How to Lock a Source in OBS Studio
To lock a source in OBS Studio, find the source in the Sources panel and click the small padlock icon next to its name.
Once the lock is closed, you can no longer accidentally drag, resize, or reposition that source inside the OBS preview. Click the lock again whenever you need to make changes.
It sounds like a tiny feature, but locking sources can save you from wrecking a scene you just spent 45 minutes carefully lining up.
How to Lock a Source in OBS
Open OBS Studio.
Look for the Sources panel near the bottom of the main OBS window.
Find the source you want to protect.
Click the lock icon next to the source name.
Make sure the padlock appears closed.
That source is now locked in place.
You can still hide or show the source using the eye icon. Locking only prevents you from accidentally moving or resizing it in the preview.
How to Unlock a Source in OBS
If you need to reposition or resize the source later:
Find it in the Sources panel.
Click the closed padlock icon.
The lock will open.
You can now move, resize, crop, or transform the source again.
When you're finished editing, lock it again.
Why Should You Lock Sources in OBS?
The biggest reason is simple: accidents happen.
You finally get your webcam positioned perfectly. Your overlay lines up. Your alerts are sitting exactly where you want them.
Then you click the wrong thing in the preview and suddenly your camera is halfway across the screen.
Locking your finished sources prevents that.
It is especially useful for:
webcams
overlays
background images
logos
frames
browser sources
alerts
decorative scene elements
Once a source is where it belongs, lock it and move on.
For more complicated layouts, this can save a surprising amount of time.
Why Can't I Move a Source in OBS?
If a source will not move when you click and drag it, check whether it is locked.
Look in the Sources panel for a closed padlock next to the source.
Click the lock to unlock it, then try moving the source again.
If the source is unlocked but still will not move, make sure you actually have that source selected in the Sources panel or preview.
Can You Lock Multiple Sources in OBS?
Yes.
Every source in your OBS scene has its own lock control.
You can lock several sources individually, which is useful when most of your scene is finished but you still want to adjust one or two elements.
For example, you might lock your background, webcam frame, logo, and alerts while leaving your camera source unlocked until you finish positioning it.
If several elements belong together, you can also organize them into groups so the Sources panel stays easier to manage.
What Does Ctrl+Z Do in OBS?
Ctrl+Z is Undo in OBS Studio.
If you accidentally move, resize, or change something, Ctrl+Z may undo your most recent action.
That can save you after a mistake, but I would not rely on Undo as your main protection.
Locking finished sources is better because it prevents the accidental change from happening in the first place.
Lock Sources After You Finish Building a Scene
This is one of those small OBS habits that pays off quickly.
Once your scene looks the way you want it:
lock the background
lock your graphics
lock your overlays
lock anything that should stay exactly where it is
Leave only the sources you are actively editing unlocked.
Your future self will appreciate not having to rebuild a layout because your mouse grabbed the wrong thing.
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