How to Change Webcam FPS: Step-by-Step for Every Platform and App

Changing webcam FPS sounds easy until you start looking for it. The setting can hide in different places across different software. This guide shows how to change it across common platforms. You will find clear steps for OBS, Zoom, and Windows Camera. We use the Hollyland Lyra throughout this practical guide. Its 4K, 1080p, and 720p modes make comparisons easier. You will see how resolution and FPS affect each other. That connection often causes confusion when changing webcam settings.

What Webcam FPS Is and Why It Matters for Video Quality

FPS stands for frames per second, the number of individual images your webcam captures and delivers to your computer each second. A higher number produces smoother motion in your recorded or streamed video.

The two most common values are 30 fps and 60 fps. At 30 fps, footage looks natural for standard video calls, presentations, and 4K streaming where maximum image detail matters more than motion smoothness. At 60 fps, movement appears significantly smoother, which benefits gaming streams, fast-moving product demos, and any content where hands or subjects move quickly across the frame.

Your webcam hardware sets the highest frame rate available. Software cannot raise that built-in limit. Drivers and apps cannot add unsupported FPS modes either. The sensor and firmware decide what each resolution supports. This matters when you want to reach 60 fps. First, check the frame rates your webcam supports. Also, check them at your chosen resolution.

Step 1: Confirm What FPS Your Webcam Actually Supports

Check your webcam’s supported modes before changing anything. This can save time and avoid confusion later. You can confirm them in two quick ways.

Check the spec sheet. Visit the product page for your webcam and look for a “Video Output Formats” or “Supported Resolutions” section. This lists every resolution and FPS combination the camera can deliver.
Query Device Manager on Windows. Open Device Manager, expand “Imaging Devices,” right-click your webcam, select “Properties,” then navigate to the “Supported Formats” tab. Windows populates this list directly from the UVC driver, showing every mode the camera has declared.

Most webcams follow the same basic rule for resolution and FPS. Higher resolutions often come with lower maximum frame rates. The Hollyland Lyra illustrates this clearly:

Resolution	FPS Options	USB Standard	Format
3840×2160 (4K)	30 fps only	USB 3.0 / USB 2.0	MJPEG
1920×1080 (1080p)	30 fps, 60 fps	USB 3.0 / USB 2.0	UVC NV12 / MJPEG
1280×720 (720p)	30 fps, 60 fps	USB 3.0 / USB 2.0	UVC NV12 / MJPEG

Note: If you need 60 fps on the Lyra, select 1080p or 720p. The 4K output mode is capped at 30 fps by sensor design and cannot be unlocked in any software.

Method 1: Change Webcam FPS in the Companion App (HollyStudio + Hollyland Lyra)

For Hollyland Lyra users, HollyStudio is the fastest, most direct way to change FPS. The app exposes all supported resolution and FPS combinations in a single interface, and changes apply immediately to the live preview feed.

Connect the Lyra. Plug the Lyra into your computer using the USB-C cable.

For stable 60 fps output, use a USB 3.0 port, identified by a blue plastic insert or a SuperSpeed “SS” symbol. USB 2.0 ports support all listed Lyra modes, but if output is unstable at 60 fps, switching to USB 3.0 should be your first step.

Check the LED indicator. After plugging in, the Lyra’s LED should display a solid blue light, indicating the device is active and fully recognized. If the LED pulses or shows a different color, the camera isn’t detected correctly. Unplug, replug, or try a different USB port before continuing.

Launch HollyStudio. Open HollyStudio on your computer. The app auto-detects the connected Lyra, and the camera’s live preview should appear immediately in the main interface.
Navigate to the Image Control Page. Go to the Image Control page. The option appears in the right sidebar.

Select your target resolution and FPS. Navigate to the Resolution dropdown. You can find it above the preview window. From the dropdown, choose from 3840×2160 (4K) at 30fps , 1920×1080 (1080p) at 30 fps / 60fps, or 1280×720 (720p) at 30 fps / 60fps.

Pro Tip: If the 60 fps option is grayed out, you are likely on a 4K setting. Change the resolution dropdown to 1080p first, and the FPS dropdown will update to include both 30 and 60 fps options.

Method 2: Change Webcam FPS in OBS Studio

OBS Studio gives streamers detailed control over their camera’s FPS. It is widely used for streaming and recording videos. You need to set two different FPS values correctly. One controls the webcam source coming into OBS. The other controls the final stream or recording. Changing only one setting will not improve the result.

Setting Input FPS in the Video Capture Device Source

The source FPS setting tells OBS how many frames per second to request from the webcam. This is the step most users miss when FPS appears unchanged after adjusting OBS output settings.

In OBS, click the “+” button in the Sources panel and select “Video Capture Device.”

If a Lyra source already exists, right-click it and select “Properties.”

In the “Device” dropdown, select “Hollyland Lyra.”

Change “Resolution/FPS Type” from “Device Default” to “Custom.” Leaving it on Device Default means OBS may not honor a specific FPS value.
Set “Resolution” to 1920×1080.

In the “FPS Type” field, select a specific value, then choose “60” from the FPS dropdown.
Click “OK.” The source preview updates to reflect the new capture settings.

Note: If 60 fps does not appear after selecting 1080p, confirm the Lyra is on a USB 3.0 port and that the resolution is set to 1080p or 720p rather than 4K.

Setting Output FPS in OBS Video Settings

The output FPS controls the frame rate of your stream or recording file. If this value does not match the source FPS, OBS will either drop or duplicate frames before encoding.

Go to “Settings” in the top menu bar and select “Video.”
Find the “Common FPS Values” dropdown.
Set it to “60” to match the source FPS configured in the step above.
Click “Apply,” then “OK.”

For platforms like Twitch or YouTube, 60 fps is widely accepted and preferred for motion-heavy content. For talking-head recordings or standard presentations, 30 fps produces smaller file sizes with no visible quality difference.

Method 3: Change Webcam FPS in the Windows Camera App

The Windows Camera app reads every output mode the webcam reports via UVC and presents them as selectable quality presets rather than requiring manual numeric input. This makes it a reliable tool for confirming that the webcam is actually delivering a target frame rate before troubleshooting other apps.

Connect the Hollyland Lyra and open the Windows Camera app from the Start menu.
If the app does not default to the Lyra, click the camera switch icon in the upper-right area to cycle to the correct device.
Click the “Settings” gear icon in the upper-right corner of the app.
Select “Video Quality” from the settings menu.
The quality dropdown lists every mode the Lyra reports over UVC. Look for entries labeled “1920×1080 60fps” or “1280×720 60fps.”
Choose the mode you want, then click the back arrow. The arrow appears as ← near the settings panel. Windows Camera will restart the video stream automatically. It will apply the new resolution and frame rate settings.

If the “1920×1080 60fps” option does not appear in the list, check the USB connection and try a different port. If the entry is present but the preview still appears choppy, USB bandwidth is likely the limiting factor, and switching to a USB 3.0 port is the correct next step.

Method 4: Change Webcam FPS in Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet

Video conferencing apps handle FPS differently from streaming software. Instead of an explicit frame rate field, most platforms offer HD quality toggles and then manage frame delivery internally based on network conditions. A webcam’s 60 fps capability rarely translates to 60 fps during a live call, and for standard video conferencing 30 fps is the realistic ceiling for most participants regardless of camera hardware.

In each app below, start by confirming that “Hollyland Lyra” is selected as the active camera before making any quality adjustments.

Zoom

Open Zoom and go to “Settings” via the profile icon, then select “Video & effects.”

In the “Camera” dropdown, confirm “Hollyland Lyra” is selected.
Enable “HD” to request 720p output, or “Full HD” for 1080p if available on your account tier.

Zoom manages frame rate delivery internally based on network conditions. Enabling HD is the closest available lever for improving video smoothness in calls.

Microsoft Teams

In Teams, go to “Settings” via Settings and more (three-dot menu) and then “Devices.”

Under the Video section, look for the Camera option, and select “Hollyland Lyra” from the dropdown.

Teams does not expose a manual FPS field. Frame rate is negotiated automatically between Teams and the webcam driver. Confirm device selection and run a test call to evaluate video quality.

Google Meet

During or before a call, click “More Options” (three-dot menu), then “Settings.”
Select the “Video” tab.
Under “Camera,” choose “Hollyland Lyra.”
Set “Send resolution” to “HD (720p)” for the highest quality option available to most accounts. Like Teams, Meet controls FPS delivery internally based on encoding and network decisions.

Why Your Webcam FPS Isn’t Changing: Common Causes and Fixes

If output still appears capped at 30 fps after following the steps above, one of these causes is almost certainly responsible:

Cause	Fix
Plugged into a USB 2.0 port	Move to a USB 3.0 port (blue insert or “SS” SuperSpeed symbol)
Resolution set to 4K	Switch to 1080p or 720p to access 60 fps on the Lyra
App is overriding camera FPS	Override FPS in OBS source properties; many apps apply their own frame rate regardless of camera settings
Auto-exposure reducing FPS in low light	Add ambient light or manually set exposure in HollyStudio’s Image Settings panel
HollyStudio settings not saved	Reopen the app, reselect resolution and FPS, click Apply, and confirm the LED shows solid white
Outdated firmware	Open HollyStudio, go to Device or About, and apply any available firmware update

Note: Even when the Lyra is plugged into a USB 2.0 port, HollyStudio may still display all FPS options in the dropdown. Seeing the option does not confirm stable output at that setting. If video appears choppy or drops frames at 60 fps, move to a USB 3.0 port before adjusting any other setting.

FAQs

Can any webcam be set to 60 fps?

No. The camera’s sensor and firmware define the maximum supported FPS. Software settings can only select from modes the hardware already supports. Always check the spec sheet for supported output formats before making any adjustments. The Hollyland Lyra supports 60 fps at 1080p and 720p but is capped at 30 fps for 4K output.

Why is my webcam stuck at 30 fps even after changing the setting?

The most common causes are a resolution set too high (4K on the Lyra caps at 30 fps), the camera connected to a USB 2.0 port, or the app overriding the camera’s FPS with its own value. Set the resolution to 1080p, switch to a USB 3.0 port, and verify the FPS directly in OBS source properties.

Does a higher FPS reduce video quality or resolution?

Not directly, but enabling 60 fps on most webcams requires dropping from 4K to 1080p or 720p. Motion will be smoother, but image resolution will be lower. Streaming at 60 fps also demands more upload bandwidth, since bitrate requirements increase with frame count.

What FPS should I use for Zoom calls vs. live streaming?

For video calls, 30 fps is sufficient. Most conferencing platforms do not deliver more than 30 fps to participants regardless of webcam capability. For live streaming or recording fast-moving content, 60 fps at 1080p is the better choice. Talking-head streams are well-served by 30 fps.

Does the Hollyland Lyra support 60 fps?

Yes. The Lyra outputs 60 fps at 1920×1080 and 1280×720 over both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0. The 4K output at 3840×2160 is capped at 30 fps. FPS selection is managed through HollyStudio, OBS, or Windows Camera depending on your workflow.

Conclusion

Use HollyStudio when you need direct control over Lyra settings. OBS is better suited for streaming and recording setups. Windows Camera offers a quick check through your operating system. Video calling apps allow only a few changes during calls. Before changing anything, check two settings first. Your chosen resolution must support the FPS you want. On the Hollyland Lyra, 1080p and 720p can reach 60 fps. Also, connect the camera through a USB 3.0 port. Once both conditions are met, the setting stays consistent.