How to Fix Streamlabs Not Capturing Game in Windows 11

Step 1: Switch the Game to Full Screen Mode

If the game is in windowed or borderless window mode, Streamlabs might not recognize it. Here’s how to adjust your settings:

1. Launch the game with Streamlabs running.
2. Navigate to the “ Settings ” tab within the game.
3. Access the “ Display ” or “ Graphics ” section.
4. Change the setting to “ Full Screen ” mode for optimal capturing.

Pro Tip: If you still face issues, try toggling to “Exclusive Fullscreen” in the game settings for better performance.

Step 2: Integrate the Video Capture Tool

To enable Streamlabs to capture your screen, you may need to manually add a video capture source:

1. Open Streamlabs on your device.
2. Locate the Sources tab on the main screen.
3. Click the plus icon to add a new source.
4. Select the appropriate source type such as Window Capture or Game Capture, then click “ Add Source.”
5. Name your capture source and click “ Add Source ” again to confirm.
6. Launch the game you want to stream.
7. Minimize your game and return to Streamlabs.
8. Select the game window under the ‘Window’ dropdown.
9. Adjust the ‘Capture Method’ based on your specifications, especially if using an Elgato capture card.
10. Click “ Done ” to complete the setup.

Step 3: Implement the Anti-Cheat Hook

To enhance compatibility with games that have anti-cheat systems, activate this option in Streamlabs:

1. Go to the Sources tab in Streamlabs and click the “➕” button.
2. Tap the “⚙️” icon beside the Game Capture source.
3. Check the “ Use anti-cheat compatibility hook ” box before closing the settings.

Pro Tip: This setting can solve many capture issues with modern titles.

Step 4: Turn Off Overlays

Overlays from services like Steam or Xbox Game Bar can interfere with streaming:

Steps to Disable Xbox Game Bar Overlay

1. Search for “game” on your PC.
2. Right-click on the “ Game bar ” entry and select “ App Settings.”
3. Locate and click “ Terminate ” to stop the Xbox Game Bar.

Steps to Disable Steam In-Game Overlay

1. Open the Steam application.
2. Select “ Steam ” from the top left menu.
3. Go to “ Settings.”
4. In the “ In Game ” section, uncheck “ Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.”

Pro Tip: Restart Streamlabs after disabling overlays to ensure changes take effect.

Step 5: Fix Corrupt MS C++ Redistributable Files

Corruption in the MS C++ Redistributable can hinder Streamlabs functionality:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type appwiz.cpl and click “ OK.”
3. Find the Visual C++ Redistributable package in the list.
4. Right-click on it and select “ Change.”
5. Choose the “ Repair ” option in the setup.
6. Close all programs and restart your computer after repair.

Pro Tip: Regularly check for Windows updates to keep your Redistributable packages up to date.

Step 6: Reinstall Streamlabs for a Fresh Start

If all else fails, a complete reinstall often resolves lingering issues:

1. Type “ streamlabs ” into the Windows search bar.
2. Right-click the app and select “ Uninstall.”
3. In the Settings panel, confirm the uninstallation process.
4. Download the latest version of Streamlabs.
5. Run the setup installer and install Streamlabs to the C drive.
6. Complete the setup by clicking “ Finish.”
7. Launch Streamlabs and attempt to stream your content again.

Pro Tip: Backup your previous settings to restore them after reinstalling.

Why isn’t Streamlabs capturing my game screen?

What should I do if Streamlabs still isn’t working?