How to Add a Webcam to Streamlabs

In this short guide, you’ll learn how to add a Webcam to Streamlabs so you can share your face on your streaming or show and tell other things you could have around, for example, if you’re doing a live review of a product.

How to Setup your Camera on Streamlabs

Adding a camera or webcam to your Streamlabs Scene is pretty easy, all you have to do is follow the next steps.

Step #1 – Add the Webcam Source to the Scene

First of all, you need to open Streamlabs Desktop, and within the Sources section, hit the +plus button to add a new source.

The one you have to choose is in General Sources > Video Capture Device.

This source will show your built-in webcam (if you use a laptop), but also any other external webcam or content from Capture Cards like the one from Elgato, Avermedia, or Black Magic.

Step #2 – Add a name to your new camera device

In Streamlabs is very important that you name every source, so you can quickly identify all the layers in the future.

So, don’t do as I did in the example, don’t use a generic name, instead, use the model of the webcam, or at least, something like “built-in camera”, and “external webcam”.

Step #3- Pick the Device, configure the settings and add the source

In the following window, you’ll see, that you will need to:

• Choose the device you want to use as a video source: you’ll see here a dropdown list menu with your built-in camera, your external webcams, virtual cams, and your capture cards.
• Choose if you want to use Presets, and which ones: basically this is, ready-to-go parameters, like the resolution, or just “high quality”.
• Decide if you want to use Buffering

What is buffering on a Video Capture Device?

When enabled, buffers video/audio data to ensure the smoothest and most accurate playback possible, but at the cost of increased latency.

• Note: when using buffering with a video capture card, it’s recommended to set the card and the program to the same framerate for best results.

When disabled, ensures the lowest latency playback, but at the cost of frame playback accuracy.

This is ideal for face cameras, or when you want to use the program’s preview window to play a console.

What if I don’t want to use presets?

If you un-check the “Presets” box, you’ll have to manually decide all the settings of your camera/webcam.

This includes:

• Resolution
• Frame Rate
• Input format
• Color Space
• And Video Range

Step 4 – Move, resize and crop your Camera

That’s all!

Your webcam will be shown now on your scene, all you have to do now is position that source wherever you want, make it smaller (or larger), or crop it.

Can I add more than one webcam on Streamlabs?

Yes.

Adding a second camera to your Streamlabs scene is possible, and indeed, really easy to do, although the steps are a bit confusing.

This is because if you try to add another source as you did in the previous steps, this is, clicking on the Plus Button, and selecting the Video Capture Device source, you’ll see a different window.

This is due to the fact that Streamlabs always shows you previously added webcams, just in case you want to quickly add them to new scenes.

All you need to know if you want to add a new Video Capture Device is click on the “Add a new source instead” button.

You’ll be prompt to write a name for your device, (step 2) so you can continue setting your webcam as you saw in step 3.

How to change the settings of an already added webcam?

If you want to change the parameters or any webcam from your scene, just double-click over it to open the settings window, or make a right-click on that specific source, and select the “properties” option.

Does Streamlabs work with any camera/webcam?

You won’t have any problem adding any built-in webcam, external webcams, virtual cameras like VCAM or Snap camera, and even DSLR and mirrorless cameras if you use the proper hardware.

Black screen instead of your Webcam

If when adding your camera device you see a black screen instead of the captured image, this could be because you need to:

• Update the drivers of your webcam.
• Close other apps: if the camera is being used by another app/software on your computer. Streamlabs may not be able to use it.
• Change the presets: if you manually set the wrong presets, the source may not work properly.
• Add an exception to your antivirus, it might be blocking the use of the camera by Streamlabs.
• Change the Windows / macOS Privacy settings: same as above. Operative systems usually don’t allow apps to use your webcam without your permission. You can change this:
  • Windows: Settings > Privacy > Camera > Allow apps to access your camera.
  • macOS: System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Camera > Checking Streamlabs.

Adding a camera to Streamlabs is very easy!

 As you have seen, adding and configuring any webcam to your Streamlabs scenes is pretty easy.

Is not much different from adding any other type of source, so go ahead, add as many as you want, and start creating your scenes showing your face!