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Yes. OBS Studio requests Screen Recording to capture your display, plus Camera and Microphone for webcam and audio sources. This is normal for streaming/recording software, and OBS is open-source — but it does have full visibility of any screen it's set to capture. To check on your Mac, open System Settings, go to Privacy & Security, and review the Camera, Microphone, Screen & System Audio Recording, Accessibility, and Full Disk Access lists for OBS Studio.

Security/App Permissions

Streaming & Recording

Does OBS Studio access your camera, mic, or screen?

Yes. OBS Studio requests Screen Recording to capture your display, plus Camera and Microphone for webcam and audio sources. This is normal for streaming/recording software, and OBS is open-source — but it does have full visibility of any screen it's set to capture.

OBS Studio's permission profile

Screen Recording
Yes — used
Microphone
Yes — used
Camera
Yes — used
Accessibility
No
Full Disk Access
No

“Used” = needed for a core feature · “Optional” = only for a specific feature · “No” = not normally requested

Why OBS Studio requests these

Screen Recording is required to capture display/window sources; Camera and Microphone feed webcam and audio inputs into your scenes.

What to watch for

Only grant Screen Recording if you actually capture your screen (vs. only a game/camera). Because OBS is popular, make sure you downloaded it from obsproject.com and not a lookalike site.

How to check OBS Studio's permissions on your Mac

  1. 1Open System Settings → Privacy & Security.
  2. 2Review Screen & System Audio Recording, Camera, and Microphone for OBS.
  3. 3Confirm the app path points to your real OBS install.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does OBS send my recordings anywhere?

No. OBS records and streams only to destinations you configure. It's open-source, so its behavior is publicly auditable.

See everything OBS Studio (and every other app) can access

A free CoreLock Security Score lists every app with screen-recording, mic, camera, accessibility, or full-disk access — and flags the risky ones — in about 60 seconds.

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Don't check apps one at a time. CoreLock scans your whole Mac and shows you exactly which apps can see your screen, hear your mic, or read your files.

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