How To Fix NVIDIA ShadowPlay Not Recording Windows Games

First up, you may want to try reactivating the in-game overlay. Sometimes, this simple solution can do the trick. Just right-click on the NVIDIA Settings system tray icon and select GeForce Experience. Then, press the settings button at the top of GeForce Experience and toggle off the in-game overlay setting. Finally, click the in-game overlay option again to turn it back on.

If that doesn’t work, try enabling the desktop capture option. To do this, activate the overlay by pressing Alt + Z, click the settings button on the overlay, select the privacy control menu option, and turn on the desktop capture option if it’s disabled.

Another potential issue could be conflicting apps running in the background. Make sure to close any windows for other software on your Windows taskbar before trying to record a game. If that doesn’t work, check the processes tab in Task Manager to disable background processes for programs that could conflict with ShadowPlay. Some of these programs include Spotify, Google Chrome (with Netflix or other streaming services open in it), and OBS Studio.

Finally, if all else fails, you may want to try reinstalling the NVIDIA graphics driver or GeForce Experience itself. Uninstall these programs within the apps and features section of the control panel and restart your PC. Then, download and install the latest version of the software from the NVIDIA website.

Here are the more steps to solve the issue in detail:

1: Make Sure Your System Meets the Requirements

Before you start troubleshooting, make sure your system meets the minimum requirements for ShadowPlay. You’ll need an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 600 series or higher GPU, NVIDIA GeForce Experience version 2.0 or higher, and at least 4 GB of system RAM. If your system doesn’t meet these requirements, ShadowPlay may not work correctly.

2: Update Your NVIDIA Graphics Driver

One of the most common reasons for ShadowPlay not working is an outdated graphics driver. To update your graphics driver, open the NVIDIA GeForce Experience app and click on the Drivers tab. If an update is available, click on Download to update your graphics driver.

3: Check Your ShadowPlay Settings

If your graphics driver is up to date, check your ShadowPlay settings to make sure everything is configured correctly. Open the GeForce Experience app, click on the Settings cog icon, and select the ShadowPlay tab. Make sure that the “Record desktop” option is enabled and that the “In-game overlay” is enabled as well.

4: Check Your Recording Settings

If your ShadowPlay settings are configured correctly, check your recording settings. Open the GeForce Experience app, click on the Settings cog icon, and select the Recordings tab. Make sure that the “Save to” location is set to a valid directory on your system, and that the recording quality is set to the desired level.

5: Restart the NVIDIA Streamer Service

Sometimes, restarting the NVIDIA Streamer Service can fix ShadowPlay not recording Windows games. To do this, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type “services.msc” and press Enter. Find the NVIDIA Streamer Service in the list, right-click on it, and select Restart.

6: Reinstall the NVIDIA GeForce Experience App

If none of the above solutions work, try reinstalling the NVIDIA GeForce Experience app. To do this, open the Windows Control Panel, select Programs and Features, find the NVIDIA GeForce Experience app in the list, right-click on it, and select Uninstall. Once it’s uninstalled, download the latest version of the app from the NVIDIA website and install it.

7: Check Your System for Malware or Viruses

If none of the above solutions work, it’s possible that your system may be infected with malware or viruses that are interfering with ShadowPlay. Use a reputable anti-virus or anti-malware program to scan your system and remove any threats that are found.

Wrapping up

ShadowPlay is a great tool for recording Windows games, but it can sometimes stop working. By following the above solutions, you should be able to fix any issues you’re experiencing with ShadowPlay not recording Windows games. If none of the solutions work, contact NVIDIA support for further assistance.