Install the SermonWave OBS plugin Beta

Last updated October 1, 2026 For: Tech directors and livestream volunteers who already run OBS Studio

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The SermonWave OBS plugin turns the computer that already runs your livestream into a SermonWave translation device. This article covers installing it, finding the SermonWave dock, and updating or removing it later.

Who it's for#

Anyone who streams or records services with OBS Studio and wants translation, captions and translated streams to come straight from OBS. If you are not sure OBS is the right device for you, see Choose a device type.

Before you start#

  • OBS Studio 32.2 or newer (32.x). Check in OBS under Help → About. Older OBS versions are not supported.
  • Windows 10 or Windows 11, 64-bit (x64).
  • macOS 13 (Ventura) or newer. The Mac installer works on both Apple silicon (M1 and later) and Intel Macs.
  • Administrator rights on Windows (the installer installs for all users of the computer).
  • The installer file. During the Beta there is no public download page yet. SermonWave support sends you the installer for your computer. Ask through Contact support.
  • Nothing else to install. The plugin only uses what OBS itself ships with.

Step 1 — Install on a Mac#

The Mac installer is a .pkg file named like sermonwave-obs-1.1.1-macos-universal.pkg. During the Beta it is not signed by Apple, so macOS blocks it the first time.

  1. Double-click the .pkg file. macOS says it cannot be opened because it is from an unidentified developer (or that Apple cannot check it). Click Done or OK.
  2. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security.
  3. Scroll down to the Security section. Next to the message about the SermonWave installer, click Open Anyway, then confirm with your password or Touch ID.
  4. The installer opens. Follow the steps to the end.
macOS System Settings > Privacy & Security with the "Open Anyway" button next to the blocked sermonwave-obs.pkg

Shortcut: instead of steps 2 and 3, you can right-click (or Control-click) the .pkg file, choose Open, then click Open again.

The plugin is installed for your Mac user account, in your OBS plugins folder (~/Library/Application Support/obs-studio/plugins/sermonwave-obs.plugin).

Step 2 — Install on Windows#

The Windows installer is named like sermonwave-obs-1.1.1-windows-x64-installer.exe. It is not code-signed during the Beta, so Windows SmartScreen may warn you.

  1. Double-click the installer.
  2. If you see Windows protected your PC, click More info, then Run anyway.
  3. Allow the installer to make changes (administrator prompt).
  4. Click through to the end. The last page says: "SermonWave for OBS is installed. Start (or restart) OBS Studio and open Docks > SermonWave to pair it."
Windows SmartScreen "Windows protected your PC" with "More info" expanded and the "Run anyway" button

The plugin goes into C:\ProgramData\obs-studio\plugins\sermonwave-obs\, the standard folder for OBS plugins on Windows.

Step 3 — Check that the dock appears#

  1. Start OBS Studio.
  2. The first time, the SermonWave dock opens on the right side of the OBS window and shows a pairing code.
  3. If you closed it, or it is not visible, open the Docks menu and click SermonWave.
OBS main window with the SermonWave dock on the right showing a pairing code and QR code

Next step: Pair OBS with SermonWave.

Update the plugin#

  1. Close OBS.
  2. Run the newer installer the same way as above (Mac: you may need Open Anyway again).
  3. Start OBS. Your pairing, chosen microphone, languages and stream keys are kept.

To check which version you have, open Advanced ▾ at the bottom of the SermonWave dock. The info line shows the plugin version.

Uninstall#

Before you remove it for good, click Unpair in the dock so the device key is removed from this computer. (The device stays in your Dashboard.)

Windows:

  1. Close OBS.
  2. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps, find SermonWave for OBS, and choose Uninstall.

Mac:

  1. Quit OBS.
  2. In Finder, choose Go → Go to Folder… and enter ~/Library/Application Support/obs-studio/plugins/.
  3. Move sermonwave-obs.plugin to the Trash.

Troubleshooting#

The SermonWave dock is not in the Docks menu. OBS did not load the plugin. Check that OBS is version 32.2 or newer (Help → About), that you restarted OBS after installing, and on Windows that you used the 64-bit OBS. Then reinstall.

Windows blocks the plugin file after a manual (zip) install. If support sent you a zip instead of the installer, right-click sermonwave-obs.dll, open Properties, tick Unblock, and restart OBS.

Mac: "Open Anyway" is not shown. The button only appears for about an hour after you tried to open the file. Double-click the .pkg again, then go back to Privacy & Security.

FAQ#

Is the installer safe if it's "unsigned"?#

Unsigned means it does not carry an Apple or Microsoft developer certificate yet. That is why macOS and Windows warn you. Only install files you received directly from SermonWave.

Does it work on Linux?#

The plugin builds on Linux and that is how we test it, but there is no Linux installer for churches during the Beta.

Does it work on Windows on ARM?#

No. The Windows build is for 64-bit Intel/AMD (x64) computers.