9 Fixes for the OBS Not Recording Audio Issue

Having an issue with OBS not recording audio? Here are the fixes to help move your project along.

OBS is the go-to tool for many gamers looking to record and stream their gameplay. But the program can be frustrating at times as the audio sometimes fails to record, leaving users with unusable or low-quality footage. It’s not always easy to identify the issue, but here’s a list of common causes of the OBS no audio issue that could contribute:

• Accidentally muting OBS

• Incorrect audio device selection

• Outdated audio drivers

• Improper sound settings

• System incompatibility with the installed OBS version

• Software conflict with OBS

If OBS is not recording desktop audio, ensure the audio settings are configured correctly:

1. Open OBS, click File, and choose Settings.

2. Click the Audio section in the left menu, and set Channels to Stereo.

3. Under Desktop Audio Device, pick your desired device. Do the same for Microphone/Auxiliary Audio Device.

4. Apply changes and restart OBS. If the issue persists, try the next solution.

A common cause of the OBS no sound issue is when a user has another audio device set as the default playback device. It’s a quick fix. Simply right-click the Speaker icon, choose Sounds, click the Playback tab, and select the speaker. Finish by clicking Set Default and Apply.

It’s possible to inadvertently mute OBS in the Volume Mixer, preventing it from capturing audio. To resolve this, right-click the Speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen and open the Volume Mixer. Check if the speaker icon for OBS is muted; if so, click it to unmute OBS Studio, record again, and check your display.

If OBS is not recording mic audio or desktop audio only, you could have an issue with multiple track selection. Or you could have saved the video and audio of the same clip to different places by mistake. Here’s how to fix your OBS track settings:

1. Launch OBS and click Settings.

2. Select Files > Output > Recordings and verify the tracks.

3. Continue testing the application.

If OBS is not recording sound, check that you don’t have other audio-related programs installed that may cause a conflict. Nahimic is a well-known culprit and users also reported Razer Synapse and Realtek Gaming Software as causes for OBS not capturing audio.  

If you’re running any of these programs or other ones like them, try disabling them and testing things out. If the issue goes away, uninstall those programs to avoid audio issues in OBS. If it doesn’t work, move to the next fix below.

If your OBS Studio audio is not working, you could have improper encoding settings. OBS won’t capture audio from the desktop or microphone in this situation, so you’ll need to check your settings. Here’s how to adjust:

1. Open OBS Studio and select Settings, located on the bottom right.

2. Click Output on the left panel and set your Bitrate to 128. Then, type 3500 in the box. You also customize the Rate Control option if you want.

3. Find the Use CBR option and uncheck it. Then, apply all changes by clicking OK.

4. To ensure the changes applied, restart OBS Studio and run a test.

A work-around to fix the audio issue is to run OBS Studio as an administrator. By default, it will provide all the administrator account's rights which can potentially override your OBS audio problem. Here's how:

1. Run a search for OBS Studio in Windows.
2. Right-click on the OBS Studio icon, and select the option to Run as administrator.
3. Last, open OBS and check if it can capture audio.

If your OBS sound is not working, or you run into issues on the regular, your audio drivers could be out-of-date. To get proper input capture or output capture, you must update to the latest audio drivers. 

Here’s how to update your drivers manually or automatically:

Manual driver update

To update your audio driver manually, you must go to the sound card manufacturer’s website and search for the most recent, correct driver. Make sure to choose only drivers that are compatible with your OS version – Windows 10, 11, etc.

Automatic driver update

Automatic driver updates are just as easy. Follow these steps:

1. Run a search for Device Manager and open it.
2. Locate the Audio Inputs and Outputs category and choose the audio driver you want to update.
3. Next, right-click the driver and pick the Update Driver option from the menu.

4. Choose Search for Drivers Automatically in the next window.

5. Windows will then search for the most recent driver version and install it if an update is available.

If none of the tips listed above helped you get rid of the problem, or you’re still lost, the easiest way is to use an OBS alternative, like Movavi Screen Recorder.

Movavi Screen Recorder makes it easy to capture high-quality recordings in a few clicks. The program supports multiple recording modes – full-screen mode, custom capture area, and webcam recording – and provides editing tools to enhance recordings. Easily record your screen with system sound or microphone and trim your recordings if needed.