Whether you accidentally added a microphone, switched audio devices, or are cleaning up a cluttered setup, removing an audio source in OBS is straightforward once you know where to look. The most common issue is that OBS stores audio sources in two separate places, and removing one does not affect the other. This guide covers both methods so you can clear out exactly what you need.
How to Remove Audio Sources from OBS (Step-by-Step)
Two Types of Audio Sources in OBS (And Why It Matters)
Before jumping into steps, it helps to identify which type of audio source you are dealing with:
Two Types of Audio Sources in OBS (And Why It Matters)
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Sources panel sources: devices added manually per scene, such as Audio Input Capture or Audio Output Capture. These are removed directly from the Sources panel.
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Global audio devices: system-level inputs like Desktop Audio and Mic/Auxiliary that OBS assigns automatically. These live in Settings > Audio and appear in every scene regardless of what is in your Sources panel.
Which type you have determines which removal method to use.
Method 1 — Remove an Audio Source from the Sources Panel
Use this method when you have manually added an audio device to a specific scene, for example an Audio Input Capture or Audio Output Capture source.
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Open OBS and navigate to the scene that contains the audio source you want to remove.
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Locate the Sources panel at the bottom of the OBS window.
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Find the audio source in the list. It may be labeled with the device name or a custom name you assigned.
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Right-click the source.
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Select Remove from the context menu.
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Click Yes on the confirmation prompt to complete the removal.
The source is now deleted from that scene.
Note: This action only removes the source from the active scene. If you added the same audio source to multiple scenes, you will need to repeat these steps in each scene individually. There is no bulk removal option for per-scene sources.
Method 2 — Remove Global Audio Sources (Desktop Audio and Mic/Aux)
Global audio devices, including Desktop Audio 1 and 2 and Mic/Auxiliary 1 through 4, are configured in OBS Settings, not in the Sources panel. This is why they reappear in every scene you create: they are applied universally at the profile level. To remove them, you must disable them in Settings.
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In OBS, click File in the top menu bar (on macOS, open the OBS Studio menu).
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Select Settings.
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Click the Audio tab in the left-hand sidebar.
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Scroll down to the Global Audio Devices section.
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Find the device you want to remove (for example, Desktop Audio or Mic/Auxiliary 1).
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Click the dropdown next to that device and select Disabled.
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Repeat for any other global audio devices you want to remove.
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Click Apply, then OK.
The device will no longer appear in your Audio Mixer for any scene, including scenes you create in the future.
Note: If your audio source keeps showing up after you removed it from the Sources panel, this is almost always the cause. The source is a global device set in Settings, not a per-scene source, so disabling it here is the correct fix.
Muting vs. Removing — What’s the Difference?
Muting and removing produce very different results. Here is a quick comparison:
|
Mute |
Remove |
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|---|---|---|
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What it does |
Silences the audio output |
Deletes the source from the scene or settings |
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Still shows in Audio Mixer? |
Yes |
No |
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Reversible? |
Yes, instantly |
Requires re-adding the source |
When to mute: You want to temporarily silence a source but keep it accessible for later use.
When to remove: You want to permanently eliminate the source from your setup and clear that slot entirely.
Troubleshooting — Audio Source Keeps Coming Back
If an audio source reappears after you remove it, one of two things is happening:
Cause 1: You removed it from one scene, but it still exists in other scenes. Per-scene sources are independent. Removing Audio Input Capture from Scene A does not remove it from Scene B or any other scene. Open each scene and check the Sources panel to remove additional instances.
Cause 2: The source is a global audio device that is still enabled in Settings. If Desktop Audio or Mic/Auxiliary keeps appearing in your Audio Mixer, the device is still enabled under Settings > Audio > Global Audio Devices. Follow Method 2 to disable it. Removing it from the Sources panel will not work here because global devices are never added through the Sources panel in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I remove all audio sources from OBS at once?
There is no single “clear all” button in OBS. To remove all audio sources, disable every global device under Settings > Audio > Global Audio Devices, then manually remove per-scene sources from each scene’s Sources panel. Working through both locations ensures nothing is left behind in your setup.
Q: Why does my audio source still appear in the Audio Mixer after I removed it from Sources?
Global audio devices such as Desktop Audio and Mic/Auxiliary show in the Audio Mixer regardless of your Sources panel. Removing them from Sources will not clear them. Go to Settings > Audio, find the device under Global Audio Devices, and set it to Disabled to remove it from the Mixer.
Q: Will removing an audio source in OBS affect my recordings or stream in progress?
Yes, the change takes effect immediately. Any active stream or recording will lose that audio channel from the moment of removal. To avoid unexpected audio gaps during a live session, make these changes before you go live or begin recording.
Wrapping Up
Removing audio sources in OBS comes down to where the source was originally added. Per-scene sources are handled through the Sources panel; global devices like Desktop Audio and Mic/Auxiliary require a change in Settings > Audio. After completing either method, open your Audio Mixer and confirm no unwanted sources are still listed. If you are rebuilding your audio setup from scratch, check out our OBS Audio Setup Guide for a clean walk-through of adding and configuring sources the right way.
