Fix: OBS Studio Not Working on Windows 10/11

Open Broadcaster Software, popularly known as OBS, is an open-source platform using which you can stream your favorite video games online. The application is compatible with both the macOS and Windows operating systems. Professional gamers prefer it as it gives them more access to their sharing screen compared to any other name present on the internet.

Although OBS makes it a cakewalk to work with different sources and mix them together, it is also prone to various issues, one of which we will be addressing today. One of the most common issues reported by many gamers is OBS Studio not working on Windows 10 or 11. This problem mainly originates in systems that feature two graphics options, i.e., dedicated and integrated.

That said, in this post, we are going to talk about how to fix OBS Studio not working on Windows 10/11. So, without any further ado, let’s begin.

Common Reasons Behind OBS Studio Not Working On Windows 10/11

There can be various reasons why OBS Studio is not working on Windows 10 or 11. Some of the most common ones are as follows:

OBS Studio is available in two versions: 32 and 64 bit. You should select a version based on the type of your operating system. If you are using a different version of the OBS Studio, then the chances are high that the application will not work.

If you are overclocking your system to boost its performance, then you might also face some issues.

OBS Studio will also not work on Windows 10/11 if there is any similar application running in the background.

A system that hasn’t been shut down for a long time can also result in the malfunctioning of any application, including OBS Studio.

Properties

The About window will open up, containing all the information regarding your system.

Check the “System Type”.

System Type

Now that you know your system version, download OBS Studio according to it.

For your convenience, here’s the direct download link of OBS Studio for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems.

OBS Studio 32-bit

OBS Studio 64-bit

Fix 2: Change OBS Studio’s Compatibility Settings

OBS Studio’s compatibility has always been a controversial aspect. The latest Windows version, Windows 11, was not compatible with the platform. Thus, users had to tweak the compatibility settings of the application to run it on the system. This issue can also be fixed just by disabling the compatibility mode. Nevertheless, here are the steps you need to follow to change OBS Studio compatibility settings.

Tap on the search icon present in the task manager.

Type in OBS Studio and press enter.

Tap on “Open file location”.

Open File Location

Right-click on the OBS Studio shortcut, and choose “Properties”.

OBS properties

From the Properties window, tap on Compatibility.

Compatiblity

Check the “Run this program in compatibility mode for:” option.

Run this program

Now, tap on the dropdown icon and select Windows 7 or Windows 8 from the list.

Select Windows

Lastly, save the changes and exit the Properties window.

Try relaunching the OBS Studio and see whether it’s working or not.

Fix 3: Give OBS Studio All The Permission.

Any application will not be able to offer its services unless and until it has all the necessary permissions. A similar case is with OBS Studio. It will not work on Windows 10/11 if you haven’t given it all the administrator privileges. As it is a screen-sharing platform, it’s important that it have all the administrator rights.

Nevertheless, here are the steps you need to follow to grant administrator rights to OBS Studio.

Tap on the search icon present in the task manager.

Type in OBS Studio and press enter.

Tap on “Open file location”.

Right-click on the OBS Studio shortcut, and choose “Properties”.

From the Properties window, tap on Compatibility.

Compatiblity

Check the “Run this program as an administrator” option.

Run as Administration

Save the changes and exit the properties window. Restart your system, and after that, relaunch the application and see if it is now working or not.

Fix 4: Choose the Correct GPU for OBS Studio

The reason that is causing OBS Studio not working on Windows 10/11 is that you haven’t chosen the right GPU for resources. Nowadays, most Windows PCs feature two GPUs: integrated and dedicated. They might conflict with each other, which eventually results in OBS Studio not working on your system. So, here are the steps that will help you out in this situation.

Right-click anywhere on the blank screen of the desktop.

Select “Nvidia Control Panel”.

In the Nvidia Control Panel window, tap on Manage 3D settings.

Manage 3D Settings

Tap on “Program Settings”.

Program Settings

Here you will find a list of all the applications available on your system. If you can’t find OBS Studio, add it by tapping on the “Add” option.

Add

Tap on the dropdown menu present under “select the preferred graphics processor for this program”.

From the list of options, choose “high-performance Nvidia processor”.

High Pergormance NVIDIA

Save the settings and exit the window. Relaunch the application and see if it’s working now or not.

Fix 4: Change Local Drive Settings

If you have installed OBS Studio on the C drive, the chances are high that even the user of your system may not have permission to change the settings of the application. You will have to change the drive permission settings in order to resolve this issue. So, here are the steps you need to follow.

You will have to log in with the administrator account to change the driver settings.

Open File Explorer on your system by pressing the Windows + E shortcut key.

Right-click on the C drive, or any other drive on which you have installed Windows. Select “Properties” from the list of options.

C Drive Properties

Select Security.

Security

Select the Edit option.

Edit

Select “Authenticated Users” and then checkmark “Full Control”.

Full Control

Save the settings by tapping on Apply. That’s it. Relaunch the system and see if OBS Studio is working or not.

Fix 5: Turn Off Overclocking

Overclocking is not the best way in which you can attain better frame rates and system performance. However, like everything else in the world, it also has its own share of cons. It has been noticed that the PCs that have been overclocked are not able to run OBS Studio. So, as a workaround, disable overclocking on your system, along with all the application status related to it. Relaunch OBS Studio and see if it’s working or not.

If this method worked for you, make sure you always disable overclocking whenever you are going to use OBS Studio.

Fix 6: Remove Conflicting Applications

As mentioned in the reasons, OBS Studio not working on Windows 10/11 can be a result of any conflicting software that is installed on your system. So, as a workaround, you will have to uninstall any application that works similarly to OBC studio. Here are the steps you need to follow.

Open the “Run” dialogue box by pressing the Windows + R shortcut key.

Type “appwiz.cpl” and press enter. It will open the Programs and Features window of the system.

Program and Features

Here you will have all the applications installed on your system. Right-click on any application that you think works similarly to OBS Studio and uninstall it.

Open Task Manager.

Disable any application running in the background that you think is similar to OBS Studio.

Task Manager

That’s it. Relaunch the application and see if the issue is fixed or not.

Fix 7: Reinstall OBS Studio.

If none of the previously mentioned workarounds worked, your only option is to reinstall OBS studio. Reinstalling the application will permanently delete any corrupted or outdated files that were causing the issue. But make sure you are downloading the correct version of the OBS studio. For your convenience, we have given the download link of the application in Fix 1. Download the application as per your system version.

Final Words

This was how to fix OBS Studio not working on Windows 10/11. Therefore, as there isn’t any specific workaround for the issue, you might have to go through all the above-mentioned methods to fix the problem. Moreover, if you are aware of any other solution, feel free to share it in the comments.