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What to Do When OBS Not Working with VPN + Best VPNs for It!
VPN protects data and bypass blocks on streaming apps
10 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
OBS, or Open Broadcaster Software, is a popularopen-source software used for live-streaming and video recording.
It enables users to capture and stream their desktops, webcams, and other sources to sites such asTwitch, YouTube, and Facebook.
Many users, however, have encountered problems when using OBS when connected to a VPN.
You may experienceissues with connectivity and streaming qualitywhen using OBS with a VPN.
This might be due to latency issues connected to the quality of your VPN servers or network restrictions.
Connectivity issues orgeo-blocking measurescertain streaming services like Twitch have put in place can be another cause for your problems.
But do not worry, as you can deal with these issues in several ways.
How to fix OBS not working with VPN
When connecting to a VPN, your IP address is substituted with that of the VPN server you are connected to. This makes it appear that you are accessing the internet from a different location.
While this can be useful for bypassing geo-restrictions andaccessing the contents that are unavailable in your country, it can also cause issues with streaming through OBS.
But there are several ways to go around these issues. Try the following solutions step by step:
1. Use split tunneling
Split tunnelingis a networking technology that allows users to transmit some of their internet traffic through a VPN while remaining connected to their regular network.
This might bebeneficial for users who wish to play games or use streaming platforms that prohibit using VPNor require a local network connection.
It can also allow you to bypass Twitch’s geo-blocking while connecting OBS directly to your local network and avoiding any latency.
To utilize split tunneling with OBS, configure your VPN client to exclude the network adapter used by OBS to connect to the internet.
Thisallows OBS to utilize your normal network connection while enabling other apps to use the VPN connection.
The specific steps for setting up split tunneling will depend on your VPN client and network configuration. You may need to visit your VPN provider’s documentation or support resources to set up split tunneling.
2. Change the server
Using OBS to stream on Twitch, Youtube, or Facebook might prove to be a hard task as your access to these websites might be barred due to geo-blocking or your country’s censorship.
As Twitch and other streaming platforms tend torecognize and ban certain IP addressesassociated with free VPNs or with an unusual number of connections, changing your server might resolve your issues.
To do so, follow these steps:
3. Change your VPN provider
Buffering or other streaming difficulties might occur when a user connects to a VPN serverexperiencing excessive traffic or latency.
Similarly, if the VPN connection is unreliable or regularly fails, it might disrupt the streaming experience.
These glitches might be frustrating when attempting to stream content using OBS. Using a premium VPN serviceoptimized for streaming, such as CyberGhost, may fix all these problems at once.
To have a problem-free experience with OBS, follow these steps:
Does OBS block VPNs?
No, OBS doesn’t block VPNs. OBS itself takes no measures to ban users using VPNs or block any IP addresses related to VPN servers.
But certain sites available to steam on through OBS, like Twitch, use some measures to block VPNs tomaintain the platform’s safety and avoid any legal issues.
Keep in mind that if you are not experiencing any issues with those streamers, a free VPN still can cause you connection and latency issues, affecting the quality of your experience.
The optimum solution is to use a premium VPN service that utilizes innovative privacy measures to keep your VPN use hidden while giving you high-speed access to OBS.
How does OBS detect my VPN?
Many websites have VPN-blocking procedures in place, and OBS has it too.
These safeguards are put in place toprevent users from circumventing regional limits, gaining access to only available material in specific countries, and preserving the integrity of their services.
Here are some examples of how services restrict VPN usage:
Although all these measures are put in place to keep users and the platform safe, they can be restrictive if you find yourself in a situation where you need to pass them.
If you areusing a university or library network or if you are living in a country that has blocked access to some platformsconnected to OBS, you need to use a VPN.
But as using a VPN can bring on certain punitive measures, including account suspension or a significant drop in streaming quality, you must ensure your VPN usage is protected.
Using a premium VPN service can be the ultimate solution to all these tracking.
A Premium VPN’s advanced security and privacy features can keep you safe while giving you the best streaming quality possible.
Does OBS work with a VPN?
Yes, OBS works with VPN, but the quality of your experience highly depends on the kind of VPN you use.
Using a premium VPN, such as CyberGhost, isessentialfor a lag-free and stable connection to OBS.
Its cutting-edge security and privacy features, partnered with its split-tunneling feature, can give you all the tools you need tobypass the geo-blocking of streaming platforms like Twitchwhen using OBS.
Free VPNs do not give the same degree of protection and privacy as commercial VPNs, and they areprone to IP address blockage and speed drop-downs.
Premium VPNs, such as CyberGhost, provide top-level encryption, have astrict no-logs policy, quicker and more dependable connections, and other security measures to keep your online activities safe and secure.
Free VPNs sometimes have sluggish and inconsistent connections, making it difficult to stream through OBS and other material without buffering or latency.
Unlike a free VPN, a premium VPN mayterminate an IP address blocked by Twitch and start a new onewhile staying one step ahead of Twitch’s banning.
Investing in a premium VPN, like CyberGhost, ensures you can use OBS without any dropped frames while giving you access to streamers that may have blocking or geo-restrictions in your region.
Best VPNs for OBS
Choosing a premium VPN to access OBS is crucial for ensuring you have a lag-free experience while maintaining your online privacy and security.
Your premium VPN must have a split-tunneling feature and many fast and secure servers around the globe, optimized to give you the best streaming experience.
The following is a list of the best premium VPNs for streaming through OBS:
CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost VPN is our opinion, the best VPN option for live streaming. It features a large network withover 6800 servers in 91 countries, allowing users to view material from all over the world.
On its desktop software, CyberGhostoffers a split tunneling option labeled “exceptions”under the smart rules tab.
It provides the highest level of encryption, guaranteeing that all online activity is private and safe.
Furthermore, CyberGhost VPN adheres to a strictno-logs policy, which means that user data is never saved or shared with third parties.
It also has advanced features likead blocking and virus prevention.
Overall, CyberGhost VPN is a reliable service for anybody wishing to safeguard their online privacy and access prohibited material.
✅Pros
❌Cons
CyberGhost
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN, Withover 3,000 servers in 94 countries, is the ideal solution for anybody searching for afast, secure, and dependableVPN service.
Moreover, this VPN offers an all-in-one solution for anybody wishing to safeguard their online privacy and security, with sophisticated features such assplit tunneling and a kill switch.
ExpressVPN also employsindustry-leading encryptionto keep all online activities private and safe.
It also has a rigorousno-logs policy, meaning no user data is ever saved or shared with other parties. It also hasadvanced obfuscationthat overcomes any blocking.
Because privacy and security are typically top concerns while utilizing a VPN, it includes cutting-edge security technology likeAES-256 encryption.
✅Pros
❌Cons
ExpressVPN
PIA VPN
PIA VPN, or Private Internet Access VPN, is an amazing solution for individuals who value privacy and security while streaming through OBS without any issues.
With over35000 servers in 84 countries, PIA VPN provides a wide selection of alternatives for viewing material globally.
Additionally, this VPN has an advanced split tunneling feature that will help you avoid any problems you might face using OBS.
PIA VPN also has ad and malware prevention and a kill switch. This VPN is an inexpensive and dependable option for anybody wishing to safeguard their online privacy and security.
Because of itsopen-sourced and transparent architecture, anybody may inspect and test PIA VPN’scutting-edge security featuresandno-logs policy.
✅Pros
❌Cons
PIA
Summary
ManyOBSusers experience not working with VPNs, facingconnection issues, latency, and geo-blockingwhile trying to use the software to stream on different platforms, such as Twitch.
Using a premium VPN that hassplit-tunneling, advanced security and privacy features, and a large fleet of servers optimized for streamingcan resolve all these issues at once.
Deyan Georgiev
Deyan is a software and technology expert, focused on online privacy and data protection.
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Deyan Georgiev
