OBS Mac M1

By Mohammad Alam Written by Mohammad Alam
Updated on August 17, 2023

OBS Studio, originally known as Open Broadcaster Software, is a screencasting and streaming program that is free, open-source, and cross-platform. It is used to capture and record video from a variety of sources, including webcams, desktop screens, game consoles, and more. It’s compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, and BSD.  However, does a native OBS Mac M1 version exist?

OBS users have been looking for a new native version of OBS for the new Mac M1 chip. Streamers have been asking around to know if OBS has any plans regarding launching a native version of the software for the M1 chip. But so far no such news has surfaced, but many custom-compiled OBS versions have hit the internet that works smoothly on the Mac M1 chip.

OBS Mac M1

Does OBS run on Mac M1?

OBS runs on the Mac M1 chip but it is unable to totally utilize the potential of the super-powerful chip. Currently, if you install the software on your Mac M1, it will run on Rosetta 2 as it is not a native version. 

The company is currently working on a native version of the software for the Mac M1 chip. The team is hopeful that the new version will be able to take full advantage of the potential of the super-powerful chip. In the meantime, users can install OBS on their Mac M1 computers and use it with Rosetta 2.

OBS Mac M1 - Does OBS run on Mac M1?How does it perform on Mac M1

The stock Intel version for MacOS does not run well and many streamers have heavily complained. The stock OBS version’s performance is very sloppy and unstable.  Many users have stated that it was much better on the older Macbooks. 

The new Mac M1 users are struggling as they can’t seem to get OBS working perfectly on their new device. The software company has yet to release a native version for Mac M1 chips, and the current Intel version does not perform well on the new devices.

How does custom-compiled OBS work on the Mac M1 chip?

In the absence of an official release, many have created their own version and have been sharing their custom-compiled OBS version for the M1 chip. These versions work great and give users the best possible experience.

The custom-compiled versions can sometimes have bugs and errors that need to be looked out for before installing them on your device. Search and look for reviews and user experience before installing. 

Custom builds of OBS for the Mac M1 are working great for the streamers who were facing trouble before and now using these custom builds for everyday use.

Do the unofficial compiles solve the issues?

The unofficial compiles do not solve the whole issue on the Mac M1 chip. You may face some lingering problems from using the build for some time. 

The OBS community, including streamers with the chip, likes to use the unofficial compiles. The compiled OBS for M1 seems able to perform as per the streamers’ requirements. They use it as their go-to version with the Mac M1 chip. 

If you’re looking for help with using OBS, you can check out the OBS Forum. The forum is an excellent place to ask questions, share your tips and tricks, and find solutions to problems.