Where Do OBS Recordings Go? Default Folder & Changes

OBS Studio saves your recordings to a default folder on your computer, but you can change that location at any time. By default, recordings are stored in the “videos” folder under a subfolder named “OBS Studio” (e.g., C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Videos\OBS Studio on Windows, /Users/[YourUsername]/Movies/OBS Studio on macOS). This article explains exactly where to find your recordings, how to change the save location, and what to do if you can’t locate a file.

Default Recording Folder by Operating System

OBS chooses a default folder based on your operating system, and it’s always inside your user profile’s standard media directory. Here are the exact paths for each OS:

• Windows: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Videos\OBS Studio (if your system drive is C:)
• macOS: /Users/[YourUsername]/Movies/OBS Studio
• Linux: /home/[YourUsername]/Videos/OBS Studio (varies by distribution and desktop environment)

If you don’t see an “OBS Studio” subfolder, check the parent folder (Videos or Movies) directly—some older versions saved recordings straight into that folder. Also, if you’ve changed the location previously, OBS will remember that and use it instead of the default.

How to Find the Exact Save Path in OBS

Instead of guessing, you can check the exact path OBS is using right now. Open OBS Studio and follow these steps:

1. Click Settings in the bottom-right corner (or go to File > Settings).
2. Select the Output tab on the left sidebar.
3. Look at the Recording section—the Recording Path field shows the current folder. If it’s blank, OBS uses the default location.

You can also click the Browse button next to the path to open that folder in your file explorer. This is the quickest way to see exactly where your recordings are being saved.

How to Change the Recording Folder

To save recordings to a different drive or folder (for example, a secondary hard drive with more space), change the Recording Path in the same Output settings:

1. Go to Settings > Output.
2. In the Recording section, click Browse next to Recording Path.
3. Choose a new folder (or create one) and click Select Folder.
4. Click Apply and OK to save the change.

Tip: Use a folder on a fast drive (SSD) for smooth recording, but note that large video files can fill up a small SSD quickly. Many users prefer a large HDD for long recordings.

Common Problems: Why Can’t I Find My Recording?

If you’ve recorded and can’t find the file, here are the most likely reasons:

• You’re looking in the wrong folder: Check the Recording Path in Settings, not just the default location.
• Recording didn’t actually start: If you didn’t see the red REC indicator or the timer counting up, no file was created. Check the OBS log for errors.
• The file has a different extension: OBS saves as .mkv by default, but you might have set it to .mp4 or .flv. Search for all video files in the folder.
• File is still being written: If OBS crashed or you closed it abruptly, the file may be incomplete or in a temporary state. Look for files with names ending in .part or .tmp.
• You’re using “Remux” or “Auto-Remux”: OBS may have remuxed the file to MP4 and placed it in the same folder, but with a different name. Check for both .mkv and .mp4 files.

If you still can’t find it, use your operating system’s search function to look for files with the recording’s timestamp or the word “OBS” in the filename.

How to Change the Recording Format (and Why It Matters)

The default format is MKV, which is robust against crashes but not universally playable. You can change it to MP4 or MOV in the same Output settings:

1. Go to Settings > Output.
2. In the Recording section, find Recording Format.
3. Choose from MKV, MP4, MOV, FLV, or others.

If you choose MP4 and OBS crashes mid-recording, the file may be corrupted. That’s why MKV is recommended for long or important recordings; you can later remux MKV to MP4 using OBS’s built-in File > Remux Recordings tool. This converts the file without re-encoding, so it’s fast and lossless.

How to Locate Recordings from the OBS Interface

You don’t need to open your file explorer to find a recording. In OBS, go to the menu bar and click File > Show Recordings. This opens the folder where your recordings are saved in your system’s file manager. This is the fastest way to access your latest recording without digging through settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does OBS save recordings by default on Windows 10/11?

On Windows, OBS saves recordings to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Videos\OBS Studio by default. If you don’t see that folder, check the Videos folder directly or look in Settings > Output for the current Recording Path.

Why is my OBS recording not showing up in the Videos folder?

Most likely, you changed the Recording Path at some point, or OBS is saving to a different drive. Open Settings > Output and look at the Recording Path field—it shows the exact folder. Also, check if the recording actually started (the REC indicator should be red and the timer counting).

Can I change where OBS saves recordings?

Yes. Go to Settings > Output, click Browse next to Recording Path, and select a new folder. OBS will save all future recordings there. Note that this does not move existing files—you’ll need to move those manually if you want them in the new location.

Does OBS save recordings as MP4 or MKV?

By default, OBS saves as MKV (Matroska). You can change this to MP4, MOV, FLV, or other formats in Settings > Output > Recording Format. MKV is safer because it’s less likely to corrupt on a crash, but MP4 is more widely compatible.

How do I find a recording I made a long time ago?

Use the File > Show Recordings option in OBS to open the current recording folder. If you’ve changed the path since then, search your computer for video files by date. You can also use your OS search with the file extension (e.g., *.mkv) and sort by date modified.

What if OBS says “Recording failed” and no file is saved?

This usually means the output folder is not writable, or the disk is full. Check that the Recording Path exists and you have write permissions. Also, ensure you have enough free space on the target drive. If the problem persists, try changing the Recording Path to a different folder or drive.

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