Are you tired of your mouse cursor cluttering up your OBS stream? Do you wish there was a way to hide it without having to fiddle with complicated settings? Well, now there is! In this article, we will show you how to stop showing mouse in OBS in just a few simple steps. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced streamer, these instructions will have your mouse cursor out of sight in no time.
Before we begin, let’s take a moment to discuss why you might want to hide your mouse cursor in OBS. There are a few reasons why you might do this. Maybe you want to create a more immersive experience for your viewers. Or maybe you just don’t want your mouse cursor to distract from your content. Whatever your reason, hiding your mouse cursor in OBS is a great way to improve the quality of your stream.
Now that we know why you might want to hide your mouse cursor in OBS, let’s take a look at how to do it. The process is actually quite simple and only takes a few steps. First, open OBS and create a new scene. Then, right-click on the scene and select “Add” > “Image.”
In the “Add Image” dialog box, browse to the location of the image you want to use as your mouse cursor. Once you have selected the image, click “Open.” The image will now be added to your scene. Finally, right-click on the image and select “Properties.” In the “Properties” dialog box, check the “Hide Cursor” checkbox. Click “OK” to save your changes.
That’s it! Your mouse cursor is now hidden in OBS. You can now stream without having to worry about your mouse cursor getting in the way.
If you ever want to show your mouse cursor again, simply uncheck the “Hide Cursor” checkbox in the “Properties” dialog box. Your mouse cursor will then reappear in OBS.
Hiding your mouse cursor in OBS is a great way to improve the quality of your stream. By following the steps in this article, you can easily hide your mouse cursor without having to fiddle with complicated settings. So what are you waiting for? Give it a try today!
Disable the Cursor Visibility Option
The most straightforward method to hide your mouse cursor in OBS is to disable the cursor visibility option within the software’s settings. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. **Launch OBS:** Open the OBS application on your computer.
2. **Go to Settings:** Click on the “Settings” icon located in the bottom-right corner of the main OBS window.
3. **Find the Cursor Visibility Option:** Navigate to the “General” tab in the settings menu. Under the “User Interface” section, scroll down until you find the “Cursor Visibility” option.
4. **Disable Cursor Visibility:** Uncheck the box next to “Cursor Visibility” to disable the mouse cursor from appearing in your OBS preview and recordings.
5. **Save Settings:** Click on the “Apply” button to save your changes. Your mouse cursor should now be hidden in OBS.
Remember:
If you need to temporarily show your mouse cursor, you can press the “Ctrl” key on your keyboard while using OBS. This will toggle the cursor visibility on and off as needed.
Use the Hide Cursor Hotkey
One of the quickest and easiest ways to hide the mouse cursor in OBS is using the hotkey. By default, the hotkey is set to **Ctrl+Alt+H**. To use the hotkey, simply press and hold down the **Ctrl** and **Alt** keys simultaneously, then press the **H** key. The mouse cursor will instantly disappear from the screen. To make the cursor reappear, simply press the hotkey again.
If you find the default hotkey to be inconvenient, you can customize it to any key combination you prefer. To do this, open the OBS settings menu by clicking on the **Settings** icon in the bottom-left corner of the main window. Then, navigate to the **Hotkeys** tab. In the **Hotkeys** tab, scroll down until you find the **Hide Cursor** entry. Click on the **Edit** button next to the **Hide Cursor** entry and press the key combination you want to use as the new hotkey. Finally, click on the **OK** button to save your changes.
Customizing the Hide Cursor Hotkey
In addition to being able to rebind the hotkey, you can also customize its behavior. By default, the hotkey will hide the mouse cursor only while it is pressed. However, you can change this behavior so that the hotkey will toggle the visibility of the mouse cursor. To do this, open the OBS settings menu and navigate to the **Hotkeys** tab. In the **Hotkeys** tab, scroll down until you find the **Hide Cursor** entry. Click on the **Edit** button next to the **Hide Cursor** entry and select the **Toggle** option from the **Type** drop-down menu. Finally, click on the **OK** button to save your changes.
Hide Cursor Hotkey Options
The following table summarizes the available options for the Hide Cursor hotkey:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| **Hold** | The mouse cursor will be hidden only while the hotkey is pressed. |
| **Toggle** | The mouse cursor will be toggled on and off each time the hotkey is pressed. |
Create a Custom Scene with the Cursor Hidden
This method involves creating a custom scene in OBS that automatically hides the mouse cursor. Here’s a detailed guide:
- **Create a new scene:** In OBS, click on the “+” button under “Scenes” to create a new scene. Give it a recognizable name, such as “Cursor Hidden.”
- **Add sources:** Add any necessary sources to the scene, such as game capture, webcam, or other video sources. Ensure these sources are correctly positioned and configured.
- **Create a filter:** To hide the mouse cursor, you need to create a filter. Right-click anywhere in the scene and select “Filters.” In the “Add Filter” window, search for “Scene Filter” and add it to the scene.
Configuring the Scene Filter
The Scene Filter provides more control over the scene’s appearance and allows you to hide the cursor:
- **Select “Crop” and “Resize”:** In the Scene Filter’s settings, ensure “Crop and Resize” is enabled.
- **Set the crop dimensions:** Adjust the “Crop Left” and “Crop Right” values until the cropped area covers the entire scene, effectively hiding the cursor outside the visible area.
- **Save the changes:** Once the cursor is cropped out, click “OK” to save the filter settings.
By following these steps, you can create a custom scene in OBS where the mouse cursor is automatically hidden, allowing for a clean and distraction-free presentation.
Resize the Capture Window to Exclude the Cursor
If you’re having trouble excluding the mouse cursor from your OBS capture, resizing the capture window can be an effective solution. By adjusting the window size, you can ensure that the cursor falls outside the boundaries of the captured area.
Here are the steps on how to resize the capture window:
Step 1: Open the OBS Settings Menu
Launch OBS Studio and click on the “Settings” icon located in the bottom-left corner of the main window.
Step 2: Navigate to the “Output” Section
In the left-hand menu of the Settings window, select the “Output” tab.
Step 3: Adjust the Capture Window Size
Under the “Video” section, locate the “Output (Scaled) Resolution” field. Here, you can specify the desired width and height for the captured area.
To exclude the mouse cursor, make sure the capture window size is smaller than the actual resolution of your monitor or the area you want to capture. For example, if your monitor resolution is 1920×1080, you could set the capture window size to 1800×900, ensuring that the cursor falls outside the captured area.
In case the mouse cursor is still visible in the capture, try further reducing the capture window size or adjusting its position to exclude the entire cursor.
Here’s a table that demonstrates how adjusting the capture window size can impact the cursor visibility:
| Capture Window Size | Cursor Visibility |
|---|---|
| 1920×1080 | Cursor visible |
| 1800×900 | Cursor excluded |
| 1600×800 | Cursor excluded |
Enable Game Capture Mode
To disable mouse cursor display in OBS while capturing gameplay, you can enable Game Capture Mode. This mode optimizes OBS to capture only the game window, excluding the mouse cursor. Here’s how to enable it:
-
Open OBS and add a new source: Click the "+" icon in the "Sources" panel and select "Game Capture."
-
Configure the game capture source: In the "Properties" window, select your game executable from the "Game" dropdown.
-
Enable Game Capture Mode: Check the "Enable Game Capture Mode" checkbox.
-
Adjust capture settings (optional): You can further customize the capture settings, such as resolution and framerate, to optimize performance and capture quality.
-
Optimize Game Capture Mode: To ensure seamless mouse cursor hiding, perform the following additional steps:
-
Set your game to exclusive fullscreen mode: This prevents other applications or desktop elements from interfering with the capture.
-
Close any background apps: Running unnecessary apps can introduce additional elements that may interfere with the capture.
-
Use a dedicated capture card (recommended for consoles): This provides a dedicated connection for gameplay capture, minimizing latency and potential display issues.
-
Update OBS and your graphics drivers: Ensure you have the latest versions of both to prevent compatibility issues.
-
Use a Third-Party Plugin
There are a number of third-party plugins available that can help you remove the mouse cursor from your OBS recordings. Here are a few of the most popular:
- Remove Mouse Cursor: This plugin is free and easy to use. It simply removes the mouse cursor from your OBS recordings.
- Cursor Hider: This plugin is also free and easy to use. It offers a few more features than Remove Mouse Cursor, including the ability to hide the mouse cursor only during certain times or on certain scenes.
- OBS Cursor Hider: This plugin is a bit more expensive than the other two options, but it offers a wider range of features. It allows you to hide the mouse cursor completely, or you can choose to hide it only during certain parts of your recording.
Once you have installed a third-party plugin, you can follow these steps to remove the mouse cursor from your OBS recordings:
1. Open OBS and create a new scene.
2. Right-click on the scene and select “Add Source”.
3. In the “Add Source” dialog box, select the plugin that you installed.
4. Click on the “OK” button.
5. The plugin will be added to your scene. You can now configure the plugin to meet your needs.
Hide the Mouse Cursor Completely
To hide the mouse cursor completely, simply enable the “Hide Cursor” option in the plugin settings.
Hide the Mouse Cursor Only During Certain Times
To hide the mouse cursor only during certain times, you can use the “Start Time” and “End Time” options in the plugin settings. Set the Start Time to the time when you want the mouse cursor to start hiding, and set the End Time to the time when you want the mouse cursor to start showing again.
Hide the Mouse Cursor Only on Certain Scenes
To hide the mouse cursor only on certain scenes, you can use the “Scene Filter” option in the plugin settings. In the Scene Filter field, enter the name of the scene that you want to hide the mouse cursor on.
Change the Cursor Color to Match the Background
Another way to make your mouse cursor less visible is to change its color to match the background of your OBS scene. This can be done by following these steps:
1. Open the OBS Settings menu.
2. Click on the “Output” tab.
3. Under the “Video” section, click on the “Color Range” drop-down menu.
4. Select the “Custom” option.
5. Click on the “Color Picker” button.
6. Use the color picker to select a color that matches the background of your OBS scene.
7. Click on the “OK” button to save your changes.
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
|
|
Use a Green Screen or Virtual Background
Using a green screen or virtual background is an effective way to hide your mouse in OBS. Here is a detailed step-by-step guide:
Selecting a Green Screen or Virtual Background
– Consider using a physical green screen for the best results.
– For a virtual background, select from the presets or upload your own images or videos.
Setting Up Your Green Screen
– Ensure proper lighting to avoid shadows and green spill.
– Use a light behind you or to the side to illuminate your face.
– Position the camera perpendicular to the green screen to minimize distortions.
Setting Up Your Virtual Background
– In OBS, right-click in the ‘Sources’ box and select ‘Virtual Cam.’
– Check the ‘Virtual Camera’ option and click ‘OK.’
– In the Virtual Cam settings, choose ‘Chroma Key’ from the ‘Filter’ drop-down menu.
– Select the color of the background to be removed, typically green.
– Adjust the ‘Similarity’ and ‘Smoothness’ sliders to fine-tune the effect.
Preview and Troubleshooting
– Preview your setup in the OBS Preview window.
– Make any necessary adjustments to lighting or camera position.
– If the background remains visible, check the ‘Similarity’ and ‘Smoothness’ settings.
– Ensure that the background is well-lit and distinct from your clothing or hair.
Hide the Cursor with a Cursor Hider Tool
There are numerous cursor hider tools available, each with its unique features and capabilities. We’ll highlight nine popular options that can assist you in concealing the mouse cursor in OBS:
1. Cursor Hider
This free and lightweight tool provides a simple and effective solution for hiding the mouse cursor. It offers no advanced customization options, but it gets the job done.
2. Invisible Cursor
As its name suggests, Invisible Cursor is a tool that conceals the mouse cursor completely. It sits silently in the system tray, ensuring uninterrupted use of OBS.
3. AutoHideMouseCursor
AutoHideMouseCursor is an automated tool that automatically hides the mouse cursor when it’s not in use. It’s ideal for full-screen streaming or gameplay scenarios.
4. Mouse Hider
Mouse Hider offers a range of customization options, including the ability to hide the cursor in specific areas or applications. It also provides hotkeys for quick and convenient control.
5. CursorTrail
CursorTrail is a unique tool that leaves a customizable trail behind the mouse cursor. This can be helpful for indicating the cursor’s location without having it constantly visible.
6. CursorMagic
CursorMagic is a feature-rich tool that allows for precise control over the cursor’s appearance and behavior. It includes options for changing the cursor’s color, shape, and size.
7. Hidden Cursor
Hidden Cursor is a dedicated tool that prevents the mouse cursor from appearing on-screen, ensuring a clean and unobstructed view for your audience.
8. MouseVanish
MouseVanish automatically hides the cursor after a specified period of inactivity. It’s designed to minimize distractions and enhance focus during OBS recordings or live streams.
9. Cursor Lock
Cursor Lock is a powerful tool that allows for precise control over the mouse cursor’s movement and visibility. It provides options for locking the cursor within a specific area, hiding it on specific events, and more.
| Tool | Features |
|---|---|
| Cursor Hider | – Free and lightweight |
| Invisible Cursor | – Hides cursor completely |
| AutoHideMouseCursor | – Automatically hides cursor when not in use |
| Mouse Hider | – Customization options |
| CursorTrail | – Leaves a customizable trail behind cursor |
| CursorMagic | – Feature-rich |
| Hidden Cursor | – Prevents cursor from appearing on-screen |
| MouseVanish | – Automatically hides cursor on inactivity |
| Cursor Lock | – Precise control over cursor movement |
Update OBS Studio to the Latest Version
Keeping your software up to date is crucial for maintaining optimal performance and resolving any potential issues. OBS Studio provides regular updates to enhance stability, compatibility, and introduce new features. Here’s a detailed guide to update your OBS Studio to the latest version:
1. Open OBS Studio
Launch the OBS Studio application on your computer.
2. Check for Updates
From the top menu bar, click on “Help.” Then, select “Check for Updates.” OBS will automatically check for any available updates.
3. Download the Update
If an update is available, the “Check for Updates” window will display the latest version and a button to download it.
4. Run the Installer
Once downloaded, locate the OBS installer file and run it.
5. Install the Update
Follow the prompts in the installer to complete the update process.
6. Restart OBS Studio
After the update is installed, restart OBS Studio for the changes to take effect.
7. Confirm the Update
Once OBS Studio restarts, check the version number in the bottom-right corner of the main window to confirm that the update was successful.
8. Troubleshoot Issues
If you encounter any issues while updating OBS Studio, refer to the OBS Support Wiki or the official OBS documentation for assistance.
9. Additional Considerations
Before updating, consider the following:
- Ensure that your computer meets the system requirements for the latest OBS Studio version.
- Backup your OBS Studio settings and scenes in case of any unexpected issues.
- Check for plugin compatibility with the latest OBS Studio version.
10. Understanding Update Revisions
OBS Studio sometimes releases multiple updates in a short period. Here’s how to understand the revision numbering scheme:
| Revision Number | Significance |
|---|---|
| First Digit (Major) | Major updates, introducing significant changes |
| Second Digit (Minor) | Feature-based updates, adding new features or improvements |
| Third Digit (Patch) | Bug fixes and minor enhancements |
| Revision (Letters) | Release or public test builds |
