Troubleshooting Obs Studio: Monitor Recording Issues

OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is a free and open-source program for offline video recording and live streaming. It is a popular tool for gamers looking to record and stream their gameplay. However, users often encounter issues with OBS not recording their screen or monitor. This can be due to various reasons, such as incorrect settings, outdated device drivers, software conflicts, or system incompatibility. To resolve this issue, users can try several fixes, including checking and adjusting settings, updating device drivers, closing unnecessary background apps, running OBS as an administrator, and reinstalling OBS.

Out-of-date device drivers

There are two ways to update your device drivers: manually or automatically.

To update your device drivers manually, follow these steps:

• Visit the website of the company that manufactures your PC or hardware.
• Find and download the most recent, accurate driver that is compatible with your Windows version.

To update your device drivers automatically:

• Type "Device Manager" in the Windows search box and press "Enter".
• In the Device Manager, locate and expand the "Display Adapters" option.
• Right-click on "Graphics" and select "Update Driver".
• Choose "Search for Drivers Automatically".
• Windows will then search for and install the most recent driver version.

If you continue experiencing issues after updating your device drivers, you may need to uninstall and reinstall OBS Studio to resolve any in-depth bugs that may be causing the problem.

Multiple heavy apps running in the background

OBS Studio is a free and open-source program for offline video recording and live streaming. It is a popular software for gamers and live streamers. However, users often face issues with OBS Studio, such as the software not recording the screen. One of the reasons for this could be multiple heavy apps running in the background.

When OBS Studio is used along with other heavy apps, it can lead to a conflict in software. This is because OBS Studio requires a lot of processing power, and when the CPU and RAM usage reach their limit, the software may stop responding. To avoid this issue, it is recommended to close any unnecessary background apps before using OBS Studio. This can be done by opening the Task Manager and ending the tasks of any programs that are not required.

In addition to this, it is also important to ensure that any third-party recording software is turned off while using OBS Studio. Even anti-virus software and heavy CPU resource-drawing applications can cause OBS Studio to malfunction. Therefore, it is advisable to close all unnecessary applications while using OBS Studio to ensure optimal performance and avoid any potential conflicts.

By following these steps and ensuring that heavy apps are not running in the background, users can help prevent issues with OBS Studio not recording their monitor.

Incorrect graphics settings configuration

Firstly, ensure that you have selected the correct source for your recording. OBS has multiple capturing sources, including Display Capture, Game Capture, Media Source, and Windows Capture. Selecting the right source for your needs is crucial. For instance, if you are recording a game, ensure that you have chosen Game Capture.

Secondly, if you are using a laptop or a multi-GPU machine, performance issues may arise due to the specific graphics card and capture type combination. To resolve this, you need to choose the dedicated graphics card in your Windows settings. Here are the steps to do so:

• Press Win + I to open Settings, then navigate to System > Display.
• Scroll down to Multiple displays and click on Graphics settings.
• Under "Choose an app to set preference", select "Desktop app".
• Click "Browse" and locate the OBS Studio executable file.
• Click on "OBS Studio" > "Options".
• Choose the appropriate settings: select "Let Windows decide" as the default, or choose "High performance" if you intend to use OBS Studio Game Capture. If you plan to use Display Capture, select the "Power-saving" option.
• Click "Save".

Additionally, if you are using an external monitor with your Mac, OBS may initialize OpenGL on the wrong graphics card at startup. This can be addressed by unplugging your external monitor before launching OBS.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your graphics settings are correctly configured, helping to resolve issues with OBS Studio not recording your monitor.

Outdated or corrupt OBS application

If your OBS Studio application is outdated or corrupt, it may not record your monitor. This is a common issue that can be caused by not having administrator rights, using the wrong software version, or having incorrect graphics settings.

To fix this issue, try the following:

• Update your OBS Studio application to the latest version.
• Repair or reinstall the Visual C++ Redistributable package.
• Update your graphics drivers.
• Verify that you have the correct graphics settings selected in OBS.
• Run OBS as an administrator.
• Close any unnecessary background applications.

Incompatible audio settings

If you're experiencing issues with OBS Studio not recording your monitor, one potential cause could be incompatible audio settings. Here are some troubleshooting steps to address this issue:

Check Your Audio Settings

Ensure that your audio settings are configured correctly. Open OBS and click on "File," then "Settings." Navigate to the "Audio" section in the left menu and set the Channels to "Stereo." Under Desktop Audio Device, select your preferred device, and do the same for Microphone/Auxiliary Audio Device. Apply these changes and restart OBS.

Set Your Speaker as the Default Playback Device

Right-click on the Speaker icon and choose "Sounds." Click on the "Playback" tab and select your speaker. Click "Set Default" and "Apply."

Unmute OBS on Your Computer

Right-click on the Speaker icon and open the "Volume Mixer." Check if the speaker icon for OBS is muted. If so, click it to unmute OBS, then record again and check your display.

Check OBS Audio-Tracking Settings

If OBS is not recording microphone audio or desktop audio only, there might be an issue with multiple track selection or saved file locations. Launch OBS and click on "Settings." Select "Files > Output > Recordings" and verify the tracks.

Remove Other Programs for Audio Control

If OBS is not recording sound, ensure that you don't have other audio-related programs installed that may cause a conflict. Some common culprits include Nahimic, Razer Synapse, and Realtek Gaming Software. Try disabling and uninstalling these programs to avoid audio issues in OBS.

Adjust Encoding Settings

Open OBS Studio and select "Settings." Click on "Output" in the left panel and set your "Bitrate" to 128. Type "3500" in the box and customize the "Rate Control" option if needed. Find the "Use CBR" option and uncheck it. Apply all changes and restart OBS to ensure they take effect.

Update Your Audio Drivers

If the above fixes don't resolve the issue, try updating your audio drivers. You can do this manually by downloading the latest drivers from the sound card manufacturer's website, ensuring compatibility with your operating system. Alternatively, you can update your audio drivers automatically through the "Device Manager" in Windows.

Frequently asked questions