OBS Desktop Audio Not Working – Know How to Fix

OBS Studio brought high-quality surround sound streaming and recording, which was earlier a feature exclusive to professionally used broadcast devices, to your computer. But to your disappointment, suddenly, you found yourself in a situation where the OBS desktop audio is not working. Oh! We understand that it can be frustrating for a gamer or anyone who needs top-notch audio on the PC. But instead of panicking, now you need to thank the search engine for taking you to the best solutions to this problem.

Yes, through this article, we are going to show you how to fix this issue quickly and easily. But before moving on to the fixes, would you like to know the answer to one of the most burning unanswered user questions, i.e., “Why is my desktop audio not working on OBS?” Well, below is why the OBS desktop audio is behaving strangely.

Why is OBS Desktop Audio not Working

If the OBS desktop audio is not working, OBS is not detecting or picking up the desktop audio, OBS is not picking up the game audio, or has stopped working with headphones, below can be the possible reasons for it.

• OBS is on mute
• Incorrectly configured headset/speaker settings
• Problems with the OBS audio settings
• Outdated audio driver
• Interruptions caused by other audio software

Above was what might have possibly been wrong with the OBS for which it is not detecting the desktop audio. Now, let’s begin troubleshooting these issues.

Solutions for the OBS Desktop Audio not Working Problem 

Below is the answer to your question, i.e., “How do I fix the desktop audio if it is not working on OBS?” Start with the first fix and keep going down till you find a solution that works for you.

Fix 1: Make sure OBS is not muted:

Before moving to other high-level fixes, the first thing you should do is ensure that OBS is not muted. If it is on mute, then certainly the desktop audio will not be working on it. Follow these steps to check it.

Step 1: Locate the Speaker icon on the taskbar and right-click on it.

Step 2: Choose the Open Volume mixer option.

Step 3: If the OBS speaker icon is muted, then click on the icon to unmute it.

Step 4: Now check whether the desktop audio has started working on OBS or not.

Fix 2: Check the Desktop Audio Settings

Incorrectly configured speaker or headset settings are also among the reasons for which OBS is not picking up the game or desktop audio. Below is how to configure them correctly.

Step 1: Key in the Control Panel in the search box and choose it from the available options.

Step 2: Change View by to Small icons and select Sound from the Control Panel menu.

Step 3: Right-click anywhere in the empty space and choose Show Disabled Devices from the menu that you get.

Step 4: Click on your speaker or headset and select Set Default.           

Step 5: Select your device and click on the Properties button.             

Image Source: SODEVE 

Step 6: Choose Levels from the top menu, ensure the speaker is unmuted, and drag the slider to increase the volume.

Step 7: Navigate to the Advanced tab and untick the Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device option.                                                                                                                     

Image Source: Microphone Test 

Step 8: Click Apply and OK to confirm the changes.

Step 9: Now come back to the Playback tab, select your speaker/headphone and click on the Configure button.

Image Source: Super Best Audio Friends 

Step 10: Click on Audio channels and choose Stereo from the list that descends.

Step 11: Now check if OBS is detecting the desktop audio or it is still not working.

Fix 3: Update the audio driver (Recommended):

Do you know which is one of the most crucial but neglected components in your computer? Well, it’s the drivers. A driver is what connects your PC to peripheral devices. If the drivers are outdated or corrupt, then audio problems and other issues will surely plague your device. Most probably, it is the outdated drivers that have caused the desktop audio to stop working on OBS. Updating the audio driver is among the sure-shot ways to solve this problem. It has fixed it for many users and can also help you get rid of it. Thus, below is how to update the audio driver in the easiest possible way.

Step 1: Get one of the best driver updating software, i.e., Bit Driver Updater by clicking the download link below.

Step 2: After downloading the setup file, click on it and complete the software installation.

Step 3: After the program is installed, allow it to perform a scan on your computer.

Step 4: When the result appears (it usually takes two-three seconds to come up), click on the Update Now button you see next to the audio driver to update it.

In case you want to drive all the driver-related issues away from your computer, update all the drivers in a single shot by picking the Update All option.                                           

Fix 4: Ensure OBS audio settings are correct:

The problems you are experiencing with desktop audio while using OBS may be the result of incorrectly setup OBS audio settings. Below is how to check and correct them.

Step 1: Open OBS.

Step 2: Select Files from the top left corner and choose Settings from the popup menu.

Step 3: Choose Audio from the left section.

Step 4: Go to the Channels and choose Stereo. 

Step 5: Navigate to the Global Audio Services and ensure that you have chosen the device you use for Desktop Audio and Mic/Auxiliary Audio.

Step 6: Check the desktop audio is working on OBS or the problem persists.

There are not many chances of the problem to persist after trying the above fixes, however, if it rears its ugly head, then try the below solutions.

Also Read: How to Update Audio Drivers on Windows 10

Fix 5: Remove conflicting programs:

Certain software programs like Nahimic interfere with the working of OBS. And these conflicting applications can also be a reason for which there is no desktop audio while using OBS. Therefore, uninstall them from your computer. Go along with the steps shared below to do it.

Step 1: Open the Quick Access menu using the Windows + X hotkey.

Step 2: Select Apps & Features from the available options.                                                                     

Step 3: Now click on the program you wish to remove and click on the Uninstall button.

Fix 6: Reinstall the audio driver:

Much like outdated drivers, incorrectly installed drivers also cause the problems such as desktop audio not working on OBS Studio. Therefore, reinstalling the driver also helps you solve the problem. Below is how to uninstall the audio driver and then install it again.

Step 1: Launch the Quick Access menu and choose Device Manager.                                     

Step 2: Click on the Sound, video, and game controllers. 

Step 3: Right-click on your High Definition Audio Device and pick the Uninstall device option.

Step 4: Now, select the Delete the driver software for this device option and select the Uninstall button.

Step 5: Reboot your PC after the uninstallation completes.

Fix 7: Install OBS again:

If the OBS mic is not working on your Mac or Windows, then installing it again is one of the effective ways to fix it. Follow the steps shared below to do it.

Uninstalling OBS on Windows 

• Launch Apps & Features.
• Select OBS and click on the Uninstall button.

Uninstalling OBS on Mac

• Launch Finder.
• Select Applications from the sidebar.
• Right-click on OBS Studio and select Move to Trash.
• Open Trash, right-click OBS Studio and choose Delete Permanently.
• Click Delete to complete the uninstallation.

After the uninstallation completes, install OBS from its official website.

OBS desktop audio not working fixed successfully

Through this article, we guided you on the ways to fix the desktop audio if it is not working on OBS Studio. In case you want to know which is the best solution to this problem, we suggest you update the audio driver using Bit Driver Updater as it also solves other related problems. And if you are aware of any better fixes for this issue, then bring them to light via the comments section.