Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) is a popular choice for live streaming and video recording. However, it can sometimes crash on Windows, which disrupts your work. If you’re battling with OBS crashes, don’t despair. Here are 12 ways to help you fix the problem and get back to streaming or recording smoothly.

1. Run as Administrator: Right-click the OBS shortcut and select “Run as Administrator”. This gives OBS the necessary permissions to operate correctly.

2. Update Graphics Drivers: Outdated graphics drivers can cause OBS to crash. Update your drivers through the Device Manager or download the latest versions from the manufacturer’s website.

3. Reinstall OBS: Uninstall OBS and then reinstall it to ensure you have a clean installation. This can resolve any corrupt files that might cause crashes.

4. Lower Settings: High encoding settings are resource-intensive. Lowering the resolution, bitrate, or frame rate might help prevent crashes.

5. Change Compatibility Mode: Right-click on the OBS shortcut, go to Properties > Compatibility, and set the program to run in compatibility mode for an earlier version of Windows.

6. Disable Game Mode: Go into Windows Settings > Gaming and toggle off Game Mode, as this has been known to conflict with streaming software.

7. Update Windows: Ensure your Windows is up-to-date with the latest patches and updates, which may include fixes for compatibility with programs like OBS.

8. Check for Conflicting Software: Some software can interfere with OBS such as VPNs, overlays, or other video capturing software running concurrently.

9. Turn off Hardware Acceleration: In some applications like web browsers or Discord, disable hardware acceleration as it can monopolize the GPU resources OBS needs.

10. Clear OBS Cache and Configuration: Navigate to %appdata%/obs-studio in your file explorer and delete or rename this folder; this resets your settings but can solve crash issues.

11. Check Your Anti-Virus/Firewall: Sometimes security software mistakenly identifies OBS as a threat and interrupts its operation. Set exceptions for OBS in these programs.

12. Check System Overheat and Utilization Levels: Use task manager or another system monitoring tool to check your CPU/GPU temperatures and usage levels during streaming/recording. High temperatures or usage could be causing crashes, necessitating cleaning of internal components or upgraded cooling solutions.

Always back up your scenes/profiles when making significant changes so you can restore them if needed. If problems persist after trying these solutions, consider visiting the OBS forums or support channels for further assistance.