OBS Studio is an open source streaming and recording program that’s free to download. It allows users to work with different sources and mix them together to create a smooth broadcast. Although this is a solid performing software there are instances when certain issues can occur which we will be addressing today. In this latest installment of our troubleshooting series we will tackle the OBS Studio black screen in Windows 10 issue.
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How To Fix OBS Studio Black Screen In Windows 10 Issue
Before performing any of the recommended troubleshooting steps listed below it’s best to restart your computer first. This action refreshes the operating system and remove any corrupt temporary data that could be causing the problem.
There are several reasons why this particular issue can occur ranging from compatibility problems to interference from the graphics card. Listed below are the troubleshooting steps you need to do to fix this problem.
Make sure to use the correct version of OBS Studio
There are two versions of OBS Studio available for download, one is a 32 bit version and the other is a 64 bit version. The 64 bit version can perform a higher amount of calculations per second which in turn will speed up its completion of a certain task.
- Right-click on This PC and select Properties.
- In the computer properties, check underneath the subheading of System and check the type in front of System type. Check the type of operating system (64 bit or 32 bit) and proceed with the instructions below.
- Press Windows + E to launch the file explorer.
- Search for OBS in the dialogue box and open the file location.
- Select and open the correct version of the application depending on the bit version of your OS.
Check if the OBS Studio black screen in Windows 10 issue still occurs.
Change the compatibility mode
If the issue occurred right after you updated the windows 10 operating system then there’s a chance that there might be compatibility issues. To fix this you will need to run the software in compatibility mode.
- Type OBS in the search bar, right-click on the application and select Open file location.
- Right-click on the executable and select Properties.
- Once in properties, select the Compatibility tab and check the option Run this program in compatibility mode for Windows 8.
- Save changes and exit.
Check if the OBS Studio black screen in Windows 10 issue still occurs.
Run the program as an administrator
Sometimes this issue can occur because the program does not have administrative privileges.
- Type OBS in the search bar, right-click on the application and select Open file location.
- Right-click on the executable and select Properties.
- Now click on the Compatibility tab and check the option of Run this program as an administrator.
- Apply changes and exit. Restart your computer and launch OBS again.
Check if the OBS Studio black screen in Windows 10 issue still occurs.
Select the correct GPU
There’s a possibility that you might not be using the correct GPU when doing the screen capture. Most computer systems today will have two GPUs, one is the integrated GPU which usually comes with the Intel or AMD processor and the other is a dedicated GPU.
For those with NVIDIA graphics cards here’s what you need to do.
- Right-click anywhere on your screen and select NVIDIA Control Panel.
- Go to Manage 3D settings and click on Program Settings.
- Select the OBS display capture. If you are not able to find it, click on Add and lookup the software by navigating to its installation directory and selecting the executable from there.
- Now according to the type of capture you are doing (Game capture: Dedicated graphics, Monitor/display capture: Integrated GPU), select the correct graphics processor for the program. In the case below, NVIDIA’s processor is selected.
- Save changes and exit. Now restart your computer and launch OBS again.
Check if the OBS Studio black screen in Windows 10 issue still occurs.
Change Drive Permission Settings
There are instances when your computer user rights will not have permission to modify the content of the OBS data. To fix this you will need to change the drive permission settings. Make sure to log in with an administrator account before doing the steps listed below.
- Press Windows + E to launch the File Explorer.
- Right-click on the C drive and select Properties.
- Select the Security tab and then click on Edit in front of permissions.
- Select the option of Authenticated users and select the checkbox of Full control.
- Press Apply to save changes and exit. Restart your computer and start OBS again.
Check if the OBS Studio black screen in Windows 10 issue still occurs.
Change OBS settings
Listed below are the settings needed to run OBS in optimal mode.
- Mode: Select according to your preference
- Screen: Select according to your game
- Priority: Default setting
- Sli/crossfire: Check (You can also try unchecking this one later)
- Force scaling: Uncheck
- Transparency: Uncheck
- Framerate lock: Uncheck
- Record cursor: Check
- Anti-cheat: Uncheck
- Overlays: Uncheck
Check if the OBS Studio black screen in Windows 10 issue still occurs.
Enable Multi-adapter compatibility
If you have two GPU using SLI or Crossfire technology then you should enable this setting in OBS. You should also try to enable this setting even if you are using only one dedicated GPU as some users have reportedly fixed the problem by this method. You can enable this option by selecting the stream and clicking on the gear icon. A new window will pop up from where you can check the option.
Disable overclocking
Overclocking allows your system to perform better by boosting the performance of the processor. This will however create issues on some applications. Try to disable the overclocking of your system then check if this fixes the problem.
Uninstall other screen capture software installed in your computer
If you have another screen capture software running in your computer then this might be interfering with how OBS Studio works.
- Press Windows + R, type “appwiz.cpl” in the dialogue box and press Enter.
- Search for any recording software which you might have installed on your computer. Right-click on it and select Uninstall.
- check your taskbar for any extra applications running in the background. Right-click on each entry and exit the application.
- When no other screen capture program is running the background, run OBS again.
Check if the OBS Studio black screen in Windows 10 issue still occurs.
Reinstall OBS
- Press Windows + R, type “appwiz.cpl” in the dialogue box and press Enter.
- Once in the application manager, search for OBS, right-click on it and select Uninstall.
- Select both options on the box that appears (one of them will be preselected) and click on Uninstall.
- Restart your computer.
- Go to OBS Studio’s official website and download the latest version from there then install it.
Check if the OBS Studio black screen in Windows 10 issue still occurs.
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