How to Set Up Your Elgato Capture Card

Whether you picked up 4K S, 4K X, 4K Pro, or an older Elgato capture card, this guide walks through the full setup process, from plugging in cables to recording your first clip.

Your capture card comes with the essentials to get started. Here is what is included and what you will need to supply.

In the box (external cards: 4K S, 4K X, and older models):

• Capture card
• HDMI cable
• USB-C cable (for connecting to your PC or Mac)

In the box (Game Capture 4K Pro):

• Capture card
• 8K HDMI cable

You will need:

• One additional HDMI cable for passthrough
• A PC or Mac with an available USB port, or a desktop PC with an open PCIe slot (for 4K Pro)
• An HDMI-compatible TV or monitor

The physical setup is the same regardless of which console you are using. There are three connections to make.

1. Console to capture card. Plug an HDMI cable from your console’s HDMI output into the HDMI In port on the capture card.
2. Capture card to TV or monitor. Plug a second HDMI cable from the HDMI Out port on the capture card into your TV or monitor. This is the passthrough connection, so you can keep playing on your main screen with zero latency while the card captures in the background.
3. Capture card to PC or Mac. Connect the included USB-C cable from the capture card to your computer. For Game Capture 4K S, use a USB 3.0 port (5 Gbps). For Game Capture 4K X, use a USB 3.2 Gen2 port (10 Gbps) for full performance.

Once all three cables are connected, power on your console. You should see your console’s output on your TV as usual. The capture card sits in the middle of the signal path and does not add any delay to what you see on screen.

Game Capture 4K Pro installs directly into your desktop PC rather than connecting over USB.

Install the card

1. Power off your PC.
2. Open your PC case and locate an available PCIe x4 slot (Gen 2 or newer).
3. Remove the slot cover bracket, then seat Game Capture 4K Pro.
4. Secure the bracket with a screw, close the case.

Connect your console

1. Plug an HDMI cable from your console into the HDMI In port on Game Capture 4K Pro.
2. Plug a second HDMI cable from the HDMI Out port to your TV or monitor for passthrough.

Once your PC is powered on, the card should be recognized automatically.

Before opening recording software, there are a few settings worth verifying on your console. These prevent the most common “no signal” issues.

• Go to Settings > System > HDMI and turn off Enable HDCP. HDCP is a copy protection signal that blocks capture cards from receiving video. Turning it off does not affect gameplay.
• Under Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output, confirm your resolution is set to the output you want to capture (for example, 2160p for 4K or 1080p for a lighter file).

• Xbox does not enforce HDCP on games, so no toggle is needed for most content.
• Go to Settings > General > TV & display options and confirm your resolution and refresh rate match what you want to pass through and capture.

• Go to System Settings > Display > TV Resolution and set your preferred resolution. Game Capture 4K S supports up to 4K60 passthrough and capture from Switch 2, which covers the console’s maximum output.
• No HDCP setting is required on Switch 2.
• Connect the HDMI cable from the Switch 2 Dock’s HDMI output to the capture card’s HDMI In port, not from the console itself.

With your capture card connected, the next step is software.

Elgato Studio is free, built specifically for Elgato capture cards, and shows real-time HDMI diagnostics so you always know exactly what signal is coming in and what resolution you are recording at.

Download Elgato Studio from elgato.com/downloads.

If you want to stream or need more control over your recording setup, OBS Studio works with all Elgato capture cards. Add your capture card as a Video Capture Device source to stream to any platform with overlays, scenes, and multiple audio sources.

Download OBS Studio from obsproject.com.