How to Rename a Source in OBS Studio (Quick Tutorial)

4 hours ago

3 min read

Illustration of a hand editing the Game Capture name in the OBS Studio Sources panel

How Do You Rename an OBS Source?

If you have ever stared at a Sources dock filled with names like Video Capture Device 2 and Image 7, you know how quickly a perfectly good OBS scene can turn into a guessing game. Renaming a source is one of the simplest ways to make a stream setup easier to manage.

You do not need to delete a source or recreate the scene. OBS lets you change a source's display name directly from the Sources list.

How to Rename a Source in OBS Studio Step by Step

These steps work for an existing source, including a webcam, game capture, browser source, image, or audio input. Start with the scene containing the source you want to rename.

Open OBS Studio and select the scene that contains your source.
Find the Sources dock, usually below the preview window.
Right-click the source you want to rename and choose Rename.
Type a descriptive name and press Enter to confirm.

Can You Rename an OBS Source With a Keyboard Shortcut?

Yes. Select a source in the Sources dock and press F2 to edit its name. Type the new name and press Enter.

If your keyboard uses F2 for a hardware control such as brightness, you may need to use the Fn key as well. The right-click Rename option is a dependable alternative.

The shortcut edits the name of the selected source, not the settings inside that source.

Does Renaming an OBS Source Change What It Captures?

No. Renaming a source changes its label in OBS. It does not change the camera, game window, image, browser address, or other content that the source captures.

For example, changing Video Capture Device to Face Camera makes the source easier to recognize, but OBS continues using the same camera and settings.

That makes renaming a low-risk housekeeping step when you are cleaning up a scene collection.

What Should You Name Your OBS Sources?

Choose names that describe the purpose of each source. A consistent naming pattern saves time when a scene includes several cameras, overlays, or audio inputs.

You might use Main Webcam, Game Capture, Chat Overlay, Starting Soon Background, and Background Music. The exact wording is up to you; clarity matters more than cleverness.

Avoid giving everything a vague label such as New Source. The longer your source list becomes, the more valuable recognizable names will be.

Why Can't I Rename an OBS Source When I Add It?

OBS has changed its Add Source interface in some recent versions. Depending on the release, you may not get a name-entry box during creation.

You can still create the source first, then right-click its entry in the Sources dock and choose Rename. You can also try F2 with the source selected.

If OBS refuses a name, choose a different one: source and scene names need to be distinct. Renaming an existing source is faster than deleting it and starting again.

Can You Rename a Scene the Same Way?

Yes. Scenes and sources are separate lists in OBS, but you can rename an existing scene from the Scenes dock in a similar way. Make sure you select the correct item before editing the name.

If you are reorganizing an entire streaming setup, rename the key scenes first and then label the sources inside them. A little organization now makes future troubleshooting and scene editing much easier.