Basics

What is plugview?
A small macOS app and command that shows a USB capture card in a window, with sound, at the lowest latency the Mac can draw. Plug in a Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck or camera through the card and play.
Is plugview free?
Yes. It is free and open source under the MIT license; the code is on GitHub.
Which Macs does it run on?
Any Mac with macOS 14 Sonoma or later, Apple silicon or Intel.
Is there a Windows or Linux version?
No. plugview is built on Apple's own frameworks and runs only on macOS.
Do I need OBS?
Not to play. OBS is for recording and streaming; plugview opens the card and plays with no scenes or sources. See plugview vs OBS.

Hardware

Which capture cards work?
Any card that macOS sees as a camera (UVC), which covers nearly every card sold for consoles. If it works in Photo Booth or QuickTime without a driver, it works in plugview. See the cards page.
Can I play without a capture card?
No. A Mac's HDMI port is an output, so a console cannot plug into it directly. The capture card turns the console's HDMI into a camera the Mac can show.
Does it show 4K?
It shows whatever the card delivers. By default plugview picks the smoothest mode, so a card that offers 1080p at 60 fps and 4K at 30 fps plays at 1080p60. Pick 4K from the resolution menu if you prefer it.
Can I use two capture cards?
Yes. When more than one is connected, the controls bar shows a device picker, and plugview remembers your choice. From a terminal, name one with plugview -d "<name>".
Does it work with the Switch Lite?
No. The Switch Lite has no video output, so no capture card can show it.

Playing

How much latency does plugview add?
plugview never copies a frame: they go from the capture driver straight to the screen compositor. On our test card, capture to app takes a median of about 19 ms for video and 4.3 ms for sound. See the measurements, and run plugview --measure for your own setup.
Why is the sound late?
Usually Bluetooth headphones, which add 150 ms or more. Use the Mac speakers or wired headphones.
Can I record?
Not today. plugview saves full-resolution screenshots with S. For recording or streaming, use OBS.
The screen stays black. What now?
On PlayStation, turn off HDCP first (how). On any console, video apps such as Netflix stay black by design. Set the console to 1080p at 60 Hz, and check the card appears in plugview --list. More in the guide.

Install and privacy

Why does plugview ask for the camera and the microphone?
To macOS, a capture card is a camera with a microphone. plugview uses the card's picture and sound; it never turns on your Mac's own camera or listens to its microphone.
Why does macOS say it cannot verify plugview?
plugview is not notarized with an Apple Developer ID yet. Open System Settings › Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway, once per install or update.
Why does it ask for permissions again after an update?
Until plugview is signed with a Developer ID, macOS treats each new version as a new app. Signing comes before any paid feature.
Does plugview need the internet?
No. Its only network request is an optional daily check for a newer version on GitHub, which you can turn off. See Privacy.