Fix OBS Studio Game Capture Not Showing Mouse Cursor

If you are recording or streaming gameplay with OBS Studio and notice that your mouse cursor is missing from the final video, you are experiencing a common configuration issue. This problem typically occurs due to a disabled setting within the Game Capture source, administrative permission conflicts, or interference from third-party overlays. This step-by-step guide will help you quickly resolve the issue so your cursor is visible to your viewers.

Enable the “Capture Cursor” Option in OBS

The most common reason for a missing cursor is that the setting is simply turned off in your source properties.

1. Open OBS Studio.
2. Go to the Sources dock at the bottom of the screen.
3. Double-click on your Game Capture source to open its properties (or right-click it and select Properties).
4. Scroll down the properties window and locate the Capture Cursor checkbox.
5. Check the box next to Capture Cursor.
6. Click OK to save the changes.

Run OBS Studio as an Administrator

If the game you are playing runs with administrator privileges, OBS Studio may not have the necessary permissions to capture elements like the mouse cursor over the game window.

1. Close OBS Studio completely.
2. Right-click on the OBS Studio shortcut on your desktop or Start menu.
3. Select Run as administrator.
4. Test your game capture to see if the cursor is now visible.

To make this change permanent: 1. Right-click the OBS Studio shortcut and select Properties. 2. Go to the Compatibility tab. 3. Check the box for Run this program as an administrator. 4. Click Apply and then OK.

Disable Conflicting In-Game Overlays

Overlays from other software can interfere with OBS Studio’s ability to hook into the game and capture the cursor correctly. Try disabling overlays in the following programs:

• Discord: Go to User Settings > Game Overlay > toggle off “Enable in-game overlay.”
• Steam: Go to Steam > Settings > In-Game > uncheck “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.”
• GeForce Experience / NVIDIA App: Open the settings menu and disable the “In-Game Overlay.”
• AMD Software: Go to Settings > Preferences > toggle off “In-Game Overlay.”

Switch to Window Capture or Display Capture

If a specific game refuses to show the cursor via Game Capture even after trying the steps above, you can use an alternative capture method.

1. In the Sources dock, click the + (plus) icon.
2. Select Window Capture (for games running in borderless or windowed mode) or Display Capture (to capture your entire monitor).
3. Name the source and click OK.
4. In the properties window, ensure the Capture Cursor box is checked.
5. Click OK.