diff --git a/plugins/obs-ffmpeg/data/locale/en-US.ini b/plugins/obs-ffmpeg/data/locale/en-US.ini
index 486aff15a..f4e90da52 100644
--- a/plugins/obs-ffmpeg/data/locale/en-US.ini
+++ b/plugins/obs-ffmpeg/data/locale/en-US.ini
@@ -49,3 +49,4 @@ ReplayBuffer.Save="Save Replay"
 
 HelperProcessFailed="Unable to start the recording helper process. Check that OBS files have not been blocked or removed by any 3rd party antivirus / security software."
 UnableToWritePath="Unable to write to %1. Make sure you're using a recording path which your user account is allowed to write to and that there is sufficient disk space."
+WarnWindowsDefender="If Windows 10 Ransomware Protection is enabled it can also cause this error. Add OBS to the controlled folder access list in Windows Security / Virus & threat protection settings."
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/obs-ffmpeg/obs-ffmpeg-mux.c b/plugins/obs-ffmpeg/obs-ffmpeg-mux.c
index 9b65276c7..9025730f4 100644
--- a/plugins/obs-ffmpeg/obs-ffmpeg-mux.c
+++ b/plugins/obs-ffmpeg/obs-ffmpeg-mux.c
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@
 #include <util/threading.h>
 #include "ffmpeg-mux/ffmpeg-mux.h"
 
+#ifdef _WIN32
+#include "util/windows/win-version.h"
+#endif
+
 #include <libavformat/avformat.h>
 
 #define do_log(level, format, ...) \
@@ -290,6 +294,16 @@ static bool ffmpeg_mux_start(void *data)
 		struct dstr error_message;
 		dstr_init_copy(&error_message,
 			obs_module_text("UnableToWritePath"));
+#ifdef _WIN32
+		// special warning for Windows 10 users about Defender
+		struct win_version_info ver;
+		get_win_ver(&ver);
+		if (ver.major >= 10) {
+			dstr_cat(&error_message, "\n\n");
+			dstr_cat(&error_message,
+				obs_module_text("WarnWindowsDefender"));
+		}
+#endif
 		dstr_replace(&error_message, "%1", path);
 		obs_output_set_last_error(stream->output,
 			error_message.array);