OBS Studio is primarily known for screen recording and live streaming, but it also has a built-in screenshot feature that captures exactly what is in your preview at any moment. This is useful when you want to grab a still image from a recording session, capture a specific frame from your scene setup, or save a clean shot of your stream layout without switching to another tool. This guide explains how to take a screenshot in OBS Studio on Windows and where to find the saved files.
How Screenshots Work in OBS Studio
When you take a screenshot in OBS Studio, it captures whatever is currently visible in the OBS preview window. This means it saves exactly what your viewers would see if you were streaming or recording at that moment, including all your sources, overlays, and webcam feed arranged in your active scene.
Screenshots are saved as PNG files by default to the same folder where OBS saves your recordings. If you have not changed this location, they go to your Videos folder on Windows.
Taking a Screenshot Using the Right-Click Menu
The simplest way to take a screenshot in OBS is directly from the preview window.
- Open OBS Studio and make sure your scene is set up with the sources you want to capture.
- Right-click anywhere inside the OBS preview area in the center of the screen.
- In the context menu that appears, hover over Screenshot and then select Output to take a screenshot of your entire OBS output exactly as it appears in the preview.
The screenshot saves immediately to your designated recording folder. No confirmation dialog appears. OBS saves it silently in the background.
Setting Up a Screenshot Hotkey
The right-click method works fine for occasional screenshots, but if you want to capture screenshots quickly while in the middle of a recording or stream without interrupting your workflow, setting up a hotkey is the better approach.
- Click Settings in the bottom right Controls panel of OBS.
- Select Hotkeys from the left sidebar. This opens a long list of assignable keyboard shortcuts for every OBS function.
- Scroll down through the list until you find Screenshot Output. It sits under the general OBS hotkeys section.
- Click the field next to Screenshot Output and press the keyboard combination you want to use. A common and easy-to-remember choice is Ctrl + F12, but any combination that does not conflict with your other apps works.
- Click Apply and then OK to save the hotkey.
From that point forward, pressing your assigned shortcut captures a screenshot of the OBS preview instantly, whether OBS is in focus or running in the background. The screenshot saves automatically to your recording folder without any interruption to your workflow.
Changing Where Screenshots Are Saved
By default, OBS saves screenshots to the same location as your recordings, which is typically your Videos folder on Windows. If you want screenshots to go somewhere else, change the recording path.
Go to Settings, select Output, and find the Recording Path field. Click Browse and choose a new folder. All future recordings and screenshots will save there.
Finding Your Screenshots
After taking a screenshot, open File Explorer and navigate to your recordings folder, which is usually found at This PC, then Videos. Your screenshots appear as PNG files with filenames that include the date and timestamp of when they were taken, for example something like Screenshot 2026-04-14 15-32-07.png. This makes it easy to find the specific shot you need even if you have taken several.
You can also reach this folder quickly from inside OBS. Go to File in the top menu bar and select Show Recordings. This opens the folder directly in File Explorer, showing both your video recordings and your screenshots together.
Taking a Screenshot of a Specific Source
If you want to capture only a single source rather than your entire OBS output, OBS allows that too.
- In the Sources panel at the bottom of OBS, right-click on the specific source you want to screenshot, such as your webcam feed or a particular window capture.
- In the context menu, select Screenshot and then the source name.
This saves an image of just that source at its native resolution, separate from the rest of your scene layout. It is useful when you want a clean capture of your webcam feed alone or an isolated window without the rest of your overlay visible.
Final Thoughts
The screenshot feature in OBS Studio is straightforward once you know where to find it. Right-clicking the preview gives you instant access without any setup, and assigning a hotkey makes it fast enough to use during a live stream or recording without breaking your flow. For anyone already using OBS for recording or streaming, it removes the need to switch to a separate screenshot tool for grabbing still frames from your content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does OBS save screenshots on Windows?
OBS saves screenshots as PNG files to the same folder used for recordings. By default this is your Videos folder. You can check or change this location by going to Settings, then Output, and looking at the Recording Path field.
What format does OBS use to save screenshots?
OBS saves screenshots as PNG files, which are lossless and high quality. The filename includes the date and time of the capture, making it easy to sort and find specific screenshots later.
Can I take a screenshot in OBS while recording or streaming?
Yes. Both the right-click method and the hotkey method work while a recording or stream is active. Using a hotkey is the better choice during an active session because you never need to switch focus away from what you are doing.
Can I screenshot just one source in OBS rather than the whole scene?
Yes. Right-click on any source in the Sources panel and select Screenshot from the context menu, then choose the source name. OBS saves a capture of just that source at its native resolution, separate from the rest of your scene.
Why is there no screenshot option when I right-click the OBS preview?
If the Screenshot option does not appear in the right-click menu, make sure you are right-clicking directly inside the preview area and that at least one source is added to your active scene. An empty scene with no sources may not show the screenshot option. Adding any source and then right-clicking the preview should reveal it.
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