How to add a topic bar to OBS
Updated June 11, 2026 · 8 min read · Works with OBS, Streamlabs, Meld & evmux
The Topic Bar is a horizontal talking-points strip that pins to the top or bottom of your stream — the debate-show look. Its signature move is the media reveal: highlight a topic and it expands outward to show an image, GIF, video or audio clip under the headline, then folds back away. This guide covers the full OBS setup, the video above walks it end to end on camera.
What you'll need
- OBS Studio, Streamlabs, Meld, evmux or XSplit
- A StreamSlayers plan with Topic Bar — 4-day free trial
Launch Topic Bar and copy your overlay URL
From your dashboard, click LAUNCH on Topic Bar, then hit COPY on your overlay URL at the top of the settings page.
Add it to OBS full-screen
- Sources → + → Browser, name it "Topic Bar".
- Paste the URL.
- Set 1920 × 1080 and click OK — the bar occupies only its own height along the edge you choose; the rest stays transparent.
Configure the bar
In Bar Settings, pick the edge (top or bottom), bar height, and the media reveal height — how far topics expand when highlighted. Toggle the LIVE badge, set badges and branding, and use Show Topic Bar as the master switch.
Add topics with media reveals
In the Topics tab, each topic gets a title (line breaks become stacked lines, like LAKERS / ROCKETS), an optional subtitle shown in the reveal, and optional media — an image, GIF, MP4/YouTube video or audio clip. Set auto-advance and expand durations per topic, attach auto-graphics from the Graphics app, then click ADD TOPIC (up to 8 per show).
Save the whole show as a profile
Show Profiles save your entire bar — topics, badges, theme, layout — as a named slot. Run a Yankees postgame on Mondays and an NBA debate show on Wednesdays? One click swaps the whole setup. Profiles live in your browser; use Export/Import to back them up or move machines.
Run it live
Click Highlight on a topic to expand it on stream — the bar animates the reveal, plays any attached audio, and shows linked graphics automatically. Auto-advance can walk the rundown for you, and Stream Deck keys or the Command Center can drive everything without this page open.
Troubleshooting
Bar not visible? Check the Show Topic Bar toggle and re-copy the browser source URL. The bar renders along the chosen edge only — make sure another source isn't covering it.
Reveal media cut off? Increase the Media Reveal Height in Bar Settings — the reveal area is part of the bar's reserved space.
YouTube clip won't play in a reveal? Use the watch-page URL (not a Short or playlist link), and remember some videos disable embedding — an MP4 URL always works.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How is the Topic Bar different from the Topics Panel?
The Topic Bar is a horizontal strip pinned to the top or bottom of your stream, built around expandable media reveals; the Topics Panel is a vertical sidebar. Talk shows often run the bar for headlines and the panel for the full rundown — they're separate apps.
What's a media reveal?
Each topic can expand outward to reveal an image, GIF, video or audio clip while it's highlighted — like a broadcast graphic opening up under the headline. You set how long it stays expanded per topic.
What are show profiles?
A profile saves your entire bar setup — topics, badges, theme, layout — as a named slot you can swap in one click. Run different shows on the same channel and switch the whole bar between them instantly.
Can graphics appear automatically with a topic?
Yes — you can attach graphics from the Graphics app to a topic, and they'll show at their designed position automatically while that topic is live.
What canvas size should the browser source be?
Add it full-screen at 1920×1080 — the bar pins itself to your chosen edge (top or bottom) and only occupies its own height.
READY TO PUT TOPIC BAR ON YOUR STREAM?
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