How do I record FSX gameplay for free?
To record FSX gameplay for free, use OBS Studio for the most control or Windows Game Bar for a quick capture. In FSX or FSX: Steam Edition, select the simulator window, capture desktop audio, record at 30 fps, and use windowed mode or Display Capture if a black screen appears.
Which free FSX recorder should I use?
OBS Studio is our preferred option because it offers reliable video, audio and encoder controls without adding a watermark. Windows Game Bar is easier for occasional clips but gives you fewer ways to fix capture problems.
| Option | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| OBS Studio | Full flights, tutorials and edited videos | Requires initial source and encoder configuration |
| Windows Game Bar | Quick clips with minimal setup | May not recognise older full-screen FSX sessions |
| FSX replay tools | Replaying a flight for better camera angles | They record simulation data, not an uploadable video |
How do I record FSX with OBS Studio?
- Prepare the simulator: Load the flight and choose the view you want to show. Our guide to FSX cockpit, spot and tower-view controls covers the shortcuts used when framing a recording.
- Add the FSX source: In OBS, add Game Capture, select the option for a specific window and choose
fsx.exe. Game Capture is cleanest for the rendered simulator view. - Choose a fallback source: If Game Capture remains black, press
Alt+Enterto put FSX into windowed mode and try Window Capture. Use Display Capture when you also need menus, dialogue boxes or add-on windows, but remember that it records notifications and anything else shown on that monitor. - Set the recording resolution: Use 1920×1080 if FSX can sustain it comfortably; otherwise choose 1280×720. Start at 30 fps. Recording at 60 fps provides little benefit when the simulator itself cannot maintain that frame rate.
- Select the encoder and format: Choose a hardware encoder when OBS offers one, as this generally reduces pressure on the processor running FSX. MKV is a sensible recording format because an interrupted session is less likely to ruin the whole file. OBS can remux the finished recording to MP4 without re-encoding it.
- Check the audio meters: FSX should register under desktop audio. Add a microphone only if you need commentary, and use headphones to prevent the simulator sound feeding back into it.
- Make a short test recording: Pan the camera, change views and listen to the resulting file before recording a full flight. This catches silent audio, hidden overlays and unreadable cockpit text early.
How do I record FSX with Windows Game Bar?
With FSX focused, press Win+G and start recording from the Capture panel, or use Win+Alt+R. Game Bar normally saves an MP4 and can include simulator audio and microphone commentary.
If its record control is unavailable, switch FSX to windowed mode with Alt+Enter. Game Bar captures the recognised application rather than the complete desktop, so OBS Display Capture is the better choice when external add-on panels must appear in the video.
Why is my FSX recording black or silent?
A black FSX recording usually comes from legacy full-screen rendering, a privilege mismatch or the wrong capture source.
- Match permissions: If FSX is running as administrator, OBS must run at the same privilege level to hook into it. Otherwise, run both normally.
- Leave exclusive full-screen mode: Use
Alt+Enter, then try Window Capture or Display Capture. - Check laptop graphics settings: On a dual-GPU laptop, assign OBS and FSX to the same graphics processor if Game Capture produces only a black frame.
- Inspect the OBS source: Confirm that the source is visible, above any full-screen background source and still assigned to
fsx.exe. - Verify the audio device: Watch the desktop-audio meter while FSX is making sound. If it stays still, select the playback device actually used by your speakers or headphones.
If FSX pauses when you switch to OBS, clear the simulator's Pause on task switch option or finish configuring OBS before returning focus to the flight.
How can I record FSX without losing FPS?
Use 30 fps, a hardware encoder and a resolution the simulator can maintain without recording. FSX is often limited by its main processor thread, so a demanding software encoder can worsen stutters even when the graphics card has spare capacity.
- Reduce the output from 1080p to 720p before sacrificing simulator smoothness.
- Keep enough free space on the recording drive and avoid writing to a slow, heavily used disk.
- Close browser tabs, overlays and background programs that consume processor time.
- Do not increase scenery, traffic or autogen settings just for the recording; use our FSX performance and frame-rate tuning steps if the simulator is already stuttering.
Does the FSX flight recorder create a video file?
No. FSX flight-video features and recorder modules store flight or replay information rather than producing a normal gameplay video. They are useful for flying first and filming the replay afterwards, but OBS or Game Bar must still capture the final footage.
For more controlled fly-bys, the free FSX Recorder Module can capture and replay a flight with improved external, tower and cockpit views. Record that replay with OBS, then remux or edit the resulting video as required.