Dropped Frames OBS FIx: 4 Solutions to Try on the Streaming Platform

Part 1. Why is OBS Dropping Frames?

It is impossible for OBS dropping frames for no reason. More often, technical issues are the root cause, and there are too many possibilities to consider. Before changing settings randomly, look at the Stats Dock in OBS (Go to View > Stats). The specific error message tells you exactly which fix to use.

Part 2. 5 Proven Solutions to Fix OBS Frame Drops

Method 1. Run OBS as Administrator

If your game is running smoothly but your stream/preview is stuttering, it’s probably because your game is using 100% of the GPU. Windows is likely de-prioritizing OBS, leaving none for OBS. To fix this, you can run OBS as Administrator. It tells Windows to reserve a small percentage of GPU power specifically for OBS, preventing the game from choking the stream.

Method 2. Change Bitrate Settings

If your OBS stream or recording frame rate is lower than the actual settings. It may due to your week internet condition and high-level bitrate setting beyond the capability.

Go to Settings > Output > Streaming. Lower your video bitrate based on your resolution:

1080p 60fps: 6,000 Kbps (Twitch Limit) / 10,000 Kbps (YouTube)

1080p 30fps: 4,500 Kbps

720p 60fps: 4,000 Kbps

Go to Settings > Advanced > Network and check Dynamically change bitrate to manage congestion. This prevents the stream from disconnecting entirely during lag spikes.

Method 3. Network Optimizations

Suppose you are aware that you have an unstable internet network, which appears to interrupt the live streaming as the OBS frame rate drops. The good thing is the program also has a default setting for this, which helps to optimize and manage the network automatically. Follow the steps on how to fix dropped frames on OBS via Network Optimizations:

An outdated network driver will eventually lead to dropped frames on OBS. It might give you an unstable network despite having WiFi with a strong signal. Also, you can try using an ethernet cable, which should be connected directly to the modem. It is better for online activities, especially live streaming, as it will stabilize the network.

Method 4. Switch Video Encoding

By default, OBS might use x264 (CPU encoding). If you are gaming on the same PC, this causes massive lag. Just switch to NVENC hardware encoder. It uses a dedicated chip on your graphics card to handle video, taking the load completely off your CPU.

NVIDIA Users: Select NVIDIA NVENC H.264.

AMD Users: Select AMD HW H.264.

Method 5. Use an Alternative to OBS: Aiseesoft Screen Recorder

For a low-frame rate video, you should use Aiseesoft Screen Recorder on Windows and Mac. It is a stable screen recording tool that can capture high-quality video in MP4, MOV, GIF, and other formats. It also captures internal audio that you can save as OGG, MP3, WMA, ACC, and OPUS. Any type of video is ready to be captured, even with high-quality gameplay that can be hours long. Moreover, Aiseesoft Screen Recorder allows you to change the output settings, including the resolution, screen, bitrate, and frame rate, which can fix the dropped frame on OBS.

Part 3. How to Fix a Recording That is Already Choppy

If you have already finished recording and realized the final video is lagging or freezing, you cannot "add" the missing frames back perfectly, but you can repair the file structure.

Using Aiseesoft Video Converter Ultimate, you can fix the choppy video with dropped frame. With the AI interpolation tool, your video with low FPS can be converted to HD video with fluent 120 FPS.

Part 4. FAQs about Dropped Frames in OBS