Knowledge Base > Sources & Filters > Window Capture Sources

Window Capture Sources

Window Capture

Windows macOS Linux
✅ Available 🟨 Deprecated (macOS 13.0 or newer), use macOS Screen Capture instead ❌ Not available
✅ Available (macOS 10.15 - 12.6)

Description

Window Capture allows you to capture a specific window and its contents. The advantages to using this source over Display Capture is that only the selected window will be shown, even if there are other windows in front of it.

Properties

Windows

Property Description Default
Window Specifies the window to capture
Capture Method Specifies the capture method to use. BitBlt is less efficient but may help with certain programs. Automatic
Window Match Priority Specifies the means by which to detect the window to capture if the previously-captured window cannot be found. If Window title must match is selected, the source will be blank until the original window (or one with the same title) is found Match title, otherwise find window of the same type
Capture Cursor Sets whether or not to capture the mouse cursor On
Multi-Adapter Compatibility Shows when the method is Window 7 BitBlt Off
Client Area Shows when the method is Windows 10 On

macOS

Property Description Default
Window Specifies the window to capture
Show Windows with empty names Sets the Window list to show unnamed windows False
Show Window shadow Sets the source to to show the window shadow False

Notes

Windows

Disabling the Desktop Window Manager (DWM), sometimes called Aero, can interfere with the correct operation of this source on Windows 7 or later.

macOS

In the current version of OBS Studio for macOS, Window Capture is not as performant as on other platforms. For a smooth capture experience, use Display Capture instead.

Window Capture (Xcomposite)

Windows macOS Linux
❌ Not available ❌ Not available ✅ Available

Properties

Property Description Default
Window Specifies the window to capture
Crop Top/Left/Right/Bottom Sets the area of the display to crop 0/0/0/0
Swap red and blue Changes red colors to blue and blue colors to red. This does not affect secondary colours such as greens, pinks, or purples Off
Lock X server when capturing Off

Window Capture (PipeWire)

Windows macOS Linux
❌ Not available ❌ Not available ✅ Available

Properties

TODO