Learn to Work with OBS Studio Browser Sources in 2025

OBS Studio is the go-to solution for streamers and content creators, and its Browser Source feature continues to be one of its most powerful tools. From overlays and alerts to embedded widgets, adding dynamic web content directly into your stream scene opens endless possibilities. This 2025 guide expands on the basics and dives into everything new, essential, and effective for working with Browser Sources in OBS.

1. Adding a Browser Source

To add a Browser Source to your scene:

1. Open OBS Studio and go to the desired scene.
2. Click the + icon in the Sources panel.
3. Select Browser from the list.
4. Give it a name, such as "Chat Overlay" or "Countdown Timer," and click OK.

This will open the configuration window where you'll input your URL or local file details.

2. Configuring the Browser Source

Once the configuration window opens, you'll be presented with several settings to tweak:

• URL: Enter the full link to the web content you want to load. For example, a chat widget or Streamlabs alert box.
• Local File: Check this box if you're using an HTML file saved on your computer. Ideal for offline widgets or locally hosted content.
• Width / Height: Set your resolution. Most web widgets provide recommended sizes (e.g., 800x600).
• FPS: Set a custom frame rate for dynamic content like animated overlays (e.g., 30 or 60).
• Control Audio via OBS: Enable this if the browser source has sound (e.g., alerts or video embeds).
• Custom CSS: Use this field to override the styling of the loaded page. Great for matching stream branding. Learn more about Custom CSS in OBS.
• Shutdown Source When Not Visible: This saves CPU usage by pausing the browser source when it's not in view.
• Refresh Browser When Scene Becomes Active: Re-renders the source when you switch to its scene. Avoid using it for timers or persistent states.
• Page Permissions: New in OBS 30+, this controls which permissions are allowed for scripts inside browser sources. Useful for widgets requiring webcam, mic, or WebSocket access.

3. Positioning and Layering Sources

After the browser source is added and configured, you'll likely want to fine-tune its appearance within your scene layout. Here's how:

• Drag & Drop: Move the source freely using the preview window.
• Resize: Click and drag the corners to scale the source up or down.
• Crop: Hold Alt and drag edges to crop.
• Order: Right-click the source → Order to send forward/backward in the layer stack.
• Lock: Click the lock icon in the Sources list to prevent accidental movement.

Fine positioning makes the difference between a cluttered scene and a professional layout.

4. Advanced Options & Tips

Maximize the power of Browser Sources in OBS with these advanced tips:

• Local Hosting: Serve HTML/CSS/JS from a local Node.js server or Python script for full control.
• Custom Fonts: Use Google Fonts or embed fonts via @font-face in your Custom CSS.
• WebSocket Controls: Allow your browser source to communicate with OBS for automation (e.g., switch scenes).
• Browser Caching: If your source doesn't refresh properly, clear the cache or append ?v=timestamp to the URL.
• Testing: Use a browser to inspect the source outside OBS before loading it into a scene.

5. Common Use Cases

• Live Chat: Embed your Twitch, Kick, or YouTube chat in your stream for audience visibility.
• Alerts & Donations: Use services like Streamlabs, Streamelements, or Ko-fi for notifications and goals.
• Countdown Timers: Add a start timer using widgets like OBS Countdown.
• Polls & Voting: Integrate live audience polling via services like Stream Poll Master.
• Music Visualizers: Add reactive music widgets via sites like TuneViz or your own custom scripts.

Browser Sources allow near-infinite flexibility, limited only by your imagination and HTML skills.

Browser Sources are more than just add-ons , they are the backbone of a professional stream layout in 2025. With growing widget ecosystems, WebSocket integrations, and full HTML/CSS/JS support, Browser Sources empower you to deliver an immersive, interactive, and branded experience to your viewers.

Whether you're showing alerts, polls, or entirely custom tools, this feature turns OBS into a dynamic broadcasting hub. Explore and experiment , and watch your live content evolve.

Need inspiration? Check out OBS Countdown for countdown timers or Stream Poll Master for real-time audience interaction tools built for OBS Browser Sources.