The three settings that matter most for Minecraft recording are resolution, frame rate and encoder, and a safe starting point for YouTube is 1920x1080 at 60 FPS with a hardware encoder, lowering the resolution first and then the FPS in the output settings if your PC struggles. These values come from OBS and YouTube help pages checked on October 2, 2026; the basic capture steps live in how to record Minecraft gameplay, so this guide focuses on how to pick the numbers.
Starting settings by goal
As of October 2, 2026, pick your starting point by goal. For a normal YouTube video, start at 1920x1080, 60 FPS and a hardware encoder; for a short server promo clip, or if your PC is struggling, use 1920x1080 at 30 FPS or drop to 1280x720. For bitrate reference, YouTube lists upload recommendations of 8 Mbps for 1080p at 24-30 fps and 12 Mbps at 48-60 fps, and 16 Mbps and 24 Mbps for 1440p. That table describes the uploaded file, and the OBS recording guide lists no bitrate numbers, so tune the remaining OBS options with OBS game recording settings.
Order for choosing your settings
- 1Set the capture source to Game Capture — Add a Game Capture source in OBS, set the mode to Capture specific window, and pick the Minecraft window from the list. OBS's Minecraft Java Edition guide explains that on PCs with two GPUs, such as many laptops, Java Edition can run on the power-saving GPU and Game Capture will not work. The fix is to find javaw.exe in Task Manager, set it to High performance in Windows Graphics settings, and restart Minecraft. That guide covers Java Edition only, so check Bedrock Edition requirements and launch conditions in the official Minecraft help center.
- 2Match the resolution to 16:9 — In OBS Settings under Video, set the output resolution to 1920x1080 as the default. OBS explains that 16:9 is the shape major platforms such as YouTube and Twitch expect, and when your content does not fit it advises filling empty space with overlays or a camera instead of stretching the picture. If the PC struggles, step down to 1280x720.
- 3Choose the frame rate — Fast PvP or lots of camera movement suits 60 FPS, while a calm build-progress video can also work at 30 FPS. YouTube says to upload at the frame rate you recorded, so the value you choose while recording is the final one. If 60 FPS stutters or the encoder overloads, follow OBS and try 30.
- 4Pick the encoder — The hardware encoders OBS lists are NVIDIA NVENC, AMD AMF and Intel Quick Sync. OBS explains that a dedicated part of the GPU does the encoding instead of the CPU, which helps when the game and the recording run together. If a hardware encoder is unavailable or unstable, switch to the software encoder x264 and watch your CPU usage.
- 5Set the format and bitrate — Record to MKV and remux to MP4 with the built-in OBS remux after you finish. OBS says MKV avoids losing the whole file if the game or PC stops unexpectedly. Use the YouTube table for your goal as a bitrate reference, and because editing re-encodes the video, just confirm the final upload is MP4 with H.264 and AAC-LC or Opus at 48 kHz.
- 6Test with a three to five minute recording — OBS strongly encourages a test of a few minutes before your first real recording. Run, turn the camera and pass through an area where lots of new terrain loads, then check that the video does not stutter, that both game sound and microphone are audible, and that the file plays normally.
What each option does and where the numbers come from
| Option | Starting value | What it does and when to change it (source) |
|---|---|---|
| Capture source | Game Capture with Capture specific window | The method OBS recommends in its Minecraft Java Edition guide. |
| Bitrate reference | 1080p: 8 Mbps at 24-30 fps, 12 Mbps at 48-60 fps | YouTube's SDR upload table. 1440p is 16 and 24 Mbps, 4K is 35-45 and 53-68 Mbps. These describe the uploaded file, not your raw recording. |
| Resolution | 1920x1080 (16:9); 1280x720 if the PC struggles | OBS recommends a 16:9 output such as 1920x1080 or 1280x720, and lists lowering the Settings > Video resolution as a fix for encoder overload. |
| Frame rate | 60 FPS; 30 FPS if 60 does not work | YouTube says to upload at the frame rate you recorded, and OBS suggests dropping from 60 to 30 when 60 fails. |
| Encoder | Hardware encoder (NVENC, AMF or Quick Sync) first; x264 as the fallback | OBS says hardware encoders are generally recommended because they move work off the CPU, and that earlier-generation ones can give lower quality at the same bitrate. |
| Recording format | Record to MKV, then remux to MP4 | OBS recommends MKV because it does not corrupt the whole file after an ungraceful stop, and points to its built-in remux for MP4 for editing and social media. |
| Upload file | MP4, H.264, AAC-LC or Opus at 48 kHz | The container and codecs in YouTube's recommended upload encoding settings. |
Pre-recording checklist
- Check free space on the drive you record to, because longer recordings and higher bitrates make bigger files.
- Watch the Audio Mixer in OBS to confirm the game and microphone meters move, then play your test file to hear both.
- If the encoder is overloaded, lower in-game graphics quality settings, which OBS lists as a fix for encoding performance problems.
- Limit the game frame rate to your monitor refresh rate, which OBS lists as a way to ease GPU load.
- On a laptop, re-check in Windows Graphics settings that javaw.exe is set to High performance.
- After remuxing MKV to MP4, play the file to the end and confirm the resolution and FPS match what you intended before uploading.
What to know about DOR for long sessions
DOR is a free Windows desktop app that detects supported games automatically and records the full match as an mp4. Automatic kill-highlight clips exist for only seven games: League of Legends, Valorant, PUBG, FC Online, Fortnite, Counter-Strike and Overwatch. If you record a game that DOR supports for long stretches on an NVIDIA graphics card, NVENC hardware encoding is the default, which eases the CPU load discussed in NVENC vs x264, and because DOR records game sound and microphone together you skip a separate voice-over setup. Footage from a supported game can be trimmed in the app library by setting a start and end, choosing 16:9, 9:16 or 1:1, and sharing a dor.gg link.
Official sources checked
Checked on October 2, 2026, with numbers and guidance based on these official pages. Upload file format and bitrates come from YouTube recommended upload encoding settings, recording format and remux from the OBS standard recording output guide, and Minecraft Java Edition capture from the OBS Minecraft Java Edition guide. The 16:9 output, test recording, encoding performance and hardware encoder points follow the OBS knowledge base articles on aspect ratio, the quick start guide, encoding performance troubleshooting and hardware encoding. For edition-specific requirements and anything about Bedrock Edition, check the official Minecraft help center.
