OBS crashes when recording: causes, solutions, and fixes

When OBS Studio starts connecting and suddenly the CPU shoots up to 100% Until a recording or live stream fails, it's normal to get frustrated. This behavior is usually caused by a combination of demanding settings, outdated drivers, plugin conflicts, or GPU and network overload. The good news is that there are concrete solutions to re-record and broadcast without stutters or freezes.

In this guide you will find a complete and practical compilation of all causes, symptoms and solutions that we have seen work: from updating drivers and reduce GPU usage, even fine-tuning the bitrate, FPS, and correct encoder. You'll also see how to use the OBS log analyzer, what to do if the app gets stuck when you stop recording, and several lightweight alternatives if your PC is running low on resources.

What causes OBS to freeze or crash on startup?

Before touching anything, it is a good idea to understand where the problem is coming from, because then each adjustment will make sense and you will prevent OBS from crashing again in the future. These are the most common causes we've detected:

• Outdated or faulty graphics drivers- If the GPU is not up to date, capture will degrade and lag or freeze.
• Outdated network adapter drivers: generate network instability and affect transmission and recording.
• Unstable internet connection: To broadcast live without interruptions, you need a stable line; FPS drops usually give this away.
• GPU Overuse- If other programs saturate the graphics, OBS cannot render scenes or the game properly.
• Firewall interference: Windows Defender Firewall may block OBS functions if it treats them as suspicious.
• Bitrate too high: An aggressive bitrate is very resource intensive.
• High resolution: Capturing or streaming at high resolutions increases the load on the CPU and GPU.
• Incompatibilities with Windows: Certain versions of OBS do not play well with some versions of Windows 10/11.

Step-by-step solutions to fix blockages, freezes, and stuttering

Apply these corrections in an orderly manner. Many solve the problem. OBS crashes right after starting to record; others improve overall stability in live and recording performances.

1) Update your graphics card drivers

OBS requires a well-configured and up-to-date GPU; with outdated drivers, capture suffers and the app can freeze or remain unresponsiveTo force an update from Windows:

• Step 1:: open the Device administrator from the search engine.
• Step 2:: Expand Display Adapters and locate your GPU.
• Step 3:: Right-click on the graphics card and select Update driver.
• Step 4:: Choose Search automatically for drivers and when it's finished, restart your PC to see if the problem has been resolved.

2) Update the network adapter drivers

If the blocking occurs when starting a live broadcast or during the broadcast, the weak point may be the network card and its drivers. Update the drivers like this:

• Step 1:: Opens Device Manager.
• Step 2:: Expand Network Adapters to see the list.
• Step 3:: Right click on your adapter and click Update Driver.
• Step 4:: Restart your computer after installation to apply the changes.

3) Check your internet connection

Constant stuttering and dropouts when you start streaming are usually due to an unstable connection. Before messing around with OBS, run a speed test and restart your computer. router to rule out line problems.

Press and hold the router's power button, unplug the network cable and power, wait 20–30 seconds, and then turn it back on. If speed or stability continues to be poor, contact your provider. If the network isn't working properly, OBS will not be able to maintain the streaming.

4) Reduce GPU consumption in OBS

If you notice that your computer is running tight when rendering scenes, limit the load on game capture to give the GPU a chance to breathe and OBS stop freezing at the beginning.

• Step 1:: Open OBS.
• Step 2:: In Sources, right click on Game Capture and go to Properties.
• Step 3:: Check the Limit capture speed option.
• Step 4:: Save changes and restart OBS to check the improvement.

5) Allow OBS in Windows Firewall

The Firewall may block OBS traffic or features. Please allow it to prevent interference. cut the broadcast or recording:

• Step 1:: Press Windows + I and open Settings.
• Step 2:: Go to Privacy & security > Windows Security > Firewall & network protection.
• Step 3:: Choose Allow an app through the firewall.
• Step 4:: Tap Change settings > Allow another app and add OBS. Accept to save.

If you don't notice any changes, you can revert it to test, but typically enabling OBS prevents unexpected network crashes.

6) Adjust OBS to your PC's capabilities

Increasing the resolution, bitrate and FPS without looking at the hardware is a sure recipe for the app to crash. stuck at startup or during recording. Reduce load like this:

• Step 1:: Open Settings and go to Output.
• Step 2:: In Recording, lower the bit rate to a reasonable range for your computer. For modest PCs, around 4000 kbps for video and 320 kbps for audio is usually a good balance. quality and stability.
• Step 3:: Go to Video and adjust Base/Output Resolution (e.g. 1920x1080 or 1280x720) and Common FPS Values; if there is stuttering, change to 30 FPS for lighten up.

7) Run OBS in compatibility mode

Sometimes the Windows version and the OBS version don't understand each other well. Forcing the compatibility can prevent shutdowns or freezes when starting recordings:

• Step 1:: Open the OBS Studio folder, right click on the executable and go to Properties.
• Step 2:: Go to the Compatibility tab.
• Step 3:: Check Run this program in compatibility mode for and choose your system.
• Step 4:: Use Run the compatibility troubleshooter, then Apply and OK to confirm.

8) Reinstall OBS from scratch

If all else fails, a clean reinstall removes residual conflicts and corrupt files that prevent OBS from working correctly:

• Step 1:: Press Windows + R to open Run.
• Step 2:: Type appwiz.cpl and press OK.
• Step 3:: Uninstall OBS Studio.
• Step 4:: Download the latest version from the official website and install it again to start with a .

9) Typical case: CPU at 100% when starting streaming

If when you start the stream the CPU goes to the maximum and OBS crashes without giving an error, point to a coding overload or a plugin/overlay. Try the following:

• Change the encoder. Under Output > Stream/Recording, toggle between Hardware (NVENC/AMD) and x264. Some users have found that recording has returned by switching from "use streaming encoder" to x264 for the Recording tab, and then applying the everything worked again.
• Lower the CPU preset. On x264, use Superfast or Ultrafast to reduce load (at the cost of some quality), and in Advanced Settings, set the process priority to High so that OBS has preferred resources.
• Temporarily disable the vertical streaming plugin and any overlays. If the crash stops, you've found the culprit and can check for an updated version or alternative.

10) Quick Alternative Settings Guide (1080p and 720p)

Some people prefer a quick setup by touching several parameters at once. If you want to try it out, these steps concentrate on key changes for minimize delays and freezes:

• In Settings > Encoding, increase Maxbitrate to 500.000 for 1080p computers or 800.000 for slower 720p PCs. If you still notice lag, gradually increase the maximum bitrate to gain fluency.
• Under Video, select Custom and set it to 1920x1080 (1080p) or 1280x720 (720p) depending on your screen and performance. Then set it to 60 FPS and if there is still lag, lower it to 30 FPS. reduce load.
• Under Advanced, accept the prompt to change settings, set Process Priority Class to High, x264 CPU Preset to Ultra Fast, Profile to Main, and under Custom x264 Encoder Settings, add CRF=20 for control quality.

11) Format and FPS to avoid jams when stopping recording

If OBS keeps thinking when you press "Stop Recording" (especially with MKV container), switch to FLV as output format and adjust the FPS:

– In Output > Advanced Mode > Recording, set FLV and use a bitrate that matches your target: for example, ~4000 kbps for 1080p or ~8000 kbps for 4K, prioritizing stability. In Video, you can select 59,94 FPS for a non-integer value in case your stream needs it. finer synchro.

12) Reduce system CPU usage

OBS competes for resources with the game, the browser, and any open apps. It closes unnecessary processes to free up CPU and RAM:

• Step 1:: open the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
• Step 2:: Checks active processes, including hidden ones.
• Step 3:: Right click on unnecessary tasks and End Task to give OBS access to the task. more margin.

13) Enable hardware encoder (NVENC/AMD)

As long as your GPU allows it, the hardware encoder offloads the CPU and usually improves stability both in recording and live, avoiding processor usage spikes:

• Step 1:: Go to Settings > Output > Advanced Mode.
• Step 2:: Under Recording/Streaming, choose “Hardware (NVENC)” Encoder or your AMD’s.
• Step 3:: Apply changes and test for at least 30 seconds with your usual flow to validate.

14) Check disk space and recording path

If the disk is full or severely fragmented, it is common for the recording to get stuck when stopped or for the file to be stuck incomplete:

• Step 1:: In Explorer, right-click on the drive and go to Properties.
• Step 2:: In General, use Disk Cleanup to clean up temporary and large files.
• Step 3:: In OBS > Output, check the Recording Path and, if possible, point to a SSD with plenty of room or check the USB ports if you use external drives for avoid bottlenecks.

15) Disable conflicting overlays and plugins

Third-party overlays, docks, and plugins may conflict with certain versions of OBS or your graphics driver. Disable them (e.g., Discord overlay) for isolate the source:

• Step 1:: In OBS, open the Docks menu.
• Step 2:: Uncheck non-essential overlays and add-ons, test and activate them one by one until you find which one causes the problem.

16) Check for conflicts with other applications

Video editors, apps of RGB or capturers with their own software sometimes interfere with OBS. Close everything you don't need to minimize interferenceIf you're using other capture tools, make sure they're not capturing the same window/game simultaneously.

17) Update Windows, use the Setup Wizard, and analyze the registry

An outdated Windows can cause subtle glitches. Update your system and GPU first, then let OBS guide you with its wizard. adjust the optimal profile. You can also use WhoCrashed to detect problems in Windows and analyze failures.

• From the Tools menu, run the Automatic Configuration Wizard.
• Restart OBS and run a 30–60 second test by playing your actual stream (gameplay, scenes, full screen cameras). This is key to getting a representative register.
• In Help > Log > Load Current Log, copy the URL and click Parse to follow the parser's recommendations (fix common warnings and retest). If the log was broken, repeat the test to capture the entire session.

Lightweight alternatives when OBS keeps causing trouble

OBS is incredibly powerful, but also demanding and has a steep learning curve. If you're still experiencing crashes after optimizing or if your PC is low-end, you can opt for lighter tools that They comply without complications.

EaseUS Rec Experts

A cross-platform (Windows and macOS) screen recorder focused on simplicity and performance. It allows you to record the entire screen or a specific area, overlay your webcam, schedule recordings, and capture system and microphone audio simultaneously. very clear interface.

• Approximate valuation: 4/5.
• Highlighted features: Capture up to 4K/8K and 144 fps, Multiple recording modes, Basic video and audio editing, Noise reduction, Export to multiple formats for share without hassle.

If you don't want to struggle with complex profiles, it's a solid alternative for gameplays, tutorials or informative videos without sacrificing apparent quality.

Wondershare DemoCreator vs Filmora

DemoCreator makes capturing simple: open the app, enter Game Mode, define the area (full or partial screen), adjust the frame rate and system/microphone audio, choose the destination folder, enable GPU acceleration, and hit capture. To stop, F10 key.

It is compatible with games like Minecraft, League of Legends, Overwatch, Dota and CS:GO, with plans to add more. Filmora, for its part, stands out for its intuitive editor with customizable tools that provide a professional finish. without complicating things.