How to Fix OBS Game Capture Black Screen

Imagine recording a gameplay video for hours and getting a plain black screen in the end— all your efforts will be ruined! Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) is a screen recording tool that lets you capture your PC’s screen to record gameplay videos with a dedicated game capture mode. However, one common issue that every user faces commonly is the game capture black screen. There can be various reasons why OBS records a black screen in this specific mode, including the outdated version, faulty settings, lack of recording permissions, and more. 

The OBS black screen can be solved in various ways, each with pros and cons. This detailed guide will review the 5 best fixes to solve the OBS black screen game capture issue. No matter if OBS is recording a black screen due to permission denial, display driver error, faulty settings, or outdated app version, this guide will help you get rid of it. Let’s delve into further details! 

Part 1. Fix OBS Black Screen Issue by Running as Administrator

Administrator access is needed whenever an application has to modify settings or utilize the system resources. Without administrator access, some features might not work correctly if the application fails to perform. Since OBS needs to utilize the system data and resources, an administrator is needed to access record screens and audio. Therefore, you must run OBS Studio as an administrator to ensure that the OBS records your screen and that your PC’s administrator does not block it. 

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to run OBS Studio as an administrator:

Step 1. Click on “Search” on PC. Type OBS Studio in the search bar.

Step 2. Right-click the OBS Studio icon and click “Run as Administrator.” 

Running OBS Studio as an Administrator might give this tool access to the record screen on your PC and solve the OBS black screen issue. 

Part 2. Fix the OBS Black Screen Issue by Switching GPUs

Another solution for fixing OBS Studio’s black screen issues is via switching GPUs. Your computer has two GPUs: a dedicated GPU and an integrated graphics card. Consider a scenario in which a screen capture utility and a game are open simultaneously. You may see a black screen when OBS Studio tries to record the screen in the game capture mode while using the integrated graphics card if the game or application you are trying to record is running on the dedicated one. 

This occurs because the GPU resources are allocated when you run a certain application or game. You assign the GPU resources once more when you attempt to record the screen using OBS Studio. In this scenario, the GPU won’t be able to manage the screen recording. 

Follow the steps below to switch GPUs and record screen using game capture via OBS Studio without any black screen issues:

Step 1. Open the “Settings” on your PC. Then, navigate to “System > Display.”

Step 2. From the Display settings, click on “Graphics“. 

Step 3. Find OBS Studio from the list of applications. If it’s not in the list, click “Add an App“. Once done, click on OBS Studio and choose “High Performance” from the Graphics Preferences window. 

Part 3. Fix OBS Black Screen Issue by Enabling Compatibility Mode

On a Windows computer, compatibility mode allows you to use software or an application designed for an earlier version of the operating system. Your operating system will execute programs that are compatible with previous versions of the hardware, operating system, and CPU when it is in compatibility mode. Many customers have reported experiencing the OBS black screen problem following a transition to Windows 10 or 11. It is advisable to use multiple OS versions to check OBS Studio’s activities due to the old operating system. For that reason, OBS compatibility mode can be enabled.  

Follow the steps below to check OBS Studio for different operating systems via the compatibility mode. 

Step 1. Open the location where OBS Studio is installed on your PC. Right-click on the OBS Studio application and click on “Properties.” 

Step 2. Open the “Compatibility” tab. Click on “Run Compatibility Troubleshooter” for automatic diagnostics. 

Step 3. You can also click “Run this program in compatibility for:” and choose the desired operating system, such as Windows 8 or 7. 

Step 4. Click on “Apply” to finish the process. 

Step 5. Restart OBS Studio and check if the black screen issue is resolved. 

Part 4. Fix the OBS Black Screen Issue by Disabling Game Mode and Other Conflicting Software

The Game Bar may cause issues for OBS Studio when screen recording is in game mode due to similar functionalities. A Windows PC’s built-in “Game Mode” setting is intended to enhance users’ gaming experiences. Upon activation, the gaming mode optimizes the game resources by allocating several GPUs and more RAM to them. Even with the shortcut keys, players may effortlessly record gameplay sessions or take snapshots with the Xbox Game Bar on Windows PCs. 

Therefore, you are advised to turn off Game Mode and Game Bar to record the screen using OBS Studio without experiencing any black screen problems. 

The steps to turn off Game Mode on a Windows computer are as follows. 

Step 1. Navigate to your PC’s “Settings“.

Step 2. Click on “Gaming” from the left pane. 

Step 3. Then, click “Game Mode” and toggle to turn it OFF. 

Part 5. Try an OBS Alternative: Free Screen Recorder for Windows & Mac – Screenify

OBS Studio is a versatile and reliable tool for recording screens and gameplay videos in the game capture mode. Still, sometimes, the black screen issue can ruin the overall process. Black screen issues can hinder your gameplay recording process, leaving your audience uninterested and unattentive. Moreover, many users find it difficult to record screen or solve the black screen issues in OBS Studio due to complex procedures. Worry not, as we have got you an easy and feature-rich alternative: Screenify Screen Recorder!

Screenify is able to record your screen at 4K resolution and 60 FPS. Screenify also has excellent noise reduction features to help minimize excessive noise and distractions in the background. The best part is, Screenify is completely free!

Download Screenify and you can also experience:

• You can capture the screen at 60 frames per second to prevent lags, which is suitable for gameplay videos. 
• It offers multiple recording modes, simple cropping, and a lock window feature. 
• Screenify is free to use with no watermark and dual recording modes such as full screen or region. 
• You can capture audio from both sources, i.e., microphone and system audio.

The steps to record the screen using Screenify are as follows:

Step 1. Open Screenify and select the option to “Record Screen.”

Step 3. Set up your recording preferences, including audio options, before starting.

Step 4. For full-screen recording, select “Full Screen” and click “Record.” Click on “Region” to capture a designated area, drag to choose the region and adjust it as needed.

Step 5. Begin the recording after the 3-second countdown.

Step 6. You can add annotations directly on the screen during recording.

Step 7. Click the red “Stop” button to end the recording. Review and manage your captured files as needed.

Part 6. FAQs About OBS Game Capture Black Screen

1. Why is my OBS camera just a black screen?

The OBS camera black screen issues can be due to various reasons, including faulty resolution settings, conflicting software, outdated OBS version, issues with the webcam, etc. You can try Screenify to record the webcam and screen simultaneously without black screen issues. 

2. How do I fix the black screen on Game Capture OBS?

There are various ways to fix black screens on Game Capture OBS, such as switching GPUs, disabling game mode, exiting conflicting software, enabling compatibility mode, and more. An alternative, i.e., Screenify screen recorder, can be used to record screen in 4K at 60 FPS. 

Part 7. Conclusion

OBS black screen game capture issue can ruin the overall process of recording gameplay videos. The issues can happen for various reasons, such as an outdated OBS Studio version, conflicting software, GPU switching, outdated graphics drivers, etc. We have compiled all the solutions to the game capture OBS black screen issue above. You can also utilize Screenify, the best OBS Studio alternative, to record a screen at 4K at 60 FPS without any time limits or watermarks.