How to Record Multiple Screens at Once on Windows 10 with OBS

OBS Studio can record multiple Windows 10 monitors at once. Add one Display Capture source per monitor to a scene, expand the canvas to fit, and place the captures side by side. OBS records the scene as one combined video file, not separate files per screen.

Get the Windows installer from the official OBS download page, which lists Windows 10 and 11 for its Windows release. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. The PC still works, but standard security updates have ended unless it is enrolled in an eligible Extended Security Updates program; see Microsoft's notice.

How to record multiple screens with OBS

The interface illustrations show the relevant controls; their appearance can vary by OBS version and hardware.

1. Extend and identify your monitors

Connect the displays, press Windows key + P, and choose Extend so each screen has its own desktop. Open Start > Settings > System > Display, select Identify, then arrange the numbered boxes to match your desk. If a connected screen is missing, choose Detect. See Microsoft’s guide to using multiple monitors for more Windows display options.

2. Add the first display source

Open OBS and select or create a scene. In Sources, click + and choose Display Capture. Name the source “Monitor 1,” open its properties, select the matching monitor from Display, and click OK. See OBS's Display Capture guide.

3. Add a source for each other screen

Repeat Sources > + > Display Capture, select the next monitor, and keep each source in the same scene. Name sources by monitor number or location. OBS allows one Display Capture source per display; reuse that source in other scenes instead of duplicating it.

4. Set a canvas that fits

Open Settings > Video and set Base (Canvas) Resolution to the full area you want recorded. For two 1,920 × 1,080 displays in one horizontal row, use 3,840 × 1,080. For different resolutions, portrait screens, or staggered displays, size the canvas to cover the layout's outer edges; empty gaps can appear black until you position the sources.

Output (Scaled) Resolution sets the recorded frame size. Match it to the canvas for full detail, or choose a smaller size if the PC struggles; downscaling makes small text harder to read. The OBS overview explains both settings.

5. Position the screens side by side

Select a source in the preview and drag it into place. Use the red corner handles to resize while keeping the screen's proportions. For two equal 1,920 × 1,080 displays, put the first at the canvas origin and the second immediately to its right. For exact placement, select a source and choose Edit > Transform > Edit Transform (or press Ctrl + E); in this example the positions are (0, 0) and (1,920, 0). The OBS Sources guide covers transforms.

Changing the base canvas can move or resize sources, so check the preview again afterward. Make sure no screen overlaps another and all edges fit inside the canvas.

6. Choose a recording format and test

Open Settings > Output > Recording and choose a folder with enough space. MKV can preserve an unfinished file after an unexpected shutdown. Recent Windows builds also offer Hybrid MP4, designed to combine recovery with broad compatibility. If an editor needs MP4 and you recorded MKV, use File > Remux Recordings. See the official recording guide.

Click Start Recording, use both screens briefly, then click Stop Recording and watch the file. Check both displays, alignment, cursor, and audio. If it stutters, lower the output resolution or frame rate, or try an available hardware encoder. OBS recommends a short test before an important capture in its Quick Start Guide.

Fix common problems

• Only one screen appears: Check that both sources are visible in the active scene and have different monitors selected.
• One source covers another: Move it in the preview; sources higher in the list can sit on top of sources below.
• Black space or borders: Recheck canvas dimensions and source positions.
• Choppy video: Lower output size or FPS and test again; multiple full-resolution screens require more encoding work.
• No desktop sound: Check the Audio Mixer meters, then choose the correct device in Settings > Audio.

When the test file shows every display clearly, the scene is ready for a longer recording. It will remain one combined video.