OBS Screen Recording: Set Up, Record and Get an MP4 (2026)
Vorec Team · 2026-10-23 · About 9 min read
To screen record with OBS Studio: run the Auto-Configuration Wizard, click + in the Sources dock and add a capture source (Display Capture or Window Capture on Windows and Linux, macOS Screen Capture on a Mac), check that the Audio Mixer meters move, set your recording path and format in Settings > Output, then click Start Recording in the Controls dock. OBS is free and open source, and it records the same way it streams, which is why its screen looks busier than a simple recorder.
This guide walks through those steps in order, explains which capture source to pick, and covers the one setting that saves people from losing a recording: the file format. It uses OBS's own knowledge base and the OBS Studio 32.2 release notes as sources, checked 23 October 2026. Some knowledge base articles were last updated between 2021 and 2023, so where the current release differs we say so.
At a glance (obsproject.com, checked 23 October 2026): Price: free and open source. Current release: 32.2.2 (14 August). Platforms: Windows 10 and 11, macOS 13.0 or newer, Linux. On macOS 12: OBS says to use 32.1.2, because 32.2.x fails to launch there.
Before you start: OBS versions and platforms
OBS Studio runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. The obsproject.com download page lists Windows 10 and 11 and macOS 13.0 or newer for the current release. The 32.2.2 release notes add two practical warnings:
- macOS 12 is no longer supported because of a Qt update; OBS says to use OBS Studio 32.1.2 there.
- NVIDIA GPUs: the NVIDIA SDK was updated, so the minimum supported driver is now version 570. If NVENC hardware encoding gives you trouble, update the GPU driver first.
32.2 also replaced the old "add source" dropdown with a new dialog, so if an older tutorial shows a dropdown list after clicking +, that is why your screen looks different.
Step 1: Run the Auto-Configuration Wizard
The wizard picks starting settings based on what you want to do and your computer's hardware. It appears the first time you open OBS. To run it again, choose Tools > Auto-Configuration Wizard.
When it asks what you want to use OBS for, choose recording rather than streaming if you are making tutorials. You can change everything later in Settings, but this gives you a sensible starting point.
Step 2: Add a capture source
OBS starts with a blank scene. What you record is whatever sources you add to it.
- Find the Sources dock at the bottom of the main window.
- Click +.
- Choose a capture source (see the table below), give it a name and confirm.
- In the source's properties, pick the display, window or application to capture, then click OK.
Which source to choose depends on your system and what you want in the frame:
| Source | Platform (per OBS knowledge base) | What it captures | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display Capture | Windows; on macOS available 10.15–12.6, deprecated on 13+ | An entire monitor | Tutorials that move between several apps |
| Window Capture | Windows; on macOS available 10.15–12.6, deprecated on 13+ (Linux uses Xcomposite or PipeWire variants) | One window, even if other windows are in front of it | Keeping notifications and other apps out of the frame |
| macOS Screen Capture | macOS 13+ with audio; 12.3–12.6 without audio (KB, January 2023). Current OBS 32.2 itself needs macOS 13 | A whole display, a single window, or all windows of one application | Any recording on a current Mac |
| Video Capture Source | Listed in the Quick Start without a platform limit | A webcam or capture card | A face-cam corner in a tutorial |
On a Mac, use macOS Screen Capture. OBS's macOS Screen Capture page describes it as a modern source based on Apple's ScreenCaptureKit, with a Method setting for Display Capture, Window Capture or Application Capture, and the ability to capture audio on macOS 13 and later.
The Display Capture, Window Capture and macOS Screen Capture sources each have a cursor property (Show Cursor, Capture Cursor or Show cursor, depending on the source), and the knowledge base lists it as on by default. Leave it on for tutorials: viewers follow the pointer more than anything else.
Display Capture or Window Capture?
Window Capture has one advantage for tutorials: only the selected window is shown, even if another window is in front of it, so a chat pop-up won't end up in your video. Our reading of that behaviour: anything that opens in a separate window, such as some menus and dialogs, may not appear in a Window Capture. If your walkthrough moves between apps or uses system dialogs, Display Capture is simpler.
You can only add one Display Capture source per display. If you want the same display in several scenes, OBS recommends adding a reference to the existing source rather than creating a new one.
Step 3: Set up your audio
By default, OBS captures your desktop audio and your microphone. Check this in the Audio Mixer at the bottom of the window: talk, or play a sound, and watch the meters move.
- Meters don't move, or the wrong device is captured: open Settings > Audio and choose the devices manually.
- You hear an echo: OBS warns that adding an Audio Input/Output Capture source to a scene can cause an echo if the same device is also selected in Settings > Audio. Use one or the other.
- You don't want your voice in the recording: mute the microphone in the Audio Mixer before you start. This is the right choice if you plan to add narration afterwards.
Step 4: Choose where and how OBS saves the file
Open Settings > Output. In the Simple output mode you'll see:
- Recording Path: the folder your recordings go to.
- Recording Format: the container format of the file.
- Recording Quality: OBS notes that any option other than "Same as stream" takes extra resources from your computer.
The format choice matters more than it looks. OBS's Standard Recording Output Guide recommends MKV "in case of unforeseen issues", because MKV does not corrupt the whole file if a recording is not stopped gracefully, for example after a crash or a power cut.
MP4 is useful for many editing and upload workflows, which is what remuxing is for.
Step 5: Record
- Click Start Recording in the Controls dock.
- Do the walkthrough.
- Click Stop Recording.
OBS strongly recommends a test recording of a few minutes before the real one. For a tutorial, play the test back and check three things: the text on screen is readable, your audio is at the level you want, and the cursor is visible.
Step 6: Convert MKV to MP4 with Remux
OBS has remuxing built in: it repackages an MKV (or other non-MP4) recording as an MP4 for your editor or for uploading.
- Choose File > Remux Recordings.
- Click the ... button and select the recording or recordings.
- Click Remux. OBS shows a prompt when it's done.
If you always want MP4, open Settings > Advanced and turn on Automatically remux to mp4. OBS then remuxes each recording as soon as you stop. The same Advanced tab sets the filename pattern, which by default is the date followed by the time.
OBS settings checklist for tutorial recordings
| Setting | Where | Suggested for tutorials |
|---|---|---|
| Use case | Tools > Auto-Configuration Wizard | Recording rather than streaming |
| Capture source | Sources dock > + | macOS Screen Capture on a Mac; Display or Window Capture elsewhere |
| Cursor | Display, Window or macOS Screen Capture properties | Cursor property on (the documented default) |
| Microphone | Audio Mixer / Settings > Audio | On if you talk live; muted if you'll narrate later |
| Recording format | Settings > Output | MKV, then remux |
| Auto-remux | Settings > Advanced | On, if you always need MP4 |
| Test | Start Recording | A few minutes before the real take |
Common OBS screen recording problems
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| Black screen in the preview | On macOS 13 or later, use macOS Screen Capture (Display and Window Capture are deprecated there). On Windows Window Capture, OBS notes the BitBlt capture method may help with certain programs |
| No sound | Audio Mixer meters, then Settings > Audio devices |
| Echo | The same device selected in Settings > Audio and as a scene audio source |
| File won't open after a crash | Record in MKV next time; it survives an ungraceful stop |
| Need MP4 for an editor | File > Remux Recordings, or turn on auto-remux |
| NVENC errors after updating | NVIDIA driver 570 or newer is required from 32.2 |
From an OBS recording to a narrated tutorial
OBS gives you a clean recording. It does not write the explanation. Viewers of a software tutorial need to hear what each step does and why, so most creators either narrate live or record silently and add narration afterwards.
Recording silently has real advantages for tutorials: you can focus on doing the steps cleanly, and a stumbled sentence doesn't force another take of the whole screen. Our guide to adding narration to a screen recording compares the ways to do that, and the tutorial video script guide has a template for planning the steps first.
Where Vorec fits
Vorec records your screen too: it has its own macOS recorder, and an AI agent can drive it for you through the Claude Code plugin, capturing locally for you to review before anything is uploaded. It then drafts narration matched to the workflow it captured and generates the voiceover, so nothing is spoken into a microphone. If you already recorded with OBS, you can upload that MP4 instead and Vorec analyses it to draft the narration. In the editor you can add captions, callouts, cursor effects and zoom, and freeze-sync can hold a frame to give an explanation time to finish. The same capture can also produce a written step-by-step guide. Plans start at $9/month (Starter); a free trial is available (current allowances on the pricing page).
FAQ
Is OBS free for screen recording?
Yes. OBS Studio is free and open source software for video recording and live streaming, on Windows, macOS and Linux.
How do I screen record with OBS?
Add a capture source in the Sources dock (Display Capture, Window Capture or macOS Screen Capture), check the Audio Mixer, then click Start Recording in the Controls dock.
How do I record only one window in OBS?
Use Window Capture on Windows and Linux, or macOS Screen Capture with the Method set to Window Capture on a Mac.
Why does OBS record in MKV?
OBS recommends MKV because a recording that stops unexpectedly does not corrupt the whole file. Remux it to MP4 afterwards with File > Remux Recordings.
How do I get an MP4 from OBS?
Use File > Remux Recordings, or turn on Automatically remux to mp4 in Settings > Advanced.
Does OBS record system audio on a Mac?
OBS's macOS Screen Capture source can capture audio on macOS 13 and later, according to its knowledge base.
Related reading: How to record your screen on Windows, QuickTime screen recording with audio, Best screen recording software in 2026 and How to make a screencast.
Sources: OBS knowledge base: Quick Start Guide (2021-08-25), Display Capture Sources and Window Capture Sources (2022-01-11), macOS Screen Capture Source (2023-01-22), Audio Sources (2022-01-11), Standard Recording Output Guide (2023-05-26); obsproject.com download page; OBS Studio 32.2.2 release notes (14 August 2026). All checked 23 October 2026.
See also: How to Screen Record on Linux: Ubuntu, KDE and OBS (2026).
See also: What Is a Screencast? Definition, Uses, and How to Make One.
Want the recording to narrate itself? Record with Vorec, or upload one you already have, and get a narrated tutorial plus a written guide. Start free. Trial includes up to 3 projects; exports carry a watermark.