How to Capture Fullscreen Games on Specific Monitor in OBS

Capturing a game running in exclusive fullscreen mode on a specific monitor using OBS Studio can be challenging due to how Windows prioritizes graphics resources. This guide provides a direct, step-by-step walkthrough on how to configure OBS Studio to successfully capture gameplay from a designated display, utilizing Game Capture, Display Capture, and key troubleshooting steps to resolve common black screen issues.

Game Capture is the most efficient way to capture exclusive fullscreen games. It hooks directly into the game’s graphics pipeline, bypassing the desktop window manager, which saves system resources and avoids monitor-specific capture issues.

  1. Open OBS Studio and go to the Sources dock at the bottom.
  2. Click the + (Add) icon and select Game Capture.
  3. Name the source and click OK.
  4. In the properties window, change the Mode dropdown to Capture specific window.
  5. Launch your game. Once the game is running, alt-tab back to OBS.
  6. In the Window dropdown, select your game’s executable file (e.g., [game.exe]: Game Title).
  7. Click OK.

OBS will now capture only that game, regardless of which monitor it is displayed on.

Method 2: Use Display Capture for a Specific Monitor

If Game Capture does not work, or if you need to capture the entire monitor (including overlays or desktop elements), you can use Display Capture.

  1. In the Sources dock, click the + (Add) icon and select Display Capture.
  2. Name the source and click OK.
  3. In the properties window, locate the Display dropdown menu.
  4. Select the specific monitor (e.g., Display 1 or Display 2) where your game is running.
  5. Click OK.

Note: If the game is in “Exclusive Fullscreen” mode, Display Capture may show a black screen. If this happens, follow the steps below.

How to Fix Black Screens in Exclusive Fullscreen

Exclusive fullscreen mode grants the game total control over the monitor’s graphics output, which can block OBS from capturing it. If you experience a black screen, apply these adjustments:

1. Switch the Game to Borderless Windowed Mode

The easiest and most reliable fix is to change the game’s internal video settings. * Open the game’s in-game graphics/video menu. * Change the display mode from Fullscreen (Exclusive) to Borderless Windowed or Windowed Fullscreen. * This allows OBS Display Capture to see the game while maintaining the visual appearance of a fullscreen game.

2. Run OBS Studio as Administrator

Exclusive fullscreen games often block third-party software hooks unless the software has administrator privileges. * Close OBS Studio. * Right-click the OBS Studio shortcut on your desktop or Start Menu. * Select Run as administrator. * Try capturing the game again using Game Capture.

3. Match GPU Resources (Laptops & Multi-GPU Systems)

If your monitor is plugged into a different graphics card (e.g., an integrated GPU vs. a dedicated GPU), OBS might not be able to see the monitor’s output. * Open Windows Graphics Settings (search for it in the Windows Start Menu). * Click Browse and locate the OBS executable file (usually in C:\Program Files\obs-studio\bin\64bit\obs64.exe). * Click Options under OBS Studio and set it to High Performance to ensure it runs on the same dedicated GPU as your game.