How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac
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Want to record the screen on your computer? Whether you're a professional who needs to capture the screen for a presentation, a software developer generating a how-to video, or just someone who wants to upload a helpful video clip to YouTube, you can capture your screen activity in a number of ways. Windows and macOS let you record your screen with built-in tools. However, you can also use a variety of third-party screen-capture apps . Here's how to get started.
Record with the Xbox Game Bar
Built into Windows, the Xbox Game Bar is designed to record games that you play directly on your PC or those you stream from an Xbox console . However, it can just as easily capture screen activity from non-gaming applications.
To set up Game Bar in Windows 10 , go to Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Barand turn on the switch next to Enable Xbox Game Bar. From here, you can check the Open Xbox Game Bar using this button on a controllerbox to trigger the Game Bar through the Xbox button on an Xbox controller . At this screen, you can also view the default shortcuts associated with different Game Bar actions or customize them with your own key combinations.
To set up Game Bar in Windows 11 , go to Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Barand turn on Open Xbox Game Bar using this button as a controllerto use an Xbox gamepad to activate the Game Bar. The feature's keyboard shortcuts can be viewed and customized in the settings menu of the Xbox Game Bar app.
Ready to start recording? Press Win+Gto open Game Bar. Several Game Bar widgets appear on the screen with controls for capturing screenshots, recording video and audio, and broadcasting your screen activity. Click the Start Recordingbutton or use the Win+Alt+Rkeyboard shortcut to capture your screen activity. You'll be allowed to record activity in most apps and windows, except the Windows desktop, File Explorer, and certain Windows apps, such as Weather.
Now you're free to perform whatever screen actions you want to capture. After you click the screen, the Game Bar widgets vanish, replaced by a small floating bar in the upper-right corner of the screen through which you can control the recording. To stop the recording, click the Recordingbutton on the floating bar.
After the recording ends, a notification tells you that the game clip was recorded. Click the notification to view your video in the Game Bar. Click the Playbutton to play the video. You can also access your video from its default location in File Explorer: C:\\Users\\[username]\\Videos\\Captures . Your videos will be stored here as MP4 files, which can then be uploaded or moved elsewhere.
In Windows 10, go to Settings > Gaming > Capturesto tweak the Game Bar. From here, you can change the default file location for your videos, turn on background recording to capture activity after the fact, opt to record video along with your audio, and switch the frame rate between 30 and 60 frames per second.
You can also customize these settings from within Game Bar app—your only option in Windows 11. On the Game Bar toolbar, click the Settingsicon at the right. Browse the different categories under Settings to modify the shortcuts, theme, and widgets, set up background recording, and record audio with the video.
Record with the Windows 11 Snipping Tool
Those of you running Windows 11 have another option as the Snipping Tool can also record your screen. Set up the window that you want to record, then open the Snipping Tool by selecting the app's shortcut from the Start menu or by using the Win+Shift+Sshortcut.
Click the video camera icon on the toolbar, then click the Newbutton. A small recording toolbar pops up at the top of the screen. Select the portion of the screen that you want to capture, then click the Startbutton on the toolbar.
While the recording is running, you can click the Pausebutton to stop the recording, then click Playto resume. Click the Stopbutton to finish recording.
A video of the activity you captured appears on the screen, which you can then watch. Click the Shareicon to send the recording to another person, app, or service. Click the Saveicon to keep the recording as an MP4 file.
Record with the macOS Screenshot Tool
Your Mac comes with its own screen-recording feature in macOS Mojave and higher. Open the app or window you want to record and press Shift+Command+5to open the system's Screenshot tool . From the bottom toolbar, you can opt to capture the entire screen, a selected window, or a custom portion. The tool also allows you to take video, with options that include the entire screen or just a custom portion.
Click the Optionsbutton and you can choose where to save your recording and initiate a countdown timer before capturing your screen. Check Show Mouse Pointerif you want the curser to be captured on video. There's also an option to use your Mac's microphone if you are planning to record your voice or external audio.
Select Record Entire Screenor Record Selected Portionto begin recording. A Recording button appears at the top of the screen on the menu bar. Click this button to stop recording, and a thumbnail of your recording will be added to your computer. Double-click the screen recording file to play it in your default video player.
You can also trigger the screen recording tool from QuickTime if you go to File > New Screen Recordingwith QuickTime Player open. The first time you do this, you will be asked to open System Settings to grant QuickTime Player permission to record your screen.
Record with OBS Studio
The free OBS Studio works with Windows, macOS, and Linux, and packs a lot of features into one program. Use the floating control panel to start and stop your recording. Along the way, OBS Studio can record your screen activity, microphone, and computer audio. The program then saves the output as an MP4 file.
You can also live stream your video or turn to Studio Mode for adding cuts, fades, and other transitions. The program offers an array of settings where you can change the format and other criteria for both the video and audio portions of the recording. OBS may look intimidating at first, but you should be able to catch on quickly. Check out our guide for beginners if you need help getting started.
Record with Free Cam
Free Cam is a basic screen recorder for Windows users that lets you captures screen activity and audio, then save it as a WMV file. Click New Recording, then select which area of the screen you want to capture—anything from a single window or app to the entire screen. Click the Recordbutton to begin the capture, then press Escwhen finished. Your recording appears in a preview window where you can edit and save the file or upload it to YouTube.
If you need to record the screen on your smartphone, we have a guide for using the built-in recorder on iPhone and iPad. We can also help you choose the right app for Android devices.
