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To remux an OBS recording to MP4 without re-encoding, open File > Remux Recordings, select the completed recording, and click Remux. OBS copies the already-encoded streams into an MP4 container; it does not change their codec or improve compatibility. Keep the original until you have checked the MP4 in the player or editor you plan to use.
Remux a completed OBS recording to MP4
- Stop the recording and wait for OBS to finish writing the file.
- In OBS, select File > Remux Recordings.
- In the file picker, choose one or more recordings to convert.
- Click Remux and wait for OBS’s completion prompt.
- Open the resulting MP4 in your intended editor or player. Check that the video, audio, duration, and any required audio tracks are present before deleting or moving the original.
Menu wording may vary by OBS version. The OBS Project documents this workflow in its Standard Recording Output Guide.
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What remuxing changes—and what it does not
A video file has a container, such as MKV or MP4, that holds encoded video and audio streams. Remuxing copies those streams into a different container without decoding and encoding them again. That avoids another lossy encoding pass and does not reduce quality through re-encoding. FFmpeg describes stream copy as useful for changing the container format or container-level metadata (FFmpeg documentation).
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteRemuxing does not convert codecs, repair a damaged recording, resize or otherwise alter the picture, or make an unsupported codec work in a particular application. A file can remux successfully yet still be rejected by an editor or lack an audio format it can decode. If the target application cannot handle the streams, choose a compatible container or transcode them as a separate step.
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Automatically remux future OBS recordings
To have OBS create an MP4 after each recording, go to Settings > Advanced and enable Automatically remux to mp4. The OBS Project says the remux happens as soon as recording stops. Confirm the label in your installed OBS version, since menu wording can change. This setting automates the container conversion; it does not change the codecs selected for the recording.
Use FFmpeg for batch jobs or specific stream selection
FFmpeg is useful when you want a repeatable command-line workflow or explicit control over which streams to copy. First inspect the input’s streams and decide which video, audio, subtitle, or other tracks you need. Then map the streams deliberately: an incorrect map can omit tracks, and some stream types cannot be carried into MP4.
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The FFmpeg documentation gives this stream-copy example:
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallffmpeg -i INPUT.mkv -map 0:1 -c copy OUTPUT.mp4-map 0:1 selects the second stream from the first input; it does not mean “include every video and audio track.” To attempt to copy all input streams, a commonly used form is:
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ffmpeg -i input.mkv -map 0 -c copy output.mp4Review FFmpeg’s warnings and check the output. An all-stream attempt may fail if a stream is incompatible with MP4 or the container needs information that is missing. Stream copy preserves the selected codecs, so it will not solve a codec compatibility problem. Transcoding instead decodes and re-encodes streams, which is a different process.
Choose a safe recording format
For the resilient workflow, record to MKV and remux the finished recording to MP4 when needed. The OBS Project recommends MKV because a recording interrupted before it stops cleanly is less likely to lose the entire file. Traditional MP4 and MOV require finalization and may be unrecoverable if writing is interrupted. See the OBS Project’s recording guide and Audio/Video Formats Guide.
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Whether the resulting MP4 works in your editor depends on its video and audio codecs and that application’s support. The OBS formats guide lists H.264, HEVC, and AV1 video for MP4, but that is not a guarantee that every editor supports every codec or audio configuration. If an output does not play as expected, identify its streams before deciding whether to remux to another container or transcode.
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Hybrid MP4 as a recording option
OBS 30.2, introduced in 2024, added Hybrid MP4. OBS describes it as fragmented while recording and finalized with a “soft-remux,” aiming to combine interruption resilience with a regular MP4 output for compatible applications. The format guide lists H.264, HEVC, and AV1 video; PCM compatibility is qualified, and software support still matters. Hybrid MP4 is an option for future recordings if your OBS version offers it, not a way to remux an existing file.
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Read the OBS Project’s Hybrid MP4 & Hybrid MOV Formats guide and check your editor’s supported formats before changing your recording setup.
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| Workflow | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| OBS manual remux | A one-off recording or a small selection of existing files. | Simple interface, but stream compatibility still applies. |
| OBS automatic remux | Future recordings you want to have converted as soon as recording stops. | Convenient, but the recording’s container and codec choices still determine what is produced. |
| FFmpeg stream copy | Batch workflows or explicit stream mapping. | More control, but requires command-line familiarity and careful stream selection. |
Troubleshoot a failed or unusable MP4
- OBS reports a remux problem: Keep the original file. Check that the recording is complete and opens, then inspect its streams. Missing required information or streams the target container cannot accommodate can prevent stream copy; try a compatible container or transcode only if necessary.
- The MP4 exists but your editor rejects it: Find out which video and audio codecs the file contains and compare them with the editor’s supported formats. Remuxing does not change those codecs.
- A track is missing: Check whether it was present in the source and whether your FFmpeg mapping selected it. The example using
-map 0:1selects just one stream, not every track. - An interrupted recording will not open: Traditional MP4 may not be recoverable if OBS could not finalize it. For future recordings, use MKV or, if available and supported by your workflow, Hybrid MP4.
- Automatic remux does not appear to run: Confirm Automatically remux to mp4 is enabled under Settings > Advanced, stop the recording normally, and verify the resulting file before removing the source.
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