Fix OBS Not Capturing Game Audio on Windows

If your OBS stream or recording shows the game video but the audio track is silent, the issue is almost always in how OBS captures audio or how Windows routes the sound. This guide walks you through the most common fixes, from checking the audio mixer to changing Windows sound settings, so you can get game audio back into OBS quickly.

What You’ll Need

• OBS Studio installed (any recent version)
• Access to Windows Sound settings (you may need administrator rights to change some audio devices)
• Your game installed and running (so you can test the audio)

Step-by-Step

1. Check the OBS Audio Mixer first. Look at the Audio Mixer dock in the main OBS window. If the game’s audio source (like “Game Capture” or “Desktop Audio”) shows a green bar moving when the game makes sound, OBS is receiving audio. If it stays flat, move to the next step.
2. Confirm the game is using the right audio device. In Windows, right-click the speaker icon in the system tray and choose “Open Sound settings.” Under “Output,” make sure the default device is the one you want to record (speakers or headphones). If the game has its own audio settings, set it to “Default” or the same device as Windows.
3. Set Desktop Audio in OBS. Go to Settings > Audio. Under “Global Audio Devices,” set “Desktop Audio” to “Default” or to the same device you chose in Windows. If you don’t see the device, click “Refresh” or restart OBS.
4. Add a separate Audio Output Capture if needed. Some games (especially those with anti-cheat) block desktop audio capture. In your scene, click the + under Sources, choose “Audio Output Capture,” and select the game’s audio device (like “Speakers” or the game’s name). This often fixes the issue.
5. Test with a simple recording. Start a test recording (or just watch the mixer) while playing the game. If audio now appears, you’re done. If not, continue.
6. Restart OBS as administrator. Right-click the OBS shortcut and select “Run as administrator.” Some games or drivers restrict audio access to elevated processes. If this works, set OBS to always run as admin via Properties > Compatibility.
7. Update or reinstall audio drivers. Outdated or corrupted audio drivers can cause OBS to miss audio. Go to Device Manager > Sound, video and game controllers, right-click your audio device, and choose “Update driver.” If that doesn’t help, uninstall the device and restart your PC to reinstall the driver.
8. Disable exclusive mode for the audio device. In Windows Sound settings, click “Sound Control Panel” (on the right). Select the playback device, click Properties, go to the Advanced tab, and uncheck “Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device.” Click Apply and OK.

Common Mistakes

• Muting the source in OBS: Check the speaker icon next to each source in the Audio Mixer. If it’s muted, you won’t hear it but OBS might still record it. Unmute if needed.
• Wrong device selected in OBS: If you have multiple audio devices (monitor, USB headset, etc.), OBS might be listening to the wrong one. Double-check the device names match.
• Game audio set to a different output: Some games let you choose an audio device separate from Windows. Make sure it’s set to the same device as your desktop.
• Using Game Capture without audio: Game Capture sources do not carry audio by themselves; they rely on the global audio devices. If you only added Game Capture, audio won’t come through unless Desktop Audio is active.

Tips

• Use the Audio Mixer to see levels: The mixer shows real-time volume for each source. It’s the fastest way to diagnose whether OBS is receiving audio at all.
• Set audio tracks correctly: In Settings > Output > Recording, make sure the audio track you’re recording is enabled. If you use multiple tracks, ensure the game audio is on a track that’s being recorded.
• Keep OBS updated: New OBS versions often fix audio capture issues with new games or Windows updates.
• Try a different audio capture method: If Desktop Audio fails, use Audio Output Capture. If that fails, try Window Capture (which sometimes picks up audio) or install a virtual audio cable as a last resort.

Troubleshooting

If you still have no audio after following all steps:

• Restart your PC and OBS. A fresh start clears any temporary glitches in audio services.
• Check if other applications record audio. Try Windows Voice Recorder or another app. If they also fail, the problem is system-wide, not OBS.
• Try a different audio device. If you have USB headphones or a second sound card, switch to it and see if OBS picks it up.
• Look at Windows audio services. Press Win+R, type services.msc, and ensure “Windows Audio” is running. If not, right-click and Start it.
• Check game-specific settings. Some games have a “Voice” or “Audio” option that can disable output. Verify the game’s volume is not muted.
• Reinstall OBS. Uninstall OBS completely (you can keep your scenes by backing up the config folder) and install the latest version from the official site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OBS capture my game video but not audio?

This usually happens because OBS is not set to capture the audio device the game is using, or the game is outputting to a device OBS isn’t listening to. Check the Audio Mixer and the Desktop Audio device in Settings > Audio.

Can I capture audio from a specific game without capturing desktop audio?

Yes. Use an “Audio Output Capture” source and select the game’s audio device. This works for most games, but some anti-cheat systems may block it.

Why does my game audio work in OBS but not in the recording?

Check your recording settings. In Settings > Output > Recording, ensure the audio track you’re recording includes the game audio. Also verify that the audio track is not muted in the mixer.

Do I need a virtual audio cable to capture game audio?

No, not normally. OBS can capture desktop audio or a specific output device without extra software. Virtual cables are only needed if you want to separate game audio from other sounds or if the game blocks normal capture.

Why does OBS show no audio when I use Game Capture?

Game Capture sources do not carry audio. You need to have Desktop Audio or an Audio Output Capture source in your scene. The audio comes from the global audio devices, not the capture source itself.

Will running OBS as administrator fix audio capture?

Sometimes yes, especially if the game runs as administrator and restricts audio access. It’s a simple step to try if other fixes don’t work.

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