Flip your webcam horizontally or vertically in OBS using the Transform menu
Open OBS Studio and select your webcam source in the Sources panel at the bottom of the screen. Right-click on it and choose Transform, then select either Flip Horizontal or Flip Vertical depending on which direction you need. The change takes effect when ready in your preview and in any active recording or stream.
If you do not see Transform in the menu, make sure your webcam source is actually selected — it should be highlighted in the Sources list. If you have multiple sources, clicking the wrong one will show different options. The Transform menu only appears for video input sources like webcams; it will be grayed out or missing for display captures or window captures.
Key Takeaways
- Right-click your webcam source in the Sources panel and select Transform to access flip options.
- Flip Horizontal mirrors your image left-to-right, which corrects the natural mirror effect of webcams and makes text or logos readable.
- Flip Vertical flips your image top-to-bottom, which you only need if your camera is physically mounted upside down.
- The flip applies only to that source in that specific scene — other scenes will show the original orientation unless you flip them separately.
- Flipped feeds record and stream exactly as they appear in the OBS preview window.
When to use Flip Horizontal
Most people use Flip Horizontal when streaming or recording. A standard webcam shows a mirror image — if you point to your left, you appear to point right on screen. This happens because the camera lens reverses the image horizontally, just like looking in a mirror. Flipping horizontally corrects this so your movements match what viewers see, making you look more natural and less confusing to watch.
Text, logos, or name badges also appear backwards in a mirrored feed. If you are wearing a shirt with a logo, holding up a sign, or displaying a document, flipping makes it readable to your audience. Without the flip, any text on your clothing or in your hands will appear reversed, which looks unprofessional and is hard for viewers to read.
The horizontal flip is the most common adjustment people make to their webcam feed in OBS, and it is the first thing to try if your image looks backwards or unnatural.
When to use Flip Vertical
Flip Vertical is uncommon for webcam use. You would need it only if your camera is physically mounted upside down — for example, if you mounted it on the underside of a monitor arm, on a ceiling, or in some other inverted position. In that case, flipping vertically corrects the orientation so your head is at the top of the frame instead of the bottom.
If your camera is mounted normally on top of your monitor or on a desk, do not use Flip Vertical. It will make your feed look upside down to viewers and will look strange in your recording. Check your camera's physical position before using this option.
How to undo a flip
Right-click your webcam source again and select Transform, then click the same flip option you used before. Selecting it a second time toggles it off and returns your feed to the original orientation. This works for both Flip Horizontal and Flip Vertical.
You can also set up a keyboard shortcut for flipping in OBS settings under Hotkeys, but the right-click menu is the fastest way for most users. If you use the same flip repeatedly, a hotkey can save time during streams or recordings.
Flipping only affects one scene
If you have multiple scenes in OBS, flipping your webcam in one scene does not flip it in the others. Each scene has its own source settings. If you want the same flip applied to your webcam in every scene, you need to flip it in each scene separately, or use the same source across all scenes and flip it once.
To reuse a flipped source across scenes, right-click the source in the Sources panel and select Copy, then switch to another scene and right-click in the Sources panel and choose Paste. The flipped version will appear in the new scene with the same settings. This is faster than flipping the same source multiple times if you have many scenes.
Flipping affects recordings and streams
Whatever you see in the OBS preview window — flipped or not — is exactly what gets recorded or streamed to your audience. If you flip your webcam and then start a recording or go live, the recording or stream will show the flipped version. This is true whether you flip before you start or flip while recording; the change takes effect when ready.
If you realize you flipped the wrong direction after you start recording, you can undo it by right-clicking and flipping again, and the change will appear in the rest of the recording from that point forward. The earlier part of the recording will show the original orientation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I flip my webcam without using the Transform menu?
The Transform menu is the standard way in OBS. Some webcam drivers include their own flip or mirror settings in the camera software itself, but using OBS's built-in Transform is simpler and does not require adjusting camera software. The OBS method also lets you flip only in certain scenes if you need to.
What if the Transform option is grayed out or missing?
Transform is only available for video input sources. If it is grayed out, your source may be a display capture, window capture, image, or other non-video input. Make sure you have selected a Video Capture Device source (your actual webcam). Webcam sources always have Transform available.
Can I flip just part of my webcam feed?
No. The flip options in OBS flip the entire source at once. If you need to flip only a portion of your feed, you would need to crop and position multiple copies of the source, which is complex. For most uses, flipping the whole feed is the right approach.
Does flipping my webcam in OBS affect how it looks in other programs?
No. The flip only affects what OBS shows and records. If you open your webcam in another program like Zoom or Discord, it will still show the original orientation. Each program has its own flip settings if you need them.