A Full Guide on How to Fix OBS Not Recording Full Screen

That's right, most gamers absolutely love OBS Studio as their screen recording software. It's not just because it's free, open-source, and supports Windows, Mac, and Linux—it's also incredibly professional, offering a full suite of features comparable to dedicated video editing software, and excels at color correction for recordings. Plus, its built-in support for game streaming makes it the go-to choice for many gaming content creators.

Perhaps you're one of them. But one day, when you open the software, you suddenly find OBS not recording full screen—or worse, the capture window is completely black, showing nothing at all.

Don't panic. This is indeed a very common issue with multiple potential causes. However, if not resolved promptly, it could seriously disrupt your content creation or streaming plans.

With this in mind, we've compiled a comprehensive guide addressing why is OBS not recording full screen and how to fix it. Follow our steps one by one until your screen recording functions normally. Furthermore, if OBS's complex interface troubles you, we also recommend trying the best alternative we've highlighted in this article.

Part 1. Why Is OBS Not Recording Full Screen [Fixed]

Let's get straight to the point. In this section, we'll outline the reasons why OBS studio not recording full screen and provide corresponding solutions. We recommend following our steps to troubleshoot the issue.

Incorrect Source Selection

OBS Studio offers multiple recording source modes: Display Capture, Game Capture, Windows Capture, or Media Capture. Selecting the wrong source for your recording needs may cause OBS to fail to capture the full game screen.

The solution is straightforward:

Step 1. Launch OBS Studio and navigate to the Source tab.

Step 2. Click the + icon and select Display Capture.If you only want to record a game window, choose Game Capture instead.

Graphics Card Issues

If OBS Studio and your game are running on different graphics cards, OBS may fail to detect the game's display, resulting in incomplete full-screen recording.

To resolve this:

Step 1. Open the NVIDIA Control Panel on your computer and head over to Manage 3D Settings.

Step 2. In the right-hand panel, switch to the Program Settings tab and click Add to include a new program.

Step 3. Hit Browse and find the OBS executable file. If you’re not sure where it is, right-click the OBS shortcut and choose Open file location to quickly reach its folder.

Step 4. From the dropdown menu, select High-performance NVIDIA processor as the preferred option, then click Apply to confirm.

Step 5. Close the NVIDIA Control Panel and relaunch OBS to verify whether the black screen issue has been resolved.

Incompatibility Issues

Another reason OBS may fail to record properly is incompatibility with another running application.

The solution is straightforward: enable OBS's compatibility mode.

Here's what you need to do:

Step 1. Find the OBS Studio shortcut or .exe file, right-click on it, and select Properties from the menu.

Step 2. In the Properties window, move to the Compatibility tab.

Step 3. Check the box for Run this program in compatibility mode for, then hit Apply followed by OK to save the changes.

Screen Recording Dimensions Are Incorrect

OBS provides a Transform feature for users to adjust the recording window size. You can modify it through cropping and rotation. If this setting is incorrect, OBS will be unable to record in full-screen mode.

To resolve this issue, you will need to reset the settings for this option.

You can:

Step 1. Right-click the source you want to fix.

Step 2. From the Transform options, choose Reset Transform to return it to the default layout.

System Error of Unknown Cause

This situation occurs quite frequently. Our computers or phones sometimes experience lag, errors, or even force closes. We can't pinpoint the exact cause, but there's one method that always works: restarting.

When you encounter the issue where OBS records only a small portion of the screen, first try restarting OBS Studio.

If the problem persists, try restarting your computer.

Should the issue still occur, you may need to uninstall OBS Studio from your computer and then install a fresh version. Afterward, test whether the recording function has been restored to normal.

Part 2. Best OBS Alternative - FVC Screen Recorder

Yes, we cannot deny the powerful features of OBS Studio, nor the convenience offered by its open-source and free nature. However, it also comes with a number of issues, the most prominent being its overly complex user interface and options. Beginners often struggle to understand its functions, how they affect recording, and how to operate it without guidance. This situation can easily lead to the problem mentioned earlier: OBS failing to record the full screen.

Therefore, if you find yourself overwhelmed by its complex buttons and interface, we recommend choosing its best alternative: FVC Screen Recorder.

FVC Screen Recorder is a desktop screen recording software compatible with both Windows and Mac computers. It offers all the modes we need: recording screens and webcams, capturing system and microphone audio, and multiple capture area modes. More importantly, all its options are clearly visible and straightforward, with a large, unmistakable record button that makes it extremely beginner-friendly.

Main Features

• Capture both screen and audio from system and external sources.

• Supports multiple recording modes, including full screen, selected area, and specific window.

• Provides basic video editing tools like trimming, merging, and rotating.

• Enables recording content from iPhone and Android devices directly on your computer.

In summary, this single software handles common mobile and desktop screen recording tasks. Its buttons are neatly organized and easy to locate. Additional features like real-time annotation, drawing tools, hotkey operations, and scheduled recording tasks offer significant convenience. FVC Screen Recorder is suitable for all users.

Let's briefly review how to use this screen recorder for desktop recording:

Step 1. Download the program to your computer. Go to the page where the video you want to capture is located and get it ready to play.

Step 2. On the main dashboard, click Video Recorder.

You can record the whole screen with Full or highlight just a specific section with Custom. Don’t forget to configure your audio—system sound, microphone, or a mix of both.

Step 3. When everything is set, click the red Record button to begin.

Part 3. FAQs of OBS Not Recording Full Screen

Conclusion

This guide has analyzed several common causes for OBS not recording full screen, such as incompatibility, incorrect recording sources, or unknown system errors. Detailed troubleshooting steps are provided for each issue, hoping to assist you effectively.

Additionally, if you need software that's simpler to operate than OBS yet offers equally flexible and comprehensive recording settings, we highly recommend FVC Screen Recorder.