Black screen on OBS: fix game, window and monitor capture

A dictionary without difficult abbreviations

A dictionary without difficult abbreviations
Concept	What does this mean in practice?
FPS	The number of image frames per second. More frames require appropriate performance and transmission settings.
Bitrate	The amount of image or audio data sent over time. Too high a value relative to the link may result in dropped frames.
Source	One scene component: game, camera, text, audio, or page with overlay. The order of sources determines what covers what.
Scene	Ready-made image layout: e.g. a game with a camera or a break board. The scene you choose determines what you show.
Resolution	The width × height of the area, e.g. 1920 × 1080. This is different than shrinking the source rectangle with the mouse.

Step by step · 1–4

Action
Stop the public attempt if you accidentally show a private desktop.
✓ After this step you will see
You can diagnose the image without exposing other windows.
Action
Select the scene where the problem occurs.
✓ After this step you will see
You are looking at the right set of sources.
Action
Check the eye icon next to the problematic source.
✓ After this step you will see
The source is visible.
Action
Hide opaque sources above it for a while.
✓ After this step you will see
You know if the image was just obscured.

**OBS: Game capture properties. The selected mode and window must match the game you are running.**Actual screenshot from official documentation. The version and language of the program may be different from yours.Photo source: OBS Project · Source verified: 2026-10-27

Step by step · 5–8

Action
Select the source and open its properties.
✓ After this step you will see
You are checking the actual capture, not the settings of the entire OBS.
Action
Run the target game or program before selecting the window.
✓ After this step you will see
The correct item may appear in the list.
Action
In game capture, select the appropriate window and confirm.
✓ After this step you will see
The source indicates the running game, not the outdated process name.
Action
Back to the game for a moment; some games do not draw the image when minimized.
✓ After this step you will see
You can tell the difference between a frozen image and no capture.

**OBS: A scene is an image layout and sources are its components. First, choose the right scene.**Actual screenshot from official documentation. The version and language of the program may be different from yours.Photo source: OBS Project · Source verified: 2026-10-27

Step by step · 9–12

Action
Check the source transform and match it to the screen.
✓ After this step you will see
The source is not outside the scene area.
Action
On a dual-card laptop, check the system's graphics settings to see which GPU the game and the OBS are using.
✓ After this step you will see
You can select compatible devices according to the OBS documentation.
Action
If the program requires administrator privileges, check the OBS recommendations for this application.
✓ After this step you will see
You don't change permissions randomly for each program.
Action
If your game doesn't work with Game Capture, check Window Capture.
✓ After this step you will see
You have an alternative method for a specific window.

**OBS: recording and transmission control panel. A local trial does not require public broadcasting.**Actual screenshot from official documentation. The version and language of the program may be different from yours.Photo source: OBS Project · Source verified: 2026-10-27

Step by step · 13–16

Action
Treat screen capture as a conscious choice and remove private content from your monitor.
✓ After this step you will see
You know it shows the entire area, not just the game.
Action
Test disable additional overlays or capture programs, one at a time.
✓ After this step you will see
You can point to a specific conflict.
Action
Make a recording after each successful change.
✓ After this step you will see
You confirm the image in the finished file.
Action
Restore needed sources and lock their location.
✓ After this step you will see
You keep the repaired scene.

First, recognize the scope of the problem

If the OBS preview has an image but viewers see black, the capture is probably working. Check the output scene, studio mode and platform side preview. If only one game is black, start with its source and Game Capture compatibility.

Browsers, players and applications with protected content may limit capture. Not every black rectangle can be repaired with the OBS option. Don't bypass content protection; check whether the material can be shown.

Choose a method that matches the content

Game capture is designed for gaming. Window capture selects a specific program. Screen capture covers the entire monitor and may reveal notifications. The methods also differ in behavior when the window is minimized.

Don't keep several overlapping sources of the same game as accidental security. Once you find a method that works, disable unnecessary copies. This reduces confusion in the layers and facilitates later diagnosis.

An example you can reproduce

The preview is black, but when you hide the full-screen "Be Right Back" image, the game appears. It's not a graphics card failure: the background was laying over the game. You repair the source order instead of reinstalling OBS. If only one window is black, do not rebuild all scenes.

What do you see on the screen and how to fix it

Fix one thing at a time and try the same thing again. If you change several options at the same time, it will be difficult to determine what solved the problem. Don't delete a working source or entire configuration just because one widget isn't responding.

If you still need help, write down the program name and version, platform, approximate time of trial, expected result, and what actually happened. Attach a dump without passwords, keys and full private links. This description is much more useful than just the "not working" message.

What do you see on the screen and how to fix it
Symptom	Check first	Do it
The game is only invisible after Alt+Tab	The game stops drawing after losing activity	Check active play and available frameless window mode.
The source has a red outline outside the scene	Incorrect position or framing	Reset the correct transform and match the source.
Only a different method works on a laptop	Different GPU or capture method	Use OBS recommendations for your system and specific method.
Everything is covered in black	Layer above the source	Hide top sources one by one and correct their order.
The video is black, the rest of the window works	Protected content or application restriction	Check the documentation and select allowed material.
After changing the game name, the source does not work	He points to an old window	Select the current process again in the properties.

Last attempt before use on LIVE

Save the changes using the button assigned to the edited function. If there are separate forms, check each changed part separately.
Open the settings again and compare the most important values. Simply moving the slider does not always mean a permanent save.
Check the result outside the editor itself: on the target scene, in the recording, or in the reopened configuration.
If the function uses the platform, separately acknowledge the new handled event during the active LIVE. Don't expect the appearance test to confirm account authorization.
Save the working values and make a copy before the next major change. Next time you start up, start with a quick check.

Before you go live

You know what the fields and units you use mean.
The most important values were saved and checked again.
The attempt was graded on the finished output, not just in the editor.
The image is clear and each sound plays only once.
Working configuration and safe copy preserved.

Frequently asked questions

The game is only visible after Alt+Tab - what to do?

The game stops drawing after losing activity. Check active play and available frameless window mode.

The source has a red outline outside the scene - what to do?

Incorrect position or framing. Reset the correct transform and match the source.

Only a different method works on my laptop - what should I do?

Different GPU or capture method. Use OBS recommendations for your system and specific method.

Everything is black - what to do?

Layer above the source. Hide top sources one by one and correct their order.