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If OBS shows a black, empty, or frozen game image on a Windows PC, the cause is usually a mismatched capture source, insufficient permissions, different GPUs, fullscreen behavior, a blocked hook, or a conflict with another overlay or recorder. Start with Game Capture, launch the game before selecting its window, and change only one setting at a time. If the game blocks OBS’s hook, switch to borderless or windowed mode and use Window Capture; use Display Capture only when source-level capture still fails.
What should I check first when OBS will not capture my game?
Use this order: verify the source, confirm the target window, test elevated permissions, check fullscreen behavior, align the GPUs, remove hook conflicts, review Windows gaming features, and then move to a fallback source. This sequence separates configuration errors from games that deliberately prevent Game Capture.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match- Use Game Capture. In OBS, add a Game Capture source to the scene. OBS describes it as a direct DirectX/OpenGL capture method and recommends trying it first because it is generally the most efficient option.
- Choose the right mode. In the source properties, select Capture any fullscreen application for a game running in exclusive fullscreen, Capture specific window when you want one known executable, or the foreground-window hotkey mode when you need to switch games without editing the source.
- Launch the game before selecting it. If the specific-window list is empty, start the game, wait until its playable window appears, then reopen Game Capture properties and choose it again.
- Make a short recording. Do not rely only on the preview. Some exclusive-fullscreen games stop rendering when you Alt+Tab, so record a few seconds while the game is active and inspect the file afterward.
- Change one variable. Record the result after each change. This makes it possible to identify whether a permission, GPU, overlay, or capture-mode change fixed the problem.
If the preview remains black after these checks, continue through the sections below rather than repeatedly deleting and recreating scenes.
How do I configure Game Capture correctly?
Game Capture is the preferred source for DirectX and OpenGL games, but its mode and launch order determine whether OBS can find the game.
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Capture a fullscreen game
Add Sources → + → Game Capture, create a new source, and choose Capture any fullscreen application. Start the game after OBS is running. If the game minimizes or stops drawing when you switch back to OBS, keep OBS on a second monitor or use a short recording instead of judging the preview while Alt+Tabbed.
Capture one named window
Select Capture specific window and choose the game from the window list. The game must already be running; otherwise, the list may be blank or show only its launcher. Reopen the source properties after the game reaches its actual play window, not merely its splash screen.
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The foreground-window option is useful when several games or launchers are open. Assign the requested hotkey in the source properties, put the game in the foreground, and press the hotkey so OBS captures the active window. This mode is less convenient for unattended recording because the foreground window can change unexpectedly.
Keep the anti-cheat compatibility hook enabled
Game Capture includes Use anti-cheat compatibility hook. Leave it enabled unless the game’s own instructions tell you to turn it off. Disabling it without a specific reason can make a protected game disappear from the capture source.
Should I run OBS as administrator?
Yes, when a game runs with higher privileges or uses protection that prevents a normal OBS process from attaching. Right-click the OBS shortcut or executable and choose Run as administrator, then start the game and test again.
OBS specifically identifies Call of Duty, Valorant, Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero as examples where elevated OBS permissions may be required. Elevation is a troubleshooting step, not a guarantee: a game can still block Game Capture even when both applications are running correctly.
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- Close OBS completely before relaunching it elevated; changing the shortcut while OBS is already open does not change the existing process.
- If you use a launcher and a separate game executable, test after the playable game has opened. Capturing the launcher window does not prove that the game process is hookable.
- Return OBS to normal launching after testing if administrator mode is unnecessary for your setup.
Why does fullscreen mode produce a black screen?
Exclusive fullscreen can stop rendering when you Alt+Tab, which makes a working capture appear black in the OBS interface. Test with a recording while the game stays focused, or change the game to borderless fullscreen and compare the result.
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Use a second monitor or a recording test
With a second display, leave OBS visible while the game remains on the primary display. Without one, start recording, play for several seconds, exit or return to OBS only after the test, and inspect the saved video. A black preview during the switch is not conclusive evidence that the captured file is empty.
Switch to borderless or windowed mode
Borderless fullscreen keeps the game in a normal Windows window while filling the display. It often allows Window Capture to work when exclusive fullscreen or a blocked Game Capture hook does not. Windowed mode is the most compatible fallback, although it may change the game’s scaling or performance.
Games that block the Game Capture hook
OBS’s guide states that Destiny 2 and Counter-Strike 2 do not allow OBS to hook in with Game Capture. For those games, use borderless or windowed mode and add Window Capture. Repeatedly changing Game Capture settings will not bypass a deliberate hook restriction.
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On a laptop or all-in-one PC, Windows can place OBS on an integrated GPU while the game runs on a discrete high-performance GPU, or the reverse. That split has historically caused black Game Capture and Display Capture results. Assign both applications to the same GPU, preferably the high-performance option for OBS, and restart both programs.
- Open Settings → System → Display → Graphics.
- Add OBS with Browse if it is not listed. Select OBS, choose Options, and set it to High performance.
- Add the game executable in the same panel and choose the same GPU preference.
- Save the choices, close OBS and the game completely, then launch both again.
For a launcher-based title, set the preference for the executable that renders the game, not only for the launcher. If Windows offers more than one game executable, apply the setting to the one that remains open during play.
Which overlays and programs can conflict with OBS?
Overlays and monitoring tools can inject their own hooks into the same game process. Close them temporarily and retest before changing more OBS settings.
- MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner Statistics Server
- Discord overlays
- Overwolf overlays
- FRAPS and other recording or clipping tools
- Performance monitors, FPS counters, and graphics-driver overlays
Disable or exit one category at a time so you can identify the conflict. If capture works with a tool closed, re-enable tools individually and leave the conflicting overlay disabled for that game. Do not run multiple recorders while diagnosing a hook problem.
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Check security software
Antivirus or firewall software can block OBS from attaching to a game or communicating normally. Temporarily test with the security product’s game or application protection relaxed, or add OBS to its allowlist according to that product’s controls. Restore normal protection after the test and keep only the minimum exception required.
Should I disable Windows Game Bar, Game DVR, or Game Mode?
Turn off Game Bar recording and background capture while troubleshooting. Windows’ Game DVR can compete with OBS’s capture and hardware-encoding paths, and it may consume NVIDIA NVENC sessions.
- Open Settings → Gaming → Captures.
- Turn off background recording and other automatic Game Bar capture options.
- Close any Game Bar recording session before launching OBS.
For Windows 10 version 1809 or newer with current updates, OBS recommends leaving Game Mode enabled. Older Windows versions may require Game Mode to be disabled. This is version-specific guidance, so check your Windows version before changing the setting and restart the game after the change.
Can changing DirectX versions fix a black or unstable capture?
Sometimes. OBS reports that some DirectX 12 games can crash or show frame problems during capture. If the game provides a graphics API selector, test DirectX 11 and compare a short recording.
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For Fortnite running in DX12 mode, try DX11 if OBS crashes, shows a frozen image, or produces severe frame issues. Change the API in the game’s graphics settings, restart the game, and then reopen or refresh the Game Capture source.
Do not change the API and several OBS settings simultaneously. A clean before-and-after recording is the fastest way to tell whether the renderer, rather than the source configuration, caused the failure.
How do I repair a Game Capture source that appears but is the wrong size?
A source can be capturing correctly while appearing off-screen, tiny, or cropped because its transform was changed. In the OBS preview, right-click the source and choose Transform → Reset Transform, then right-click it again and choose Transform → Fit to Screen.
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Resetting the transform changes placement and scale, not the game hook. If the source remains black after it is correctly fitted, return to permission, GPU, fullscreen, and conflict checks instead of repeatedly resizing it.
What is the difference between Game Capture, Window Capture, and Display Capture?
Choose the source based on what is failing: Game Capture is efficient but hook-sensitive, Window Capture is the practical option for a blocked game in borderless mode, and Display Capture records the entire monitor as a last resort.
| Source | Best use | Main limitation | Compatibility and performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Capture | DirectX/OpenGL games, especially fullscreen or borderless | Some games block or resist the hook; permissions, anti-cheat, GPU routing, and overlays affect it | Most efficient method according to OBS, but the most sensitive to hook conditions |
| Window Capture | One game window, particularly when Game Capture is blocked | Usually needs windowed or borderless mode and may not capture exclusive fullscreen | More compatible with blocked hooks, with possible differences in scaling or performance |
| Display Capture | The whole monitor or a final fallback | Captures everything visible on that display, including notifications and other windows | Useful when source-level hooks fail, but still depends on correct GPU and capture-method routing |
For Display Capture on Windows, OBS 27 and later on Windows 10 version 1903 and later support the Windows 10 capture method. In the Display Capture source properties, select that method manually if automatic selection fails. Display Capture should be treated as a deliberate fallback because it exposes the complete desktop rather than only the game.
Which games need a different OBS setup?
Some titles have known capture requirements documented by OBS. Apply the game-specific method before spending time on generic hook changes.
| Game or category | Recommended action | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Call of Duty | Run OBS as administrator | The game may require elevated capture permissions |
| Valorant | Run OBS as administrator | Protected game processes can require elevation |
| Genshin Impact | Run OBS as administrator | OBS lists it among games that may need an elevated hook |
| Honkai: Star Rail | Run OBS as administrator | OBS lists it among games that may need an elevated hook |
| Zenless Zone Zero | Run OBS as administrator | OBS lists it among games that may need an elevated hook |
| Counter-Strike 2 | Use borderless/windowed mode with Window Capture | OBS says the game does not allow its Game Capture hook |
| Destiny 2 | Use borderless/windowed mode with Window Capture | OBS says the game does not allow its Game Capture hook |
| Fortnite in DX12 | Try DX11 if capture crashes or has frame issues | OBS reports DX12-related capture problems in some cases |
| Roblox | Use Window Capture or Display Capture if Game Capture fails | OBS lists these as capture alternatives |
| San Andreas Multiplayer | Use Window Capture or Display Capture if Game Capture fails | OBS lists these as capture alternatives |
League of Legends: separate the launcher and the match
League of Legends uses a launcher or lobby window before the running game appears. Create one scene for the launcher/lobby and another scene containing Game Capture for the actual game. Use Scene Switcher to automate the change when the game executable opens, so OBS does not keep targeting the lobby after the match starts.
When should I switch to Window Capture?
Switch when the game blocks Game Capture, when anti-cheat prevents the hook, or when repeated permission and GPU checks do not produce an image. Set the game to borderless or windowed mode, then add Sources → + → Window Capture and select the active game window.
- Change the game’s display mode to borderless fullscreen or windowed.
- In OBS, create a new Window Capture source.
- Select the playable game window, not the launcher if they are separate.
- Hide or close unrelated windows that could be selected accidentally.
- Record a short test while the game remains visible.
Window Capture may not work with exclusive fullscreen because there is no normal window surface for OBS to target. Borderless mode preserves a fullscreen appearance while providing that window target.
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When is Display Capture the right fallback?
Use Display Capture when Game Capture and Window Capture cannot obtain the game image, or when you intentionally need the entire monitor. Add Sources → + → Display Capture, select the correct display, and verify that OBS and the game use compatible GPU routing.
- It records everything on the selected monitor, including desktop notifications, chat windows, and accidental personal information.
- It is not a fix for a wrong GPU assignment; a multi-GPU mismatch can affect Display Capture too.
- On supported systems, manually choose the Windows 10 capture method in the source properties if automatic mode produces a blank result.
Before streaming, hide notifications and close unrelated windows. For a clean game-only recording, Window Capture is preferable whenever it works.
What if OBS still shows a black screen after all these steps?
Use a controlled isolation test rather than changing every option at once.
- Close OBS, the game, overlays, monitoring tools, clipping utilities, and other recorders.
- Launch OBS as administrator only if the game is one of the protected titles or normal permissions fail.
- Confirm OBS and the game are assigned to the same high-performance GPU in Windows Graphics settings.
- Disable Game Bar background capture and Game DVR, while following the correct Game Mode guidance for your Windows version.
- Start the game, add or refresh Game Capture, and test a short recording without Alt+Tabbing during gameplay.
- If the game is known to block the hook, or if the test remains black, switch to borderless/windowed mode and Window Capture.
- If Window Capture also fails, use Display Capture and verify the selected monitor and Windows capture method.
- Restore overlays and security settings one at a time after capture works, stopping when the failure returns.
This process distinguishes a bad source configuration from a game-level restriction. There is no documented universal success rate for Game Capture failures, so a persistent black screen should be treated as a compatibility or environment issue rather than assumed to have one guaranteed fix.
How can I prevent the problem from returning?
Keep a small, known-good scene for each game category. Use Game Capture for titles that allow the hook, a borderless Window Capture scene for protected or blocked titles, and a separate Display Capture fallback. Record the source mode and GPU assignment in the scene name or notes so a Windows or game update does not force you to rediscover the setup.
- Launch the game before selecting a specific window.
- Keep anti-cheat compatibility enabled unless the game documentation says otherwise.
- Do not run multiple capture or overlay hooks together.
- Retest after changing the game’s fullscreen mode, graphics API, or executable.
- Use a short recording whenever exclusive fullscreen makes the OBS preview unreliable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does OBS capture the game audio but not the video?
Audio and video use separate capture paths, so working game audio does not prove that the video hook attached. Recheck the selected Game Capture window and test Window Capture in borderless mode; if the game blocks the hook, audio can continue while video remains unavailable.
Can I capture a game without showing my desktop?
Yes. Game Capture records the game surface directly, and Window Capture can isolate a borderless or windowed game. Display Capture shows the whole monitor, so it can reveal notifications or other windows and should be used only when that exposure is acceptable.
Does reinstalling OBS fix a black game capture?
Usually not when the cause is elevation, GPU routing, fullscreen behavior, a blocked hook, or another overlay. Test those conditions first; reinstalling will not make a game that forbids Game Capture accept the hook.
Why is my game missing from the Game Capture window list?
The game may not have reached its playable window yet, or OBS may be targeting a launcher instead of the game executable. Start the game fully, reopen Game Capture properties, and select the active game window after it appears.
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