Elgato Studio — Max Resolution

Elgato Studio lets you set a maximum recording resolution from the recording settings panel. The options are 2160p (4K UHD), 1440p (QHD), 1080p (Full HD), and 720p (HD). This setting works as an upper limit, not a fixed output. The actual resolution of your recording depends on what your source sends and what your capture device supports.

Max resolution tells Elgato Studio the highest resolution you want for your recording. If your source outputs a signal at or above that resolution and your capture device supports it, your recording will match the max resolution you selected.

If either your source or your capture device outputs at a lower resolution than what you set, Elgato Studio records at the lower value automatically. You do not need to adjust the setting every time you change sources. Set it to the highest resolution you want, and the software handles the rest.

4K captures the most detail and produces the sharpest recordings. If your source outputs at 4K and your capture device supports 4K recording, this setting preserves the full image.

4K recordings produce the largest files. A higher resolution means more data per frame, which adds up quickly during longer sessions. If storage space is limited, consider whether the extra detail is worth the file size for your workflow.

This option works best when you are recording high-resolution gameplay or footage where fine detail matters, such as text-heavy interfaces, detailed environments, or footage intended for large-screen playback.

1440p offers a good balance between detail and file size. It captures noticeably more detail than 1080p while keeping recordings smaller than 4K.

This resolution is common for PC gaming, where many players run their monitors at 1440p. If your source outputs at 1440p, this setting captures your footage without upscaling or downscaling.

1080p is the most widely used recording resolution. It is supported by every Elgato capture device and produces files that are easy to store, edit, and upload.

Most streaming and upload platforms display content at 1080p by default, which makes this a practical choice for content that will primarily be viewed online. File sizes stay manageable even for longer sessions.

If you are not sure which resolution to use, 1080p is a reliable starting point.

720p produces the smallest recordings. It captures less detail than the other options, but file sizes are significantly smaller.

This option is useful when storage is very limited or when the content does not require high resolution, such as recording a voice chat or capturing footage where visual detail is less important.

Three factors determine the resolution of your recording:

1. The max resolution you selected in Elgato Studio
2. The resolution your source is outputting
3. The maximum capture resolution your capture device supports

Elgato Studio uses the lowest of the three. For example, if you set max resolution to 4K but your capture device only supports up to 1080p, your recording will be 1080p. Similarly, if your capture device supports 4K but your console is outputting 1080p, the recording will be 1080p.

Not all capture devices support all resolutions. The dropdown in Elgato Studio filters the available options based on what your connected device can handle, so you will only see resolutions your device supports.

Elgato Studio also displays an estimated file size per minute in the recording settings panel. This updates as you change resolution, framerate, and quality settings, so you can see the storage impact before you start recording.

If you enable HDR recording on Windows, the maximum recording resolution may be reduced depending on your capture device. Your source signal still passes through at full resolution, but the recording itself may be captured at a lower resolution due to HDR processing requirements.

When this happens, Elgato Studio displays a notification explaining the adjustment. Your passthrough to your monitor or TV is not affected.

Open Elgato Studio, set the resolution that fits your workflow, and start recording.