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Fix Fortnite Game Audio Not Captured in OBS (2025)

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    Robin
    Twitter
Fortnite audio troubleshooting in OBS Banner
TL;DR
Core Pain
Fortnite game audio sounds normal in headphones but cannot be captured in OBS, while other games work perfectly fine.
Search Intent
Fortnite OBS no sound, OBS not capturing Fortnite audio, Fortnite dedicated audio capture settings.
Key Conclusion
Usually caused by sample rate mismatch or exclusive mode conflict. Unified sample rate to 48kHz, disable exclusive mode, and manually lock the output device in OBS.

If Fortnite’s game audio is fine in your headset but refuses to show up in OBS, you’re not alone. This guide pulls from a real r/streaming case where Fortnite went silent while other games (CoD, DBD, Phasmophobia) worked fine.

Audio Routing Map

Audio routing and quick fixes

Audio Routing and Quick Fixes: Shows the flow of audio signals from the game to Windows and then to OBS, as well as potential failure points.

Quick Fix Triage

Fix Checklist

Fix Checklist: Troubleshooting steps arranged by priority to help you quickly identify and resolve silence issues unique to Fortnite.

Fast Checks (60–90 seconds)

  • Make sure Fortnite isn’t routed to a different Windows output. On Windows 11: System Settings → Sound → Volume mixer → Apps → Fortnite → Output device = your main output.
  • In OBS, watch the Desktop Audio meter while Fortnite is playing. If it’s flat, OBS isn’t receiving that output device.
  • If you use per-app audio tools (SteelSeries Sonar, Nahimic, Voicemeeter, Waves, etc.), confirm Fortnite isn’t pinned to a virtual bus OBS doesn’t listen to.

Fixes That Solve 80% of Cases

  1. Disable Exclusive Mode

    • Control Panel → Sound → Playback → Your Output → Properties → Advanced
    • Uncheck “Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device” and “Give exclusive mode applications priority.”

  2. Match Sample Rates

    • Set both your Windows output device and OBS to 48 kHz.
    • Windows: Playback device → Advanced → 24-bit, 48000 Hz (or 16-bit, 48000 Hz)
    • OBS: Settings → Audio → Sample Rate = 48 kHz

  3. Lock the Output Device in OBS

    • Settings → Audio → Global Audio Devices → Desktop Audio = the exact device your system uses.
    • Avoid “Default” if you frequently change audio devices or tools.

  4. Create a Game-Specific Source (Fallback)

    • Sources → + → Audio Output Capture → "Fortnite Output" → pick the device Fortnite uses in Volume Mixer.
    • Mute/hide your general Desktop Audio to prevent double-audio.

  5. Update or Roll Back the Audio Driver

    • If the issue started last week “out of nowhere,” a driver update (or OS patch) may be the culprit. Try your device’s previous driver.

Fortnite-Specific Quirks to Note

  • Fullscreen Optimizations and background FPS limiters sometimes change how the OS presents audio sessions. If the above doesn’t work, temporarily disable Fullscreen Optimizations on Fortnite’s EXE and retest.
  • If you use a headset app (e.g., SteelSeries, Corsair iCue), confirm the app isn’t creating a per-game route for Fortnite.

A Minimal, Reliable Setup

  • Windows Output Device: one consistent device (e.g., "Headphones (Realtek USB)")
  • OBS Desktop Audio: explicitly set to that same device
  • Sample Rate: 48 kHz across Windows and OBS
  • Exclusive Mode: off

If you still get silence only for Fortnite after these steps, capture with a dedicated Audio Output Capture source for Fortnite as a long-term workaround. It’s stable and doesn’t affect other games.

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Inspired by a real question from r/streaming. If this helped, share what fixed it for you so others can skip the guesswork.

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