OBS Black Screen Fix: Display, Window and Game Capture (Windows and Mac)

Quick answer: a black capture is almost always the wrong capture method or a missing permission. On Windows, right-click the black source → Properties and change Capture Method (Display Capture: “Windows 10”. Window Capture: switch between “Windows 10” and “BitBlt”). For Game Capture, run OBS as administrator and turn off overlays such as RivaTuner. On a Mac, use macOS Screen Capture and allow Screen Recording in OBS → Review App Permissions.

Find your fix by source

Flowchart by source type. Display Capture black on a Windows laptop: set Capture Method to Windows 10 and keep OBS on the high-performance GPU. Window Capture black: switch Capture Method between Windows 10 and BitBlt. Game Capture black: run OBS as administrator, switch to borderless windowed, disable overlays. On macOS: grant Screen Recording permission in OBS, Review App Permissions. — Start with the source that shows black. Each capture type has its own common fix.

First, check what you’re actually using. Each capture source suits a different job:

Comparison of three capture sources. Display Capture grabs the whole monitor and is easiest but shows everything, including notifications. Window Capture grabs one app window and hides others but some apps go black when minimized. Game Capture hooks a fullscreen game with the best performance but can be blocked by anti-cheat or overlays. — Display Capture grabs a whole monitor, Window Capture one app, and Game Capture hooks a running game.

Source	Platforms	Black screen usually means	First fix
Display Capture	Windows (Mac: deprecated on macOS 13+)	Wrong capture method, often on dual-GPU laptops	Capture Method → “Windows 10”
Window Capture	Windows (Mac: use macOS Screen Capture)	App doesn’t work with the current method	Swap “Windows 10” ↔ “BitBlt”
Game Capture	Windows	Game blocks the hook, needs admin, or an overlay conflicts	Run as admin, disable overlays, or use Window Capture
macOS Screen Capture	macOS 13+	Screen Recording permission not granted	OBS → Review App Permissions

Display Capture is black (Windows, especially laptops)

Many laptops have two GPUs. The OBS knowledge base explains that since OBS 27 there is a capture method that works even when OBS and the display run on different GPUs. It needs Windows 10 version 1903 or newer.

Right-click the Display Capture → Properties.
Set Capture Method to “Windows 10” (Automatic usually picks it, but set it by hand if the screen is black).
Keep OBS on the default high-performance GPU. The KB recommends against forcing OBS to “power saving”.
A yellow border around your screen is normal with this method. It’s only visible to you and doesn’t show on stream or in recordings.

On a laptop, also see our OBS settings for laptop streaming.

Window Capture is black

Right-click → Properties → Capture Method. If it’s on Automatic or “Windows 10”, try BitBlt, and vice versa. The OBS KB notes BitBlt is less efficient but helps with some programs.
Don’t minimize the captured window. Many apps stop drawing while minimized.
If a browser window is black, try the other capture method before changing anything else.

Game Capture is black

From the OBS Game Capture Troubleshooting page:

Run OBS as administrator. Some games (the KB lists titles such as Call of Duty and Valorant) need it.
Turn off overlays and FPS counters. The KB names RivaTuner/MSI Afterburner as common conflicts. RTSS 7.3.2+ has a “Use Microsoft Detours API hooking” option for compatibility.
Use borderless windowed mode with Window Capture for games that block game capture (the KB names Counter-Strike 2 and Destiny 2).
Fullscreen games stop rendering when you Alt+Tab, so the preview goes black while you’re tabbed out. Check with a test recording instead.
DX12 issues: if a game offers DX11, the KB suggests trying it.

OBS black screen fix card (PDF)One page: the flowchart and the fix for each capture source, Windows and Mac. Print it for your next setup.

Download PDF

Black screen on Mac

Use macOS Screen Capture (macOS 13 or newer). The older Display and Window Capture sources are deprecated there.
Click the OBS menu → Review App Permissions and enable Screen Recording (plus Camera and Microphone if needed).
Quit and reopen OBS completely after granting permission.
Still black? Remove the source and add a new macOS Screen Capture.

Still black? Final checks

Update OBS and your GPU drivers, then test in a new scene with just one source.
Check the source isn’t hidden (eye icon) or covered by an image above it in the Sources list. See the layer order in our alerts and overlays guide.
Webcam or capture card black? Another app may be using it. Close Zoom, Teams or the vendor’s app, then deactivate and re-activate the device in OBS.
Once the picture’s back, check performance with our dropped frames guide, or get settings from the OBS Settings Generator.

Frequently asked questions

Why is OBS black only when I stream, not in preview?

That’s usually a different problem, such as the source being in a scene you aren’t live in. Check that the scene you’re streaming contains the source.

Is the yellow border going to show on my stream?

No. The OBS KB says the border from the Windows 10 capture method is only visible to you.

Should I force OBS to use the integrated GPU?

Not anymore. With OBS 27+ and an up-to-date Windows, the KB recommends leaving OBS on the high-performance GPU.

Why does my game show for a second then go black?

Usually an overlay, anti-cheat or a fullscreen mode conflict. Try borderless windowed mode with Window Capture.