Change OBS Studio Default Recording Folder

OBS Studio automatically saves your recorded videos to a default system folder, which can quickly consume valuable space on your primary hard drive. This guide provides a direct, step-by-step walkthrough on how to change your default recording directory in OBS Studio to any folder or external drive of your choice, helping you manage your storage and keep your video files organized.

Step 1: Open OBS Settings

Launch OBS Studio on your computer. In the bottom-right corner of the screen, locate the Controls dock and click on Settings. Alternatively, you can click on File in the top-left menu bar and select Settings from the dropdown menu.

Step 2: Navigate to the Output Tab

In the Settings window that appears, look at the left-hand sidebar and click on the Output tab.

Step 3: Find the Recording Path

Inside the Output menu, locate the Recording section. Near the top of this section, you will see an option labeled Recording Path, which displays the current directory where your videos are being saved.

Note: If your Output Mode at the very top of the window is set to “Simple”, the Recording section will be clearly visible. If it is set to “Advanced”, you will need to click on the Recording tab at the top of the Output window to see this option.

Step 4: Choose Your New Folder

Click the Browse button next to the Recording Path field. A file explorer window will open. Navigate to the drive and folder where you want your future recordings to be saved. Once you have selected or created the desired folder, click Select Folder.

Step 5: Save Your Changes

Click the Apply button in the bottom-right corner of the Settings window to register the changes, and then click OK to close the menu.

All future video recordings will now be automatically saved directly to your newly selected directory.