Short answer
Install the IGOverlay Chrome extension, start your Instagram Live on instagram.com, press ⏺ Overlay, then add a Browser Source in OBS with your overlay URL at 1920 × 400. New comments animate onto your scene in real time.
Set up Instagram Live comments in OBS
- 1
Install IGOverlay and sign in
Add the free IGOverlay extension from the Chrome Web Store and create an account. Your permanent overlay URL is shown on the extension dashboard.
- 2
Start an Instagram Live on your computer
On instagram.com in Chrome choose Create → Live video. Instagram gives you a stream URL and stream key to use in your streaming software.
- 3
Press ⏺ Overlay
IGOverlay adds an Overlay button to the Live window. Press it and new comments start flowing to your overlay URL.
- 4
Add a Browser Source in OBS
In OBS, click + under Sources → Browser, name it “Instagram comments” and paste your overlay URL. Use the settings below and press OK.
- 5
Position it in your scene
Drag the source to the bottom of the canvas (or wherever suits your layout). The background is transparent, so only the comment cards show over your video.
Recommended OBS Browser Source settings
These values work for a standard 1920 × 1080 canvas. For a vertical 1080 × 1920 Instagram canvas, set the width to 1080 and give the source a taller height if you use the chat-stack layout.
| URL | Your personal overlay URL from the IGOverlay extension |
|---|---|
| Width | 1920 |
| Height | 400 (a strip along the bottom of a 1080p scene) |
| FPS | 60 |
| Custom CSS | Leave the default; the overlay background is already transparent |
| Shutdown source when not visible | Off, so comments keep arriving while you switch scenes |
Make the overlay match your stream
Open the Overlay Studio to change the look without touching OBS. Saved changes apply to the open Browser Source straight away, so you can tweak it during a test stream.
- 6 preset looks plus colours, gradients and 8 fonts
- Single card (lower third) or a rolling chat stack
- 9 entrance and 7 exit animations, typewriter text and idle motion
- Avatars, username badges, progress bar and optional timestamps
- Optional text-to-speech for each comment
Troubleshooting
- Nothing appears: check the extension dashboard shows “Capturing live”. Capture only runs after you press ⏺ Overlay in the Live window.
- Old style still showing: right-click the source → Refresh, or tick “Refresh browser when scene becomes active”.
- Cards are cut off: increase the Browser Source height, or lower Max visible in the Studio’s layout settings.
- Black background: make sure you added a Browser Source (not a Window Capture of a Chrome tab).
Frequently asked questions
Can OBS show Instagram Live comments on its own?
No. OBS can send video to Instagram Live with a stream key, but it can't read Instagram comments. A tool like IGOverlay captures the comments and gives OBS a Browser Source to display them.
What size should the OBS Browser Source be?
1920 × 400 at 60 FPS works well for a 1080p landscape scene. For a vertical 1080 × 1920 canvas use a width of 1080.
Do I need a plugin for OBS?
No. IGOverlay uses the Browser Source that ships with OBS Studio, so there is nothing extra to install in OBS.
Is it free?
Yes. IGOverlay is free with every feature unlocked and no watermark.