====== Installing An OBS Plugin ======

When you download an OBS plugin you will either receive:

  * An installer that installs the plugin automatically
  * A ZIP file containing files that must be copied into the correct OBS folders

This page explains how to manually install an OBS plugin from a ZIP file.

===== Windows Plugin File Structure =====

This section describes the folder structure used by plugins on Windows.

After extracting the plugin ZIP file you should see a folder named after the plugin.  
For example:

<file>
obs-plugin-countdown
</file>

Inside this folder there are usually two subfolders:

  * ''bin'' – contains the main plugin files (''.dll'', ''.pdb'')
  * ''data'' – contains supporting files (''.json'', ''.ini'', assets, etc.)

-----

===== Windows – Standard Install =====

This is the normal installation method for OBS installed using the standard installer.

==== Install Steps ====

=== Step 1 – Extract the Plugin ===

Extract the plugin ZIP file.

You should now have a folder named:

<file>
obs-plugin-countdown
</file>

=== Step 2 – Copy the Plugin Folder ===

Copy the entire plugin folder into:

<file>
C:\ProgramData\obs-studio\plugins
</file>

Your final structure should look similar to:

<file>
C:\ProgramData\obs-studio\plugins\obs-plugin-countdown
</file>

> Note: The ''ProgramData'' folder is hidden by default.
>
> To show hidden folders:
>  - Open **File Explorer**
>  - Click **View → Show**
>  - Enable **Hidden items**

=== Step 3 – Restart OBS ===

Restart OBS.  
The plugin should now be detected automatically.

-----

===== Windows – Portable OBS Install =====

If you are running a portable version of OBS (for example from a USB drive), the plugin files must be copied directly into the OBS folder.

==== Example Portable Location ====

For example, OBS may be located at:

<file>
D:\obs
</file>

The instructions below refer to this location as ''OBS_Portable''.

==== Install Steps ====

=== Step 1 – Copy Plugin Binary Files ===

Locate the plugin binary files inside the extracted plugin folder:

<file>
obs-plugin-countdown\bin\64bit
</file>

Copy the ''.dll'' and ''.pdb'' files into:

<file>
{{OBS_Portable}}\obs-plugins\64bit\
</file>

Example:

<file>
D:\obs\obs-plugins\64bit\
</file>

=== Step 2 – Copy Plugin Data Files ===

Locate the plugin data folder:

<file>
obs-plugin-countdown\data
</file>

Go to:

<file>
{{OBS_Portable}}\data\obs-plugins
</file>

Create a new folder with the plugin name:

<file>
obs-plugin-countdown
</file>

Example final location:

<file>
D:\obs\data\obs-plugins\obs-plugin-countdown\
</file>

Copy the contents of the plugin ''data'' folder into this location.

=== Step 3 – Restart OBS ===

Restart OBS to detect the plugin.

-----

===== macOS =====

Plugins on macOS are packaged differently from Windows plugins.

Instead of folders such as ''bin'' and ''data'', macOS plugins are usually distributed as a single ''.plugin'' bundle.
==== Install Steps ====

=== Step 1 – Copy Plugin File ===

You should have a plugin file with the extension:

<file>
.plugin
</file>

Copy this file into:

<file>
~/Library/Application Support/obs-studio/plugins
</file>

=== Step 2 – Restart OBS ===

Restart OBS.  
The plugin should now be detected automatically.

> Note: The ''Library'' folder is hidden on macOS.
>
> Press the following shortcut in Finder to toggle hidden files:
>
<code>
CMD + SHIFT + .
</code>

-----

===== Troubleshooting – Older Windows Plugin Versions =====

From ''version 2.0.12'' onwards the plugin no longer provides a Windows installer.  
Older versions installed files directly inside the OBS installation folder.

If you previously installed an older version you may need to remove those files once.

Delete the following if they exist:

  * ''C:\Program Files\obs-studio\data\obs-plugins\obs-plugin-countdown''
  * ''C:\Program Files\obs-studio\obs-plugins\64bit\obs-plugin-countdown.dll''
  * ''C:\Program Files\obs-studio\obs-plugins\64bit\obs-plugin-countdown.pdb''

After this cleanup, future plugin updates will simply overwrite the folder in:

<file>
C:\ProgramData\obs-studio\plugins
</file>