your file is MKV. If QuickTime will not open it, the free MKV to MP4 converter runs in your browser.
When OBS is more than you need
OBS is free, runs on Mac, Windows and Linux, and is strong for live streaming and multi-source layouts. Setup is the price: scenes, sources, permissions and output settings before the first clip. If you only want a quick screen recording for a demo or a tutorial, a simpler recorder can be faster. MotionShine, by the maker of this site, is a free Mac screen recorder with auto zoom, a smooth cursor and a full editor. It records your display, one window or an area, and its free version exports up to 720p at 30 fps with no watermark and no time limit. It is not for live streaming, and OBS is the better pick if that is your job.
FAQ
Is OBS free for Mac?
Yes. OBS Studio is free and open source, and the download page lists no price.
Which OBS download is right for my Mac?
Open the Apple menu, choose About This Mac, and look for Chip or Processor. Chip means Apple silicon, so pick Apple Silicon. Processor with an Intel name means pick Intel.
What macOS version does OBS need?
The OBS download page says the macOS release supports macOS 13.0 and newer.
Where should I download OBS?
From the official OBS site, obsproject.com. We cannot vouch for any other link.
Why does OBS show a black screen on Mac?
Usually Screen Recording permission is missing. Turn on OBS under System Settings, Privacy & Security, Screen & System Audio Recording.
Does OBS record my Mac's sound?
On macOS 13 or later with OBS Studio 30 or newer, yes, with the macOS Audio Capture source, per OBS's desktop audio guide.
