how to record screen and webcam at the same time

Recording your screen and webcam at the same time (often called picture-in-picture or face cam overlay) is super common for YouTube tutorials, gaming videos, reviews, online classes, or presentations. It lets viewers see both what’s on your screen and your reactions/expressions.

In 2026, the best free way with no watermark, no time limits, and full control is OBS Studio (still the top choice for most creators). It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Other easy options exist too, like ScreenPal, Loom, or browser tools.

Here are the main methods, starting with the most powerful and flexible one.

Method 1: OBS Studio (Best Free Option – Recommended for Quality & Customization)

OBS is open-source, completely free, handles high-res (up to 4K/60fps), records system audio + mic, and lets you position your webcam anywhere as an overlay.

Step-by-step setup:

1. Download and install OBS Studio Go to https://obsproject.com/ → Download the latest version for your OS → Install it.
2. Open OBS and set up a scene
   • When it opens, you’ll see a black preview area.
   • In the Sources box at the bottom, click the + icon.
3. Add your screen capture
   • Choose Display Capture (for full screen) or Window Capture (for one app).
   • Name it (e.g., “Screen”).
   • Select your monitor/display → OK. → Your screen should now appear in the preview.
4. Add your webcam
   • Click + in Sources again → Choose Video Capture Device.
   • Name it (e.g., “Webcam”).
   • Select your camera from the Device dropdown (built-in or external).
   • Click OK → Your face appears in the preview (it might cover the screen at first).
5. Position and resize the webcam overlay
   • In the preview area, click on the red webcam box.
   • Drag the corners to resize it (make it smaller for corner placement).
   • Drag it to move (e.g., bottom-right corner is popular).
   • To crop or fine-tune: Hold Alt while dragging edges. → In the Sources list, make sure Webcam is above Screen (drag it up if needed) so it stays on top.
6. Set up audio
   • In Audio Mixer (bottom panel):
     • Desktop Audio → captures system sound (games, videos, etc.).
     • Mic/Aux → your voice.
   • Adjust volumes with sliders.
   • (On Mac: Use BlackHole for internal audio if needed, as we discussed earlier.)
7. Start recording
   • Go to Settings → Output → Recording tab:
     • Set Format to MP4 (best for YouTube).
     • Quality: High Quality or Indistinguishable.
   • Back in main window → Click Start Recording.
   • Do your thing!
   • Click Stop Recording when done.
   • Files save to Videos > OBS (or change path in Settings).

Tips for better results:

• Test a short clip first.
• Add filters: Right-click webcam source → Filters → Chroma Key (for green screen) or Color Correction.
• Use scenes: Create multiple setups (e.g., full screen vs. split view).
• Hotkeys: Set them in Settings → Hotkeys for start/stop.

This method gives pro-looking results with zero cost.

(Example of OBS preview with screen + webcam overlay in corner)

Method 2: Easier Built-in or Lightweight Apps

If OBS feels too advanced, try these simpler ones (all free tiers with no watermark for basic use):

• ScreenPal (Windows/Mac/mobile)
  1. Download from https://screenpal.com/.
  2. Open → Choose record mode.
  3. Toggle Webcam on → Resize/move the face cam window.
  4. Record screen area + audio. → Great for quick tutorials; free hosting too.
• Loom (Browser/desktop app)
  1. Install Loom extension/app.
  2. Click record → Select Screen + Cam.
  3. Choose screen area, webcam turns on automatically (picture-in-picture).
  4. Hit record → Stop and edit/share. → Super fast for short videos.
• Clipchamp (Windows built-in, free)
  1. Open Clipchamp (pre-installed on Windows 11 or via Microsoft Store).
  2. Create new → Record & create → Camera + screen option.
  3. Position webcam overlay. → Good editing built-in.
• Screencastify (Chrome extension)
  1. Add from Chrome Web Store.
  2. Click icon → Choose tab/full screen.
  3. Toggle Embed Webcam on.
  4. Record.

For Mac-specific: QuickTime can do webcam, but not easily combined with screen—use OBS or ScreenPal instead.

Quick Comparison (2026)

OBS is the winner if you plan to make a lot of content (like for Linkz Media videos). It’s what most serious YouTubers use.

Which device are you on (Windows, Mac, etc.) and what kind of video are you making? I can give more exact steps!