OBS Studio · Screen Recording
Hide a Teleprompter from Mac Screen Recording in OBS
October 14, 2026 · 7 min read
If you record or stream your Mac screen with OBS Studio while reading from a teleprompter, you’ve probably noticed the prompter window showing up in the final video. It can ruin the illusion of direct eye contact, expose your script, and make your content look less polished. The good news: you don't need expensive hardware or complex workarounds to fix it.
Below, we’ll walk through the most reliable ways to keep your teleprompter visible to you but invisible to your OBS screen recording on macOS. Whether you’re using VozPilot or another prompt tool, these methods fit into a normal Mac setup and take only a few minutes to try.
Why a Visible Teleprompter Window Happens
OBS captures whatever is being drawn on the display or window you select. If you choose Display Capture, OBS records the entire Mac desktop—including any window, menu bar, or overlay that is visible on that screen. A teleprompter app that stays on top will be recorded just like a browser or document.
This is not a bug. Screen recording on macOS works at the system level, so apps cannot simply opt out of being captured unless they offer a special “clean feed” or hide-from-capture mode. Understanding this helps you choose the right fix.
Use OBS Window Capture Instead of Display Capture
The fastest fix is to stop recording the whole desktop. In OBS, replace your Display Capture source with one or more Window Capture sources. A Window Capture source records only the specific app window you select, so your teleprompter can stay open on the same screen without appearing in the recording.
- In OBS, click the + button under Sources.
- Choose Window Capture and name it after the app you want to show.
- Select the desired window from the Window dropdown.
- Check Show windows with empty names only if your app doesn't appear.
- Repeat for each window you need, such as a browser, slides, or camera preview.
This works well when recording an application, a browser tab, or a video call. It does not capture your full desktop, so floating prompter windows stay out of frame by default.
Move the Teleprompter to a Second Display or Virtual Display
If you need true full-screen display capture—for example, showing your entire desktop, Dock, or multiple windows at once—use a second display. Connect an external monitor or enable a virtual display, then move the teleprompter window there. In OBS, select only the main display as your Display Capture source. Your prompter remains visible on the second screen but is never recorded.
- Connect a second monitor via HDMI, USB-C, or AirPlay to an iPad or Mac.
- Drag the teleprompter window to that display.
- In OBS, click Display Capture and choose the main display from the Display dropdown.
- If you don't have a physical second screen, use a virtual display tool or an iPad as a Sidecar display.
This is the cleanest method for full-screen workflows, and it also frees up your main screen for your actual content.
Try a Web-Based or External Teleprompter Setup
Another practical option is to move the prompter off your Mac entirely. Many teleprompters—including VozPilot in certain setups—can run in a separate browser tab or on a phone/tablet while your Mac handles the recording. You then read from the external device placed near your camera, and your Mac screen capture only records the content you want on screen.
- Open your teleprompter on an iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
- Use a phone mount or tripod to place it directly below or above the camera.
- Mirror the script to the external device if your prompter tool supports sync.
- Keep the Mac desktop clean for OBS display capture.
If you prefer to keep everything on one Mac, check whether your prompter app offers a browser-based remote view. You can open a clean viewer window on an external device and keep the control window hidden on your main screen.
Adjust Teleprompter App Settings for a Clean Feed
Some teleprompter apps include a feature that hides the script from screen recording while keeping it visible to you. Look for options like Clean Feed, Hide Overlay, Invisible to Screen Capture, or Transparent Mode. These settings are not available in every app, but they are worth checking before changing your whole OBS setup.
For example, if you're using VozPilot, open its display or output settings and look for any option that controls what appears on the main screen versus a separate output. A clean-feed mode can feed the prompter to a separate window or device while your recorded screen stays clean. Even simple opacity and background color adjustments can help if you later use a chroma key or crop.
- Open your teleprompter settings and look for output, display, or view options.
- Enable any “hide from capture” or “clean feed” toggle if available.
- Test by recording a short clip in OBS while the prompter is open.
- Adjust font size, opacity, and background to make the prompter easier to read without affecting the recording.
Crop or Mask the Prompter Area as a Last Resort
If you must use full display capture and cannot move the prompter off screen, you can crop or mask the portion of the screen where the prompter appears. This is not ideal because it hides that part of your content, but it can work if the prompter sits in a corner or overlaps only a non-essential area.
- In OBS, select your Display Capture source.
- Hold Option and drag the red crop handles to cut out the prompter area.
- Or add a color source or image mask to cover it.
- Combine with a camera or other source repositioned to fill the gap.
Use this only when you cannot switch to Window Capture, second display, or clean-feed settings. It sacrifices part of your screen and usually looks less professional.