If you use AMD Software (Adrenalin Edition / ReLive) to capture PC gameplay, you may have run into an infuriating bug: you hit the record hotkey, the timer starts counting, but when you click Stop Recording, no video file is actually saved [00:21].
Before you reinstall drivers or switch recording software, check what hardware is plugged into your USB ports.
The Symptom
- You hit Record in AMD Software [00:21].
- The recording status indicator appears normally.
- You stop the clip after a gaming session, but the output folder is completely empty [00:21].
Many users assume this is a GPU driver crash or audio source conflict. However, tweaking software settings rarely fixes this specific issue [00:34].
The Root Cause: PlayStation Controllers over USB
The issue often stems from a hardware driver conflict when connecting a PlayStation 4 (DualShock 4) or PlayStation 5 (DualSense) controller via USB cable to your PC [01:03].
When Windows initialises a wired PlayStation controller, its integrated audio endpoints (headphone jack and built-in mic) conflict with AMD’s audio capture pipeline [01:14]. This prevents AMD Software from finalising and saving the recorded video file [00:21].
Quick Fixes & Solutions
Solution 1: Switch to an Xbox Controller
If you use an Xbox 360, Xbox One, or Xbox Series X/S controller, the issue disappears [01:36]. Xbox controllers use Microsoft’s native XInput standard, which works seamlessly with AMD Adrenalin [01:56].
Solution 2: Change How Your PlayStation Controller Connects
If you want to keep using a PlayStation controller, try the following workarounds:
- Disable Controller Audio Devices:
- Open Windows Settings > System > Sound.
- Under Input and Output, find the DualShock/DualSense audio device and click Don’t allow / Disable.
- Use Bluetooth Instead of USB:
- Unplug the USB cable and pair the controller wirelessly via Bluetooth.
- Use Third-Party Emulators:
- Use tools like DS4Windows to hide the physical DualShock device and emulate an Xbox 360 controller.
Solution 3: Using a Different Key To Record
This solution is provided by a viewer of mine. They say using a key that is not mapped for the controller such as Ctrl+ F1 would make any controllers or USB devices to work.
Summary
If AMD Software shows that it’s recording but fails to output a playable video file [00:21], unplug your wired PlayStation controller [02:05]. Disabling its virtual audio drivers or switching to an Xbox controller will get your screen recording working smoothly again [01:56].
