OBS Captures Wrong Window In MSFS 2020: Fix Pop-Out Issue

by SLV Team 58 views
OBS MSFS 2020 Fullscreen Capture Switched to the First Panel in Pop Out List

Hey guys, having trouble with OBS and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (MSFS 2020)? Specifically, is OBS grabbing the wrong window when you're popping out panels? You're not alone! This article dives into a frustrating issue where OBS stubbornly captures the first popped-out panel instead of the main game window. Let's break down the problem, explore potential causes, and, most importantly, figure out how to get things working correctly.

Understanding the Problem: OBS and MSFS 2020 Pop-Out Panels

The core issue is that when you're using OBS to capture MSFS 2020 and you start popping out panels (like the PFD controller), OBS seems to get confused. Instead of continuing to capture the main game window, it switches to capturing the first panel you popped out. This is a major headache for streamers and content creators who rely on OBS to show the full MSFS 2020 experience.

  • The Scenario: You've got OBS set up to capture MSFS 2020, everything's looking good, and then you decide to pop out a panel for better visibility or to use on a separate monitor. That's when the trouble starts. Your OBS preview suddenly shows the popped-out panel instead of the cockpit view.
  • The Culprit: The problem likely stems from how OBS identifies windows. It seems that all MSFS 2020 windows, including the popped-out panels, might share a similar title or identifier. This makes it difficult for OBS to distinguish between them, causing it to grab the first one it finds in the list, which happens to be the popped-out panel.
  • Why This Matters: This issue completely disrupts your recording or streaming workflow. Viewers end up seeing a zoomed-in view of a single instrument panel instead of the immersive flight experience you're trying to share. It's not exactly the kind of content that keeps people engaged!

Let's get into more detail and see what we can do about it.

Replicating the Issue: Step-by-Step

To really understand the problem, let's walk through the steps to reproduce it. This will help you confirm that you're experiencing the same issue and allow you to test any potential solutions.

Preconditions:

  1. Make sure OBS is installed and running smoothly. It needs to be ready to capture your gameplay.
  2. MSFS 2020 needs to be up and running, with a flight in progress. Get yourself airborne!
  3. You should have a "Game Capture" source already created in your OBS scene. This is how you'll tell OBS to grab the MSFS 2020 window.
  4. Verify that the "Game Capture" source is set to capture MSFS 2020, and that you can see the game in your OBS preview. Everything should be working perfectly at this point.

Steps to Reproduce:

  1. Identify a panel you want to pop out (like the Longitude PFD controller, as in the original report). This is the panel that will cause the issue.
  2. Start the pop-out process for that panel. Make sure the new panel window appears successfully.
  3. Now, take a look at the OBS scene you created earlier. This is where the problem will become apparent.

Expected Behavior:

Ideally, OBS should continue capturing the main game window, just like it was before you started popping out panels. You should have the option to add a popped-out panel as a separate source if you want to show it specifically.

Actual Result:

Instead of the main game window, OBS will capture the popped-out panel. Even though you didn't change any settings in the "Game Capture" source, it inexplicably switches to the popped-out panel.

In Summary:

You start with OBS capturing the beautiful world of MSFS 2020, but as soon as you pop out a panel, OBS abandons the main view and focuses on that single panel. It's like OBS has a short attention span and gets distracted by the shiny new window.

Why This Happens: Diving Deeper

The most likely reason for this behavior is how OBS identifies windows. When you tell OBS to capture a specific window, it looks for a window with a matching title or identifier. The problem is that MSFS 2020 might be using the same (or very similar) titles for both the main game window and the popped-out panels.

  • Shared Identifiers: If all the MSFS 2020 windows share a common identifier, OBS can't tell them apart. It simply grabs the first window in the list that matches the criteria.
  • Window Order: It seems the main game window might end up at the end of the list after you pop out a panel. This means OBS will always find the popped-out panel first, capturing it instead of the main game.
  • The Queue Theory: The original report suggests that the main game window ends up last in the queue after popping out a panel. This would explain why OBS consistently captures the popped-out panel until all panels are closed or the pop-out is stopped.

Essentially, OBS is being tricked into thinking the popped-out panel is the MSFS 2020 window you want to capture. It's a case of mistaken identity, leading to a frustrating streaming experience.

Potential Workarounds and Solutions

Okay, so we know what the problem is and why it's happening. Now, let's explore some potential workarounds and solutions to get OBS capturing the correct window again.

  1. Specific Window Capture (with Caution):

    • In your OBS "Game Capture" source, try using the "Capture specific window" mode. This allows you to select the exact window you want to capture.
    • The Catch: As noted in the original report, even when selecting the MSFS 2020 window directly, OBS might still capture the popped-out panel. This suggests that the window title alone isn't enough to differentiate the windows.

  2. Using Display Capture:

    • Instead of "Game Capture," try using "Display Capture." This captures your entire monitor, which will include the MSFS 2020 window and any popped-out panels.
    • Pros: This is a reliable way to capture everything on your screen.
    • Cons: It captures everything, including your taskbar, notifications, and other applications. You'll need to be careful about what else is visible on your screen.

  3. Crop the Display Capture:

    • If you're using "Display Capture," you can crop the source in OBS to only show the MSFS 2020 window. This will remove any unwanted elements from your screen.
    • How To: Right-click on the "Display Capture" source in OBS, select "Transform," and then "Edit Transform." You can then use the crop settings to remove the unwanted areas.

  4. Separate Scenes for Panels:

    • Create separate scenes in OBS for each popped-out panel you want to show. This gives you more control over what's being displayed.
    • How To: Add a new scene in OBS for each panel. Use "Window Capture" to specifically capture the panel window. You can then switch between scenes to show different views.

  5. MSFS Pop Out Manager Settings

    • Some users have suggested that specific configurations within pop out managers can create a new window instance, which makes it easier to identify each of these windows individually.
    • Experiment and see if this works for you.

Awaiting a Real Fix: The Long-Term Solution

While these workarounds can help, the ideal solution is for either OBS or MSFS 2020 to provide better window identification. This would allow OBS to accurately distinguish between the main game window and the popped-out panels.

  • OBS Enhancement: OBS could be improved to use more robust methods for identifying windows, such as looking at window IDs or process IDs.
  • MSFS 2020 Update: MSFS 2020 could be updated to give each window a unique and identifiable title. This would make it much easier for OBS (and other applications) to differentiate between them.

In the meantime, keep experimenting with the workarounds and keep an eye out for updates to OBS and MSFS 2020. Hopefully, a permanent fix is on the horizon.

Conclusion: Taming the Pop-Out Panel Problem

The OBS and MSFS 2020 pop-out panel issue is a frustrating one, but it's not insurmountable. By understanding the problem, replicating the issue, and trying the workarounds, you can hopefully find a solution that works for your setup. Remember to be patient, experiment with different settings, and keep an eye out for updates. With a little effort, you can get OBS capturing the correct window and get back to sharing your amazing MSFS 2020 flights with the world! Keep the blue side up, folks! If you discover new solutions, share them in the comments below!