Last updated: 2026-01-09

If your screen recorder is acting up, start with a simple checklist: check your browser, permissions, storage, internet, and plan limits, then test again in a clean session using a reliable studio like StreamYard. For hardware-heavy workflows like advanced gameplay capture, desktop apps such as OBS can help—but only after you’ve ruled out the basics.

Summary

• Start with universal checks: restart, update, permissions, and disk space before you dive into app-specific tweaks.
• In a browser-based studio like StreamYard, verify your plan’s recording behavior, storage hours, and that uploads are allowed to complete. (StreamYard Help)
• Fix black-screen or no-audio issues by choosing the right capture mode (especially in OBS) and confirming system audio/mic routing. (OBS KB)
• For most teams in the US, StreamYard offers a fast, browser-based way to get reliable, branded screen recordings—with local multi-track backups for safety. (StreamYard Pricing)

What quick checks solve most screen recording problems?

Before you dig into advanced settings, run this short routine. It fixes more issues than you’d think:

1. Restart app and device
   Close the recording app or browser completely, then restart your computer. Loom specifically recommends restarting Chrome and your device for many common errors. (Loom Support)

2. Update everything

   • Update your browser (for StreamYard or Loom Web).
   • Update your desktop app (OBS, Loom desktop).
   • Install pending OS updates, especially display and audio drivers on Windows.

3. Check permissions

   • On macOS, verify Screen Recording and Microphone permissions for your app or browser in System Settings.
   • On Windows, confirm Camera and Microphone privacy settings allow desktop apps and browsers to access them.

4. Verify disk space
   Low storage quietly breaks recordings. Loom, for example, warns that low free disk space can block starting a recording on both macOS and Windows. (Loom Help)

5. Test a tiny recording
   Record 15–30 seconds on a simple screen (no games, no slides) and play it back. If that works, your problem is usually with a specific app, window, or source.

If you’re using StreamYard, this is as simple as entering a studio in your browser, sharing your screen, hitting “Record,” and checking the result. (StreamYard Pricing)

How do you fix black-screen recordings when audio still plays?

“Black screen, but audio works” usually means the display source isn’t being captured correctly.

In OBS (desktop app)
Black screens are often about the capture mode or GPU:

• Use Game Capture only for games and apps that use DirectX/OpenGL/Vulkan; other apps may simply not appear. (OBS KB)
• For standard desktop apps (browsers, slides, IDEs), switch to Window Capture or Display Capture.
• On laptops with dual GPUs, force OBS to run on the same GPU as the app or use Display Capture to avoid GPU mismatches.

In Loom (desktop)
If your Loom video has audio but no visuals on Windows, Loom suggests enabling a fallback recorder in its settings to work around graphics issues. (Loom Support)

In StreamYard (browser studio)
Black screens are less common because your browser’s screen-picker handles permissions, but you can still hit snags:

• Ensure you selected the correct tab/window/entire screen in the share dialog.
• If you’re sharing a browser tab with audio, confirm “Share tab audio” is checked.
• On macOS, double-check Screen Recording permission for your browser.

For most US users, switching to a browser-based studio like StreamYard avoids many GPU driver quirks that cause black screens in heavier desktop apps. You share exactly what you see, and our layouts keep your face and screen clearly visible.

Why is there no audio in my recording, and how do I fix it?

No-audio recordings usually boil down to input selection and levels.

Check these across tools:

• Input selection: Make sure the correct mic is chosen inside your recorder and at OS level. USB mics often appear as separate devices.
• System audio vs. mic audio: Decide what you need: your voice, the system sound, or both. Then confirm each is enabled.
• Meters, not guesses: Watch audio meters in your tool. If they don’t move, the app isn’t hearing you.

In OBS on Windows
Missing audio often comes from misconfigured audio sources:

• In Settings → Audio, set your mic and desktop audio devices explicitly.
• In the Sources list for your scene, add Audio Input Capture (mic) and/or Audio Output Capture (system) and confirm they’re not muted.

In StreamYard
Inside the studio, you can independently control screen audio and microphone audio:

• Use the settings panel to pick your mic and test it.
• Toggle system/tab audio only when needed, which keeps your voice clear and avoids echo.
• Because we support local multi-track recording on all plans, you can keep mic and guests on separate tracks for easier fixing in post if one person’s audio is off. (StreamYard Help)

What if my recording won’t save, upload, or finish processing?

Losing a great demo to a stuck upload or half-processed file is painful—but often recoverable.

In StreamYard (cloud + local recording)
For local recordings that are stuck uploading or processing:

• Keep your browser open and your device online until uploads finish.
• Do not clear cache or cookies while local recordings are still uploading, or you may interrupt the process. (StreamYard Help)
• Give processing some time; most local recordings are fully processed and available within about 30 minutes. (StreamYard Help)

Also check:

• Storage hours: Free accounts have limited storage; paid workspaces can store around 50 hours before you need to delete or add storage. (StreamYard Help)
• Plan behavior: On free workspaces, live streams are not automatically recorded, so you may not see a cloud recording for a past live event. (StreamYard Help)

In Loom
If recordings fail to upload or complete, check:

• Your upload speed; Loom recommends at least 5 Mbps upload for reliable recording and upload. (Loom Support)
• That you haven’t hit the free 25-video limit on the Starter workspace, which can affect how many videos you can keep. (Loom Help)

In OBS
If files won’t save or show up:

• Confirm the recording path exists and you have write access.
• Switch to a more resilient container like MKV, then remux to MP4 later, which OBS explicitly recommends to avoid data loss on crashes. (OBS Help)

For many teams, StreamYard’s combination of cloud recordings plus local multi-tracks adds an extra safety net—if a live stream hiccups, the local files still give you clean, editable footage.

When does it make sense to choose StreamYard, OBS, or Loom for screen recording?

Different tools fit different recording styles. The trick is matching the tool to your workflow—and to how much troubleshooting you actually want to do.

StreamYard: live-style, presenter-led recordings with minimal setup

• Runs in the browser, so you avoid heavy installs on managed work laptops and Chromebooks. (StreamYard Pricing)
• Presenter-visible screen sharing, controllable layouts, branded overlays, and presenter notes keep your recording looking like a live show with less editing afterward.
• Local multi-track recording per participant means you can rescue and polish sessions even if someone’s internet dips. (StreamYard Help)
• Pricing is per workspace, not per user, which can be more cost-effective than per-seat tools when multiple teammates record. (StreamYard vs. Loom plans. Loom Pricing)

For US creators and teams who want clean, branded demo recordings and webinars without deep technical setup, StreamYard is usually the most straightforward starting point.

OBS: hardware-tuned, local-only capture

• Free, open-source desktop app for recording and live streaming with detailed control over sources and encoders. (OBS Studio)
• Strong fit for long gameplay, software demos, or advanced scenes when you’re comfortable managing CPU/GPU load, drivers, and file management.

You trade simplicity for control; many recording problems in OBS ultimately come back to local hardware or configuration, so expect more trial and error.

Loom: quick async walkthroughs and feedback loops

• Designed to capture quick screen + camera videos and share a link instantly, rather than run live-style productions. (Loom Pricing)
• Free workspaces have strict caps (5-minute max per recording, 25 videos), so you’ll move to paid tiers quickly if you use it often. (Loom Help)

A practical pattern for many teams: record your polished, reusable content in StreamYard, and reserve tools like Loom for quick one-off updates when you just need a link.

What we recommend

• Start every troubleshooting session with the universal checks: restart, update, permissions, disk space, and a 30-second test recording.
• If you want fewer technical surprises, do your main screen recordings in a browser-based studio like StreamYard with local multi-track backups and clear layout control.
• Use OBS when you truly need deep encoder tuning or specialized capture modes and are willing to manage hardware and settings.
• Reserve lightweight tools like Loom for short async messages; rely on StreamYard when reliability, branding, and reuse of your recordings actually matter.