OBS Studio does not have one universal default keyboard shortcut for starting or stopping a recording. Set your own in Settings > Hotkeys: find Start Recording and Stop Recording, then assign keys that are easy to reach and unlikely to trigger commands in the software you are capturing. The best choice is the one you can press deliberately and verify on your setup.
Set recording hotkeys in OBS
- Open the hotkey settings. In OBS Studio, select Settings > Hotkeys.
- Find the recording actions. Locate Start Recording and Stop Recording in the action list. Assign a key or key combination to each.
- Choose distinct, low-conflict bindings. Prefer controls you can reach comfortably and remember, but avoid combinations likely to activate a shortcut in the application you are recording. There is no OBS-prescribed best key.
- Add optional controls only if useful. Assign Pause Recording if it appears in your installed build and suits your workflow. You can also set scene-switching or source-visibility hotkeys if you need to change what is shown while recording.
- Test before a real session. Make a short recording, check that the file plays and includes the expected audio, then verify that your stop binding ends the recording.
OBS’s official Overview Guide describes configurable hotkeys for recording and other actions. Labels and available controls can vary by installed version, so use the actions shown on your own Hotkeys screen.
What makes a good recording hotkey?
- Easy to reach: You should be able to start or stop without searching the keyboard.
- Hard to press accidentally: Avoid a common single key if it is likely to be hit during the activity you are capturing.
- Unlikely to conflict: Check whether the recorded application already uses the proposed combination.
- Easy to distinguish: Make start and stop bindings different enough that you can recall which one to press.
These are practical selection criteria, not official OBS defaults. A function key or modifier combination may suit one workflow but collide with another program, keyboard layout, or operating system shortcut.
Recording hotkeys and OBS’s built-in shortcuts are different
The published OBS Keyboard Shortcuts page documents general commands and source-list or preview editing shortcuts, with separate Windows/Linux and macOS columns. For example, its Windows/Linux preview and transform shortcuts include Ctrl+F to fit to screen, Ctrl+S to stretch to screen, and Ctrl+D to center to screen; the corresponding macOS entries use Command. Those commands edit sources or the preview—they are not universal recording start and stop keys.
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For recording controls, inspect Settings > Hotkeys in your installation rather than relying on a shortcut list or a key combination suggested for someone else’s setup.
Use Replay Buffer for recent footage, not a full-session recording
Replay Buffer is a separate workflow from continuous recording. It keeps a buffer so you can save a recent segment; it is useful when you want to capture something that just happened rather than record an entire session from the outset.
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- Enable and configure Replay Buffer in OBS before using it.
- In Settings > Hotkeys, set the Replay Buffer actions you need, including Start Replay Buffer, Stop Replay Buffer, and Save Replay Buffer where available.
- Start the buffer before the event you may want to keep, then press its save hotkey after the moment occurs.
The OBS Overview Guide notes that Replay Buffer must be enabled and a save hotkey assigned to save the buffer. Its start, stop, and save actions should not be confused with starting and stopping a normal recording.
Start recording automatically when OBS launches
If the goal is to begin recording as OBS opens, OBS also documents launch parameters. The parameters --startrecording and --startreplaybuffer start a recording or Replay Buffer, respectively, at launch. They are automation options, not keyboard shortcuts pressed while OBS is already running.
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| Method | When it triggers | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Assigned hotkey | You press it after OBS is running. | Manual start and stop control during a session. |
--startrecording |
OBS starts a recording as it launches. | Startup automation when the recording should begin with OBS. |
--startreplaybuffer |
OBS starts Replay Buffer as it launches. | Starting the buffer automatically rather than recording a full session. |
See OBS’s official Launch Parameters documentation for the launch options. Do not treat a startup parameter as a replacement for configuring and testing the in-app controls you may need later.
Keyboard, joystick, and other control devices
OBS supports keyboard keys as hotkey inputs. The Overview Guide also describes mapping joystick buttons to common keyboard keys using antimicro on Linux and Windows. That mapping depends on the device, operating system, and setup; verify the behavior on your own computer before relying on it. A standard keyboard is enough to assign recording hotkeys, and the OBS documentation does not require a special keyboard or accessory.
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Common hotkey problems and fixes
- The recording does not start or stop: Return to Settings > Hotkeys, confirm the action has a binding, and test it while OBS is open.
- A different app responds to the key: Choose a less-conflicted combination and test again with the recorded application active.
- You can edit the preview but cannot start recording: Preview shortcuts are separate from configurable recording hotkeys. Find the recording actions in the Hotkeys settings.
- Replay Buffer does not save a clip: Confirm the buffer is enabled, running, and has a save hotkey assigned.
- Controls differ from a guide you are following: Check the Hotkeys page in your installed OBS build. Published shortcut and interface documentation may not reflect every release identically.
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