How to Fix OBS Studio Not Working on Windows 11?

This post features solutions to fix OBS studio not working on Windows 11. OBS Studio is a free, open-source, cross-platform screen casting and streaming application available on various platforms. The app offers an open canvas approach to video creation, allowing users to mix various audio and video sources into a single output.

Using OBS Studio, users can live stream directly to one or different platforms simultaneously. Also, it allows users to record their live streams and is completely free to use.

But recently, many users have been complaining about having some errors with the OBS Studio. Keep reading to learn how you can fix OBS Studio not working on Windows 11.

Page Contents

Fix 1: Restart OBS

Before getting started with different troubleshooting methods, consider restarting OBS Studio. You can close the application from the task manager and then re-launch it. Sometimes of simple restart can help fix complex issues.

Fix 2: Check System Requirements

Check if your device meets the minimum requirements to run OBS Studio. It’s possible your PC doesn’t meet the minimum requirements to run the application. The minimum requirements are:

OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
Processor: Intel i5 2500K, AMD Ryzen 1300X
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: GeForce GTX 900 Series, Radeon RX 400 Series, Intel HD Graphics 500
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 600 MB available space
Additional Notes: Hardware encoders recommended

Fix 3: Run OBS Studio as an Admin

Running the launcher as an administrator ensures the game doesn’t crash due to a lack of permissions. Here’s how to do it:

Right-click on the OBS Studio.exe shortcut file on your device.
Click on Properties.
Navigate to the Compatibility tab.
Check the option Run this program as an administrator.
Click on OK to save changes.

Fix 4: Run Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

Running Windows Store Apps troubleshooter can diagnose and solve the problem quickly. It is Microsoft’s inbuilt function that automatically scans and fixes minor bugs and errors. Here’s how to run the apps troubleshooter:

Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
Click on System > Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters.
Now scroll down and click on Run beside Windows Store Apps.
If any errors are found, Windows will automatically fix them.

Fix 5: Verify the Integrity of OBS Studio Files

If using OBS Studio on Steam, it’s possible the app’s files can get corrupted due to a bug or a recent update. Verify the integrity of the app files on your PC using the Steam client and check if the problem is fixed. Here is how it’s done:

Open Steam and click on Library.
Right-click on OBS Studio from the list.
Select Properties > Local Files
Then click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.

Fix 6: Update Graphics Drivers

A designated amount of graphics memory is essential for running OBS Studio efficiently. Outdated graphics drivers may cause OBS Studio not working on Windows 11. Follow these steps to update your graphics drivers:

Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
Navigate to Windows Update > Advanced Options > Optional Updates.
Any available Driver Updates will be available here.
Download and install any available updates and restart your device to check if the issue is fixed.

Fix 7: Run OBS Studio in Compatibility Mode

Running a program in compatibility mode uses the settings from an earlier version of Windows. Run OBS Studio in compatibility mode and see if this fixes the error. Here is how you can do it:

Right-click on the OBS Studio.exe shortcut file on your device.
Click on Properties.
Navigate to the Compatibility tab.
Check the option Run this program in compatibility mode for.
Choose Windows 8 option from the drop-down.
Click on OK to save changes.

Fix 8: Choose the Correct GPU for OBS Studio

OBS Studio may only work if you have chosen the right GPU. Most devices nowadays come with two GPUs; one is integrated, and the other is dedicated. These can conflict with each other sometimes and make applications malfunction. Here is how you can choose the correct GPU to run OBS Studio:

Right-click anywhere on the desktop.
Select Show more options > NVIDIA Control Panel.
Navigate to Manage 3D settings and select Program Settings.
A list of programs will appear here; if you can’t find OBS Studio in the list, click on add to include it.
Once done, list on the drop-down menu under select the preferred graphics processor for this program and choose high-performance Nvidia processor.
Save the settings and exit the NVIDIA Control Panel.
Restart your device once then and check if the issue gets fixed.

Fix 9: Update DirectX to its latest version

Microsoft DirectX is an application programming interface that handles tasks related to programming and video. If its files are corrupted, various bugs and errors can occur. Here is how you can install the latest version of DirectX.

Download and install the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer.
Launch the installer, accept the license agreement and click Next to begin the installation.
Depending on the version of DirectX already installed it can take some time.
Restart your device once done and check if the error is fixed.

Fix 10: Disable Third-Party Antivirus

Third-party antivirus software installed on your device can also sometimes make OBS studio malfunction. Disable the antivirus software and check if the issue is fixed. If disabling it didn’t work, try uninstalling it temporarily and review for the same.

Fix 11: Turn off Windows Defender Firewall

Windows Firewall sometimes blocks OBS Studio. Turn it off and check if it fixes the OBS studio not working error on Windows 11. Here is how you can do it:

Click on Start and search for Windows Defender Firewall.
Click on Open.
Click on Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off in the left pane.
Now, check the option that says Turn off Windows Defender Firewall under both Private and Public network settings.
Click on Ok at the bottom

Fix 12: Perform a Clean Boot

Third-party applications installed on your device can cause OBS Studio not working error. Perform a Clean boot of to restrict all third-party applications. Here is how you can do it:

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type msconfig and hit Enter.
Navigate to the General tab, and check the Selective Startup option and Load System Services Option under it.
Navigate to the Services tab and check the option Hide all Microsoft services.
Click on Disable all at the bottom right corner and hit Apply, then Ok to save changes.
If the error doesn’t appear in the Clean Boot State, you may need to manually enable one process after another and see who the culprit is. Once you’ve identified it, you can disable or uninstall the software.

Fix 13: Reinstall OBS Studio

If none of the above-mentioned troubleshooting methods was able to help you, reinstall OBS Studio on your PC. Sometimes the problem is within the app’s core files, which can not be resolved manually.

Wrapping Up

This was how you can fix OBS Studio not working on Windows 11. We hope that the troubleshooting methods mentioned above were able to help you. If you still have any issues, please drop a comment below.

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