Where Does OBS Save Recordings on Windows? Find and Change the Folder

Find the Folder OBS Is Using Now

1 Open File > Show Recordings

Open OBS and select File > Show Recordings. In the folder that appears, sort by Date modified and look for the time you recorded. Open the matching video and check that its contents are correct.

This command opens the folder OBS currently uses. It does not collect recordings from every folder you used in the past.

2 Check Recording Path in Output Settings

Select Settings > Output and find Recording Path. In Simple output mode, it appears in the Recording section; in Advanced mode, open the Recording tab. Copy the path into File Explorer to inspect that exact folder.

If you use several OBS profiles, check the profile associated with the recording. Its output settings can differ from your current profile. Reconnect an external drive if the path points to one.

Find a Missing OBS Recording

If the current folder is empty, identify what happened before trying recovery software.

1 Check Earlier Folders, Drives, and Profiles

Look in previous recording folders, including external drives used at the time. If you changed OBS profiles or used a separate portable installation, inspect that configuration's Recording Path too.

In File Explorer, search the likely drive for the actual extension, such as *.mp4 or *.mkv, and narrow the results by date. Do not assume the file was deleted just because it is absent from the current output folder. Once you find and play the correct clip, stop the recovery search.

2 Search for the Actual Recording Format

Check Recording Format under Settings > Output. The extension may differ from the one you expected. OBS 32.0 made Hybrid MP4/MOV the default containers for new profiles; on Windows, the relevant default is Hybrid MP4. Older or customized profiles can still use MKV or other formats.

If you find a readable MKV and need an MP4, select File > Remux Recordings, choose the MKV, and click Remux. Check the resulting video and keep the original until you are satisfied.

Renaming .mkv to .mp4 does not convert it. Remuxing repackages an existing recording; it cannot create a video that OBS never wrote to disk.

3 Confirm That OBS Created a Local Recording

Starting a stream does not necessarily start a local recording. Check whether you used Start Recording or enabled automatic recording while streaming. Similarly, enabling Replay Buffer alone is not the same as saving a replay clip.

If recording actually failed, check the error message, destination connection, available space, and ability to save in that folder. Try a short recording to a writable local folder. A recording timer alone is not proof that a usable file was saved.

For repeated output errors, keep the relevant OBS log and follow our screen recording failed to save guide. If a file exists but contains a black picture, use the OBS game capture black screen guide instead of treating it as a missing file.

Recover Files with 4DDiG

If OBS saved the recording but you still cannot find it after checking the folders above, check the Recycle Bin and any backup for a copy. If it remains missing, 4DDiG Data Recovery can scan the original storage location for recoverable video files, including supported formats such as MP4 and MKV.

Download and install the Windows version on a different drive from the one containing the lost recording. Avoid saving new recordings to the affected drive, because new data can overwrite recoverable content. Recovery is not guaranteed.

• Select the Original Recording Drive

  Launch 4DDiG and select the local or connected external drive where OBS saved the video. Start scanning that original location.

  

• Scan and Check the Video Files

  Use the video category, filename search, or filters to narrow the results. Preview supported files to check whether they contain the recording you need.

  

• Recover to Another Drive and Test Playback

  Select the required files and click Recover. In the destination dialog, choose Local, then select a different drive. Play the recovered copy and check its contents. Scanning cannot recover a local recording that was never written to storage.

  

Change the OBS Recording Folder to Help Prevent Future Losses

To make future recordings easier to find, choose a dedicated folder on a connected drive with enough free space and permission to save files. Changing the folder does not create a backup, so keep a separate copy of important recordings. Stop the current recording before changing its destination.

• Open Settings > Output and locate Recording Path in the relevant Recording section or tab.

• Click Browse, select or create your destination folder, and confirm the selection.

• Click Apply, then OK.

• Start a short test recording and stop it normally.

• Choose File > Show Recordings. Confirm that the new file is in the selected folder and plays correctly.

Changing this setting affects future recordings; it does not move existing videos. To move older clips, copy them from the previous folder and check the copies before removing the originals. Keep an external destination connected throughout recording.

FAQs About OBS Recording Files

Can OBS Save Recordings Directly to an External Drive?

Yes. Select a folder on that drive as Recording Path. Keep the drive connected, confirm that the folder is writable, and test that a recording saves and plays before using it for an important session.

Where Are Saved Replay Buffer Clips Stored?

Check the recording output path for the profile you used. Replay clips normally use that location, although scripts or plugins can alter the workflow. If you configured a replay filename prefix with a subfolder, check that subfolder too. Confirm that you triggered Save Replay; starting the buffer alone does not save a clip.

Conclusion

Use Show Recordings and Recording Path to find OBS videos, then verify any new destination with a test recording. Check old folders and the actual format before trying file recovery. For a recording that was saved and later lost, try 4DDiG Windows Data Recovery after checking existing copies.