guide · static export
Gaming

Save the Last Minute With the OBS Replay Buffer

The clutch play happens before you press record. A replay buffer keeps the last minute in memory and writes it to disk when you ask.

by@guidox updated:10/31/26 time:15 min level:Beginner tested on:Windows 11 24H2, OBS Studio 32 works on:Windows 10, Windows 11 tools:OBS Studio
TL;DR

Enable the **Replay Buffer** in OBS output settings, give it 60 seconds and 8 GB of RAM headroom, then bind a hotkey. The clip is written only when you press it.

Before you start

Requirements

  • OBS Studio
  • 8 GB RAM free
  • A hotkey you can reach
Step by step

Instructions

01

Turn the buffer on

In the output settings enable the replay buffer and set the maximum time. The buffer lives in RAM, so the length and the bitrate together decide the memory cost.

Settings > Output > Replay Buffer
02

Do the memory arithmetic

A 60 second buffer at 30 Mbit/s holds about 225 MB; at 80 Mbit/s for 1440p it is closer to 600 MB. Two minutes at that quality is over a gigabyte kept in RAM the whole session.

Mbit/s x seconds / 8 = MB
tipCheck the RAM usage in Task Manager after an hour. A buffer that pushes the system into the page file causes the stutter it was meant to capture.
03

Match the recording settings

The buffer uses the same encoder as the recording. Set the quality you would keep, not a streaming preset, or the clip will be visibly softer than the stream.

Encoder: NVENC
Rate control: CQP 18
04

Bind a hotkey

Set a key combination for **Save Replay Buffer** in the hotkeys tab and use something you can hit without leaving the game. An unbound buffer is a feature nobody uses.

Settings > Hotkeys > Save Replay Buffer
05

Choose where clips land

Point the recording path at a fast drive with space. Clips appended to a nearly full system drive are the reason a session ends in a crash instead of a highlight.

Settings > Output > Recording Path
06

Test it once before you rely on it

Start the buffer, wait thirty seconds, press the hotkey and open the file. Confirm the length is what you expect; the buffer fills from the moment it starts, not retroactively.

⚠ warningRight after starting, the buffer holds only what has been captured so far. Press the hotkey too early and the clip is short.
Troubleshooting

Common issues

The hotkey does nothing

The buffer is not running, or the game captures the key. Use a combination with a modifier the game ignores.

Clips are shorter than the setting

The buffer had not filled yet, or the encoder restarted after a settings change.

Noticeable stutter while the buffer runs

RAM pressure or a saturated encoder. Lower the buffer length or the bitrate first.

No audio in the clip

The audio source is not part of the output track. Check the track assignments in the advanced audio properties.

FAQ

Frequently asked

Does the buffer cost performance?

It keeps the encoder running, so yes, a little. NVENC handles it with almost no frame cost.

Can I run buffer and recording together?

Yes, both use the same encoder session. Watch the encoder load and the disk speed.

How to undo this

Disable the replay buffer in the output settings and clear the hotkey. Existing clips stay on disk.

Changelog · 1 entry
  1. 2026-10-31
    First version
Interactive version: checklist, feedback, related guides →

Free · no account needed · tracks your progress