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Start by checking OBS’s configured Recording Path. If an unfinished recording exists as an MKV, make a copy and try opening it; OBS recommends MKV because an interrupted file can remain playable and recoverable. If a readable recording needs MP4, use OBS’s File > Remux Recordings command. Recovery is not guaranteed: regular MP4 or MOV files may be unusable if recording stopped before the file was finalized, and OBS does not provide a universal deleted-file recovery method.
First, identify what happened
“Recover” can mean locating a recording, salvaging a file after an interruption, making a playable file compatible with an editor, or trying to get back something deleted. The next step depends on which case applies and, for an existing file, which recording format it uses.
- No file where expected: check the Recording Path in OBS.
- An MKV remains after OBS stopped: preserve a copy and test whether it plays.
- A file exists but will not open: identify whether it is regular or fragmented/hybrid MP4 or MOV before assuming it can be repaired.
- The recording was deleted, or the computer crashed: avoid writing more data to the affected storage if the footage matters; recovery is uncertain.
If you cannot find the recording
In OBS, open Settings and inspect the configured Recording Path. That is the destination OBS uses for recordings, according to the OBS Project’s Standard Recording Output Guide. Open that exact directory and look for the expected file.
If you are unsure which folder was used, search likely destinations for OBS recordings by extension, including .mkv, .mp4, .mov, and .flv. Finding no file at the current path does not establish that OBS can restore it: the reviewed OBS documentation does not describe an automatic archive or an undelete feature.
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If OBS or recording stopped unexpectedly
Make a working copy
Before trying to convert or repair anything, copy the original recording to another location and troubleshoot the copy. This keeps the untouched file available if an attempted conversion produces a different or incomplete result.
Test an interrupted MKV
Try opening the copied MKV in a media player. The OBS Project’s Audio/Video Formats Guide recommends MKV for resilience: an unfinished recording can remain playable and recoverable after power loss or another interruption. That improves the chance of using surviving data; it does not guarantee that every recording, track, or moment was written successfully.
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Remux a readable recording for MP4 compatibility
- In OBS, choose File > Remux Recordings.
- Select the source recording and start the remux.
- Open the output and check its duration, then seek through the beginning, middle, and end. Confirm the audio and video tracks you need are present.
Remuxing converts a recording for compatibility; it is not a promise that OBS can repair every damaged file. OBS’s remux interface warns that the output may be incomplete. A finished remux should therefore be checked rather than treated as proof that all footage was recovered.
If an MP4 or MOV recording will not open
Not all OBS MP4 or MOV recordings have the same interruption tolerance. Regular MP4 and MOV files need finalization; if recording is interrupted before finalization, they may not be recoverable. For that reason, OBS recommends against recording directly to regular MP4 or MOV.
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Fragmented formats write self-contained chunks, so a file does not need the same finalization step to be usable. Hybrid formats combine fragmentation with broader compatibility. These distinctions explain why the extension alone may not reveal whether a recording is salvageable. The OBS format guidance does not establish a universal repair procedure for a damaged regular MP4 or MOV.
If the whole computer crashed or the file is zero bytes
A crash limited to OBS is different from a system crash that may affect the storage or its filesystem metadata. Community discussions on the OBS forum include reports of surviving, nonzero MKV recordings being recoverable by remuxing, as well as case-specific reports involving zero-byte files. These are anecdotes, not official cross-platform recovery instructions or a reliable test of whether a file is recoverable.
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If the drive may be failing and the recording is valuable, minimize further use of that storage and consider qualified data-recovery help. Do not assume that a zero-byte file is always recoverable or always lost, and do not run filesystem repair commands solely on the strength of an anecdote: an action that writes to the disk may complicate recovery. The appropriate steps depend on the operating system, storage device, and failure.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the recording was deleted
The OBS guidance cited here does not establish a deleted-file recovery procedure. It does not document an OBS recovery bin or undelete feature. If the file matters, stop writing new data to the affected storage, check the operating system’s own deleted-item facilities, and consult recovery guidance specific to your operating system and storage setup. These general precautions do not guarantee recovery; platform-specific steps cannot be recommended without knowing the setup.
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Choose a safer recording format next time
| Format type | Interruption resilience | Compatibility and use |
|---|---|---|
| MKV | OBS recommends it because an unfinished recording can remain playable and recoverable. | Use OBS’s remux command to convert a readable recording to MP4 when needed. |
| Regular MP4 or MOV | Requires finalization; an interrupted recording may not be recoverable. | OBS recommends against recording directly to these regular formats. |
| Fragmented MP4 or MOV | Self-contained chunks mean the file need not be finalized to be usable. | Can offer interruption tolerance; exact compatibility depends on the format and software. |
| Hybrid MP4 or MOV | Combines fragmentation with broader compatibility. | Check OBS’s available format options and your editing software’s support. |
These format characteristics come from the OBS Project’s Audio/Video Formats Guide. For a recording you cannot afford to lose, consider keeping a separate copy on different storage; a second copy protects against a single-device failure but does not make a damaged source file repairable.
Prevent a repeat loss
- Check the Recording Path before an important session so you know where OBS is writing.
- Prefer MKV for direct recording when interruption resilience is more important than having an MP4 immediately.
- Remux a copy to MP4 after recording if your editing workflow requires it, and verify the converted file before deleting the original.
- Keep an independent copy of important recordings and check that it opens.
Or let it run in the cloud
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Quick Recap
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