OBS Recording Will Not Open After a Crash: Check the File Format
Understand what can be recovered and choose a safer recording format for the next session.
Find the original file and keep a copy before trying conversion. A recording that was interrupted in ordinary MP4 may be unusable; OBS recommends MKV because an ungraceful stop is less likely to ruin the entire file. For future sessions, record MKV and remux to MP4 in OBS when needed.
Preserve the original recording
Locate the file in the folder set under OBS Settings → Output → Recording Path. Copy it to a safe location before testing a player or repair tool. Check its file extension and size. A zero-byte file indicates a different failure from a substantial file that your usual player cannot open.
- Keep the original untouched.
- Try a player or editor that supports the file format.
- If it is MKV, test OBS remuxing on a copy before assuming the video is lost.
Why an interrupted MP4 is different
OBS recommends MKV for recording because it is more resilient if the app or computer closes before recording stops normally. Ordinary MP4 has compatibility advantages but may be damaged by an ungraceful stop. No format setting can retroactively guarantee recovery of a file already written incorrectly.
Avoid services that promise certain recovery of any broken recording. Preserve the file and check its actual contents before spending money.
Set up a safer next recording
In OBS Settings → Output choose MKV as the Recording Format, then use OBS’s built-in remux function when an editor or upload site needs MP4. OBS also documents automatic remuxing after the recording stops. Make a short test: record, stop normally, remux, and open the resulting MP4 in your intended editor before a long session.