OBS Recording and Streaming Settings
OBS Recording the Wrong Monitor
Published: October 6, 2026 · Updated: October 6, 2026
Quick Answer
If Display Capture records the wrong screen, reselect the display in source properties after Windows changes monitor IDs, then verify the preview before recording.
Check the baseline
Use Windows Identify to map physical displays to display numbers.
Configure the core setting
Open Display Capture properties and reselect the intended display.
Test under the real workload
If the source is cropped or offset, fit it to the canvas and check mixed-DPI scaling.
Verify the result
Use descriptive scene names so the correct display is easy to verify.
Practical checklist
- Change one variable at a time.
- Make a short local recording before a live session.
- Use OBS Statistics to distinguish rendering, encoding and network problems.
- Keep a backup of working profiles and scene collections before major changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did OBS switch monitors after reboot?
Windows can enumerate displays differently after docking, driver changes or cable reconnection.
Does scaling choose the wrong monitor?
Scaling mainly affects geometry; changed monitor enumeration is the more common cause.
Related guides
Editorial review
Author: ProjectOBS Editorial Team · Updated: October 6, 2026.
This guide is written around repeatable Windows troubleshooting: establish a baseline, change one variable, reproduce the workload and verify the result in OBS Statistics or a short recording.