It's frustrating to see OBS keep crashing while recording your screen or live streaming. There can be multiple reasons why you're experiencing this issue, and we've provided 12 ways to fix OBS's constant crashes on Windows.
OBS (Open Broadcasting Software) is a popular, free, and open-source streaming and recording software. Thanks to its features and convenience, the software has gained significant popularity and a user base. However, no software is free from problems. So, here's how to fix OBS if it keeps crashing.
1. Run OBS STUDIO as administrator
If OBS crashes on startup, it's best to try it by granting the application administrative privileges. When Run a program as administratorWindows will share the resources needed to run it without any problems. Here's how to launch OBS Studio:
Step 1: Open menu START YOUR and search for Obs Studio.
Step 2: Click "Run as administrator" Alternatively, right-click the OBS Studio icon and choose "Run as administrator".
From here, OBS should start working without any problems. However, if you encounter any issues, check out the following fix.
2. Update Windows
It's always better Windows Update This will ensure improved system stability and security. It will also improve application compatibility, as all applications are well optimized for the latest version of the operating system.
Step 1: Open Settings> Click the system And choose Windows Update.
Step 3: If an update is available, it will be displayed below. You can click “Download and install all”.
3. Install the latest graphics driver for your GPU.
OBS uses your system's graphics drivers, and if there are any issues with these drivers, you'll see the message “Sorry, OBS is down.” You can easily fix this by: Update your graphics driver in WindowsHere are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Click on the icon never, And type Device Manager, and open it.
4. Change OBS compatibility
If OBS is incompatible with your Windows version, you'll see OBS not opening. Here's how to fix it:
Step 1: Right click on OBS icon On the desktop and choose Properties.
Step 2: Choose tab "Compatibility" and check the box next to "Run the program in compatibility mode."
Step 3: From here, choose your Windows version > click "Application" Make changes and try launching OBS.
Keep changing the Windows version and find out which version is right for you.
5. Temporarily turn off Windows Firewall
Windows Firewall always ensures that your computer is safe from known malware. As part of this, it also prevents some suspicious programs from running.
Unfortunately, Windows Firewall may have misidentified OBS as a threat, causing OBS to crash whenever you launch the app. You can resolve this issue by: Disable Windows Firewall And check if the problem still exists.
Step 1: Click on the icon never, And search in Windows Security, and open it.
Step 2: Go to Firewall and network protection.
Step 3: choose between private network or public network (We choose the public network).
Tip: You can follow the same steps for both private and public networks if OBS keeps crashing.
Step 4: Now, turn off Microsoft Defender Firewall And click "Yeah" For confirmation.
6. Remove third-party plugins
OBS allows you to install plugins to add or modify specific settings or features. These plugins are also loaded alongside the app, and if you use any defective plugin, including SE.Live, you'll see OBS not open.
You can quickly resolve this issue by disabling any recently added plugins. The steps for deleting an app are the same as for deleting third-party plugins from OBS. However, if you added files manually, here are the steps to remove them:
Step 1: Close OBS and then open File Explorer.
Step 2: Go to obs-studio folder.
Tip: If you do not change the download location during application installation, the application data will be located inside the program files located on the local disk (C).
Step 3: Open obs plugins.
Step 4: After that, open 64-bit volume.
Step 5: Now, delete DLL files that you want to remove from OBS.
7. Disable third-party applications in the background
Similar to plugins, there are also third-party applications that can cause OBS to crash. Therefore, it's best to Disable these apps running in the background.
Step 1: Open Settings> Go to Applications and click on Installed apps.
Step 3: within Background App PermissionsUse the drop-down menu and choose Never.
8. Disable and re-enable your dedicated GPU
OBS relies on your system's graphics processing unit (GPU) to function properly. Therefore, if OBS crashes upon startup, it's best to disable and re-enable your system's GPU. Here are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Open Windows DeviceManager And expand Display adapters.
Step 2: Right-click on your graphics drivers and choose Disable the deviceZ. Click on yes For confirmation.
Note: It is best to clear any background apps, as disabling the dedicated GPU will close any GPU-dependent apps and may cause your system to crash.
Step 3: Next, right-click on your graphics drivers and choose Enable device.
9. Reset your graphics card driver
To reset your graphics card driver on Windows, use the keyboard shortcut Win + Ctrl + Shift + B. This will instantly update the graphics driver (screen flashes for a second) on your Windows system.
10. Reinstall OBS STUDIO
In addition to all the fixes mentioned above, you can uninstall and reinstall the app. Here are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Open Settings > Applications and select Installed applications.
Step 3: Choose uninstall For confirmation.
Once uninstalled, you can install OBS from the link below and run the downloaded setup file.
11. Perform a clean boot
A clean boot boots your system with minimal drivers and startup programs. This will help you determine if there are any background programs interfering with OBS when it's running normally. This is similar to Safe Mode but offers more control over which services and programs will run. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Open Administrative account On Windows, click on Start icon.
Step 2: Type msconfig and open System Configuration.
Step 3: Select services and enable them. “Hide all Microsoft services”.
Step 4: Choose Disable all.
Step 5: Click "Application" For confirmation.
Step 6: Go to the tab "startup" and select Open Task Manager.
Step 7: Here, select each item and click disabled. Make sure to take a look at all the items you turned off to enable services later if needed.
Step 8: close Task Manager and select OK.
Once done, restart your system and check if you are facing the issue.
Keep recording without interruption
We hope the methods in this guide help you resolve the OBS crash issue on Windows. So go ahead and use OBS without any problems.
