Auto Pause OBS Recording When Game Minimized

While OBS Studio does not feature a native, single-click setting to automatically pause recordings when a game is minimized, you can easily set up this automation using the “Advanced Scene Switcher” plugin or use manual hotkeys. This guide will show you how to configure both methods so your recordings only capture active gameplay and skip accidental interruptions.

The most reliable way to automate this process is by using the Advanced Scene Switcher plugin, which now comes pre-installed with recent versions of OBS Studio. This tool allows you to create macros that trigger actions based on whether a specific window is active.

Step 1: Open the Scene Switcher

  1. Launch OBS Studio.
  2. In the top menu, click on Tools and select Advanced Scene Switcher.
  3. Go to the General tab and ensure the plugin is set to Active (click “Start” if it is stopped).

Step 2: Create the “Pause” Macro

  1. Navigate to the Macro tab.
  2. Click the + (plus) icon at the bottom to add a new macro and name it “Pause Recording”.
  3. In the Conditions section (the “If” part), configure it as follows:
    • Select Window from the first dropdown.
    • Choose your game’s window/executable.
    • Select is not in the next dropdown.
    • Select focused (or minimized if available in your version).
  4. In the Actions section (the “Then” part), configure it as follows:
    • Select Record from the first dropdown.
    • Select Pause in the next dropdown.

Step 3: Create the “Resume” Macro

To ensure your recording starts again when you click back into the game, you need a second macro. 1. Click the + icon again to create a macro named “Resume Recording”. 2. Configure the Conditions (If): * Select Window -> [Your Game Window] -> is -> focused. 3. Configure the Actions (Then): * Select Record -> Resume.

Once configured, OBS will instantly pause your recording the moment you Alt-Tab or minimize your game, and seamlessly resume once you return.

Method 2: The Manual Hotkey Workaround

If you prefer not to use plugins or macros, the most reliable alternative is to set up global hotkeys. This allows you to pause your recording instantly with a keyboard shortcut before minimizing your game.

  1. Open OBS Studio and go to Settings > Hotkeys.
  2. Scroll down to the Recording section.
  3. Locate Pause Recording and Unpause Recording.
  4. Bind these actions to easy-to-reach keys (e.g., Ctrl + F11 to pause and Ctrl + F12 to unpause).
  5. Click Apply and OK.

Note: Ensure your chosen hotkeys are “global” so they work even while you are clicked into your game.