How to update OBS for Twitch streaming

When it comes to streaming, Open Broadcasting Software (also known as OBS) is a hugely popular option, with its open-source approach to development and free to use. However, sometimes the software may not connect to your Twitch account or open the stream at all. At these points, it’s ideal to check OBS for pending updates – here’s how.

Checking OBS updates in the app

When you first start OBS, it should automatically check the internet for updates. If updates are found, a new window will appear prompting users to update the application. If this window doesn’t open or you want to manually run an update check, navigate to the “Help” tab in the top horizontal bar, click the drop-down menu to enable it and select “Check for updates” .

If no updates are found, you can close and restart OBS to trigger another parity check with the online repo. Note that OBS does not automatically update all installed OBS plugins: these must be updated manually by visiting the forums and finding the thread for the plugin you want to see if there is an update.

Related: How to change your stream bitrate in OBS Studio and Streamlabs OBS

It will benefit content creators to bookmark plugins they enjoy using so they can check for updates more quickly in the future. Alternatively, a user named StarScrape has developed an OBS plugin manager that can automatically keep plugins up to date.

How to create a clean install of OBS

If you are sure that OBS has an update pending but you cannot request it using the OBS application, you may need to reinstall the software. This should only be used as a last resort as you will likely need to reconnect the application to your streaming account and curate plugins. Uninstall the application from the Windows Control Panel and visit the OBS download page to download the application again.