How to Fix OBS Studio Black Screen in FiveM

Experiencing a black screen in OBS Studio while trying to record or stream FiveM can be frustrating, especially when everything appears to be configured correctly. This issue is common among gamers who use OBS to capture GTA V roleplay sessions through FiveM. The black screen problem usually stems from compatibility conflicts, incorrect source settings, or GPU-related issues—but the good news is that it can be fixed with the right approach.

TLDR: OBS Studio shows a black screen in FiveM primarily due to incorrect source selection, mismatched GPU settings, or Windows capture conflicts. Running OBS and FiveM on the same GPU, using the correct capture method (Game Capture instead of Display Capture), and adjusting graphics settings typically solve the problem. Administrator privileges and disabling overlays can also prevent capture interference. Following the structured steps below will resolve the issue in most cases.

Understanding Why OBS Shows a Black Screen in FiveM

Before applying fixes, it is important to understand why this issue occurs. OBS captures gameplay by hooking into a game’s rendering pipeline. FiveM, being a modification framework for GTA V, sometimes interacts differently with graphics APIs, especially when running in borderless window mode or with multiple GPUs enabled.

The most common causes include:

• OBS and FiveM running on different GPUs (common on laptops)
• Using Display Capture instead of Game Capture
• Administrator privilege conflicts
• DirectX or graphics mode incompatibilities
• Overlay interference (Discord, NVIDIA, Steam)
• Windows graphics performance settings misconfiguration

Now, let’s walk through the most effective, step-by-step solutions.

1. Use Game Capture Instead of Display Capture

One of the most frequent mistakes is selecting the wrong source in OBS. Display Capture is prone to black screen issues due to Windows security restrictions and GPU acceleration differences.

Recommended setup:

1. Open OBS Studio.
2. Go to the Sources panel.
3. Click the + button and select Game Capture.
4. Choose Capture Specific Window.
5. Select the FiveM application from the dropdown menu.
6. Enable Use anti-cheat compatibility hook.

Game Capture directly hooks into FiveM’s rendering engine, making it significantly more reliable.

If the screen remains black, proceed to the GPU configuration fixes below.

2. Ensure OBS and FiveM Use the Same GPU

This is the most common cause on dual-GPU systems (especially laptops with integrated Intel graphics and dedicated NVIDIA or AMD GPUs).

If OBS runs on the integrated GPU while FiveM runs on the dedicated GPU, OBS cannot capture the game properly.

How to Fix It in Windows 10/11:

1. Open Settings → System → Display.
2. Scroll down and click Graphics.
3. Click Browse and add both:
   • obs64.exe
   • FiveM.exe
4. Click Options for each app.
5. Select either:
   • High Performance (dedicated GPU), or
   • Power Saving (integrated GPU)
6. Make sure both are set to the same option.

Restart both applications after applying changes.

This fix alone resolves the majority of black screen cases.

3. Run OBS as Administrator

Permission mismatches can prevent proper game hooking. If FiveM is running with elevated privileges and OBS is not (or vice versa), capture may fail.

Steps:

• Close OBS.
• Right-click the OBS shortcut.
• Select Run as administrator.

If this resolves the issue, you can permanently enable it:

1. Right-click OBS shortcut → Properties.
2. Go to Compatibility tab.
3. Check Run this program as an administrator.
4. Click Apply.

This ensures OBS maintains proper hook permissions at all times.

4. Change FiveM Display Mode

FiveM’s display mode can interfere with OBS hooking.

Sometimes borderless windowed mode or certain DirectX configurations prevent Game Capture from detecting the application.

Recommended setting:

• Open FiveM Settings.
• Go to Graphics.
• Set display mode to:
  • Fullscreen (preferred)

If fullscreen does not work, try Borderless mode but ensure GPU synchronization is consistent.

Additionally, confirm that FiveM is running in DirectX 11, as it is generally more stable for OBS capture.

5. Disable Overlays That Interfere with OBS

Third-party overlays inject themselves into the game, which can conflict with OBS’s capture hook.

Common problematic overlays include:

• Discord overlay
• NVIDIA GeForce Experience overlay
• Steam overlay
• Xbox Game Bar
• MSI Afterburner overlay

Disable Overlays:

• Open each application.
• Locate the overlay setting.
• Toggle it off.

After disabling all overlays, restart FiveM and OBS.

This removes capture conflicts and often resolves persistent black screen issues.

6. Switch Capture API in OBS

OBS allows you to modify how Game Capture hooks into applications.

Try This:

1. Right-click your Game Capture source.
2. Select Properties.
3. Change Capture Mode to:
   • Capture Specific Window
4. Toggle:
   • Hook Rate
   • Use anti-cheat compatibility hook

If it still fails, delete the Game Capture source and re-add it from scratch.

7. Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated GPU drivers frequently cause rendering and capture conflicts.

Download the latest drivers directly from:

• NVIDIA official website
• AMD official website
• Intel official website

A clean install (rather than express install) is recommended for persistent black screen issues.

8. Check Windows Graphics Capture Settings

Windows 11 includes hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling and capture options that may interfere.

Steps to Review:

• Open Settings → System → Display.
• Go to Graphics.
• Disable or toggle:
  • Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling

Restart your computer after changing this setting.

9. If Nothing Works: Use Window Capture as Backup

Although Game Capture is preferred, Window Capture can serve as a fallback.

How to Configure:

1. Add new source → Window Capture.
2. Select FiveM process.
3. Set Capture Method to:
   • Windows 10 (1903 and up)

While slightly more resource-intensive, this method avoids GPU hook dependencies.

Final Checklist

Before concluding that something is deeply wrong, verify the following:

• OBS and FiveM run on the same GPU
• Game Capture is used
• OBS runs as administrator
• Overlays are disabled
• Drivers are up to date
• Fullscreen mode is enabled

In the majority of cases, correcting GPU alignment and using proper capture settings resolves the black screen immediately.

Conclusion

The OBS Studio black screen issue in FiveM is rarely caused by a critical system failure. Instead, it is typically a configuration conflict between graphics hardware, capture permissions, or software overlays. By approaching the issue methodically—starting with GPU alignment and Game Capture configuration—you can eliminate the problem without advanced technical intervention.

Professional streamers and content creators rely on stable capture setups, and ensuring OBS is correctly configured is essential for high-quality FiveM broadcasts. Once resolved, your recordings and live streams should operate smoothly, without interruption or display failure.

If you follow the steps outlined above carefully, your OBS preview should display FiveM correctly—allowing you to focus on gameplay rather than troubleshooting.