Why Does OBS Keep Crashing Valorant? Troubleshooting Guide

OBS Studio is a fantastic tool for streaming and recording gameplay, but it can be frustrating when it crashes, especially during a competitive game like Valorant. Several factors can cause OBS to crash while playing Valorant. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the common causes and provide solutions to get you back to streaming and recording smoothly.

Common Causes of OBS Crashes with Valorant

Before diving into specific solutions, it’s essential to understand the common culprits behind OBS crashes when running Valorant. These typically involve resource conflicts, software incompatibilities, and incorrect settings.

  • Resource Overload: Both OBS and Valorant are resource-intensive applications. If your CPU, GPU, or RAM is struggling to keep up, it can lead to crashes.
  • Driver Issues: Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers are a frequent cause of instability, particularly when gaming and streaming.
  • OBS Settings: Incorrectly configured OBS settings, such as resolution, bitrate, or encoder, can strain your system and cause crashes.
  • Game Capture Conflicts: Conflicts can arise between OBS’s game capture and Valorant’s anti-cheat system (Vanguard).
  • Software Incompatibilities: Other programs running in the background may interfere with OBS or Valorant, leading to crashes.
  • OBS Plugins: Some OBS plugins, while useful, can introduce instability and cause crashes.
  • Hardware limitations: If your system doesn’t meet the minimum requirements for both Valorant and OBS simultaneously, crashes are likely.

Troubleshooting Steps to Fix OBS Crashing with Valorant

Now that we understand the potential causes, let’s explore the troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue.

1. Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated graphics drivers are a prime suspect. Ensure you have the latest drivers installed for your GPU (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).

  • NVIDIA: Download the latest drivers from the NVIDIA website or through the GeForce Experience app.
  • AMD: Download the latest drivers from the AMD website or through the AMD Adrenalin software.
  • Intel: Download the latest drivers from the Intel website or through the Intel Driver & Support Assistant.

After updating, restart your computer to apply the changes.

2. Run OBS as Administrator

Running OBS with administrator privileges can resolve permission-related issues that might be causing crashes.

  • Right-click on the OBS Studio shortcut.
  • Select “Run as administrator.”
  • Confirm the action if prompted by User Account Control (UAC).

3. Adjust OBS Settings

Optimizing your OBS settings can significantly reduce the strain on your system.

  • Resolution: Lower the output resolution to 720p or 1080p if you are streaming at a higher resolution. A lower resolution requires less processing power.
  • Bitrate: Reduce the bitrate to a value that is suitable for your internet connection. Too high of a bitrate can overwhelm your system.
  • Encoder: Experiment with different encoders (x264, NVENC, AMD VCE). x264 uses your CPU, while NVENC (NVIDIA) and AMD VCE use your GPU. If your CPU is overloaded, try using a GPU encoder.
  • Frame Rate: Set the frame rate to 30fps instead of 60fps to reduce the workload on your system.

4. Configure Game Capture Properly

Ensure that OBS is capturing Valorant correctly.

  • Specific Window Capture: In OBS, use the “Window Capture” source and specifically select the Valorant window. Avoid using “Display Capture” as it can be less efficient.
  • Anti-Cheat Compatibility Hook: In the properties for your game capture source, enable “Anti-cheat compatibility hook”.

5. Close Unnecessary Background Applications

Close any programs that you are not actively using while streaming or recording. These programs can consume valuable resources and contribute to crashes.

  • Web browsers (especially with many tabs open)
  • Other games or applications
  • Resource-intensive software

6. Check for OBS Plugin Conflicts

Disable any OBS plugins that you don’t need, especially if you recently installed them. Plugins can sometimes cause conflicts and lead to crashes.

  • Go to “Tools” > “Scripts” in OBS.
  • Disable or remove any unnecessary scripts or plugins.

7. Adjust Valorant Graphics Settings

Lowering Valorant’s graphics settings can free up resources for OBS.

  • In Valorant, go to “Settings” > “Video.”
  • Reduce the graphics quality to “Low” or “Medium.”
  • Disable unnecessary visual effects.

8. Check System Resource Usage

Monitor your CPU, GPU, and RAM usage to identify bottlenecks.

  • Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and monitor the “Performance” tab.
  • If any resource is consistently at or near 100%, it indicates a bottleneck that needs to be addressed.

9. Reinstall OBS Studio

If none of the above steps work, try reinstalling OBS Studio. This can resolve issues caused by corrupted installation files.

  • Uninstall OBS Studio from your computer.
  • Download the latest version from the OBS Studio website.
  • Reinstall OBS Studio.

10. Check Hardware

If the problem persists, your hardware might be the issue. Make sure your CPU and GPU are adequately cooled, and consider upgrading components if they are below Valorant and OBS recommended specs.

Conclusion

OBS crashing while playing Valorant can be a frustrating experience, but by systematically troubleshooting the potential causes, you can identify and resolve the issue. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to a stable streaming and recording experience. Remember to update your drivers, optimize your OBS settings, and monitor your system resources for optimal performance.