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How to Record Your Screen on Windows: A Step-by-Step Guide
Harry Stewart
|
March 29, 2023
Whether showcasing elite gaming skills or creating a video tutorial for work, you’ll need to master the art of making a Windows screen recording.
But don’t worry. The process is fairly straightforward. Windows has two easy-to-use, pre-installed tools, while third-party apps provide advanced features for more complex captures.
This post will explain how to screen record on Windows using three different applications: the Xbox Game Bar, the Windows Snipping Tool, and OBS Studio.
The best screen recorder for Windows: Three easy-to-use solutions
A staggering array of apps let you record on-screen videos on Windows. But to simplify the process, we’ll focus on just three. Two come pre-loaded into the operating system, while our final option is a free third-party app.
Xbox Game Bar
No need to be put off by the name. You don’t need a console or games to run the Xbox Games Bar. While this easy-to-use in-built app was developed with gamers in mind, it works equally well for recording MP4 video and audio on any single application.
The downside, however, is the Xbox Game Bar only captures a single application at a time. When you jump from one app to another, the clip automatically stops recording. While it’s theoretically possible to stitch multiple single-app clips together into one fluid video, that would require third-party programs and become a time-consuming chore.
Therefore, Xbox Game Bar is a poor choice for recording multiple applications. The same applies when jumping between the Windows User Interface (UI). Should you fancy recording a tutorial involving the Start Menu, an app, and/or Windows File Explorer, then Xbox Game Bar isn’t for you. Try the Windows Snipping Tool or OBS Studio instead.
Pros:
- Comes built into Windows 10 and 11
- Easy to use
- Records audio through the microphone and app
Cons:
- Only records one app at a time
- Only records video in MP4
Windows Snipping Tool
Another simple, pre-installed recording app is the Windows Snipping Tool. Many old-school Windows users will already be familiar with the app, which has long been the go-to option for capturing snipped screenshots.
If you’re running Windows 11 (build 22621.1344 or later), you can also use the Windows Snipping Tool to record MP4 video in a pre-determined area. Drawing a box around where you want to capture will prompt the viewer to focus on a specific section and hide unnecessary clutter.
The app is easy to use and only takes a minute to master. However, it won’t let you record audio through your microphone or the app.
Pros:
- Comes built into Windows 11
- Lets you record a specific, pre-determined area of the screen
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Video recording feature is only available on Windows 11
- Only records video in MP4 format
- Doesn’t record audio through the app or microphone
OBS Studio
Both pre-loaded Windows screen recording apps have limitations. With Xbox Game Bar, you can only record one application at a time, while the Windows Snipping Tool doesn’t let you capture audio. Therefore, if you want to record multiple apps/UI features and capture audio, you’re better off using a trusted third-party app.
There’s a dizzying array of options on the internet, many offering a slew of fancy, newfangled features. But for simplicity’s sake, it’s hard to beat Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) Studio.
OBS Studio is a free, open-source, cross-platform app for recording on-screen videos and streaming content. Like Xbox Game Bar, it’s primarily intended for streaming, but also works well for creating on-screen tutorials or training videos.
The drawback is you’ll need to spend a few extra minutes downloading, installing, and configuring the app.
Pros:
- Records video and audio in mkv, MOV, or MP4 format
- Can capture multiple applications simultaneously
- Trusted, widely used application
- Free to use with no trial period or credit card requirements
Cons:
- Doesn’t come pre-installed on Windows
- Takes some effort to configure
How to choose the best screen recording application for you
The ideal option depends on what you’re planning to record.
Using a pre-installed Windows screen recording app will save you some hassle, but it mightn’t have the functionality you need. Consider the following to determine the best choice for you.
- Use Xbox Game Bar if you just want to record video and audio on one single app.
- Use the Windows Snipping Tool if you only want to record video.
- Use OBS Studio if you want to record video and audio across multiple apps or in various formats.
How to record a screen on Windows
Now you know which option best suits your requirements, let’s dive into our step-by-step guides.
How to record your screen on Xbox Game Bar
- Open the app you want to record.
- Hold the Windows Key and press Alt + R. You’ll see a small pop-up in the corner of the screen to indicate you’re recording.
- Click the microphone icon on this pop-up window to enable/disable audio capture.
- Create your video, speaking into your PC microphone if desired.
- Press the blue, square-shaped Stop button (or hold the Windows Key and press Alt + R again) to stop the recording.
- Once finished, a different pop-up window will let you know your clip has been recorded.
- Click this pop-up to open the Gallery menu in Xbox Game Bar.
- From there, select your new recording and click Open File Location to locate the video in Windows File Explorer.
If you missed the pop-up window, hold the Windows Key and press G to open Xbox Game Bar and navigate to the Gallery. The Xbox Game Bar Settings menu lets you configure the maximum recording length, frame rate, video quality, and toggle mouse cursor capturing.
One cool feature for gamers is you can capture the last 30 seconds (or longer) of video without actively recording. Ever pulled off an epic kill during an intense online skirmish and regretted not recording it? You can use this feature to rewind time and record retroactively.
Turn this function on by pressing the Record Last 30 Seconds button in the Xbox Game Bar Capture window. Once it’s enabled, hold the Windows Key and press Alt + G to capture the previous 30 seconds.
How to record your screen using Windows Snipping Tool
- Open the Windows Snipping Tool. The easiest way to find it is by typing “snipping” into your Windows Search Bar.
- Switch from screenshot to video recording by clicking the Record button on the top task pane of the app (this may already be selected).
- Click the New button (or press CTRL + N) to create a new recording.
- Draw a box around the section of your screen you wish to capture. If you want to record everything, draw a large box covering your entire screen.
- Click the blue Start recording button that appears in a new pop-up window.
- Wait for the countdown to finish and create your recording.
- Press the red Stop button to complete your recording or the Pause button to pause capturing. After hitting pause, you can continue capturing by pressing the Resume recording button. This will continue recording in the same file.
- A playback screen will appear so you can review your recording. If you’re happy with it, press the Save button (or CTRL + S) to save it as an MP4 file. You can also press the Copy button (or CTRL + C) to copy the file to your clipboard or the Share button to send the recording via email or other means.
How to record your screen using OBS Studio
- Visit the OBS Studio website to download and install the application.
- The Auto-Configuration Wizard will ask you to optimise the app for recording or streaming. Choose whichever option applies to you (you can change this setting later).
- The wizard will then ask you to choose a Base Canvas Resolution and FPS (frames per second). For best results, select your usual screen resolution. A 30 FPS frame rate is recommended for video tutorials (again, you can tweak both these settings later).
- Once the app has launched, click the Plus icon in the Sources tab.
- Click Display Capture from the drop-down tab.
- Give your source a name (if you like) and click the Okay button.
- If you have multiple monitors, choose your preferred Display for OBS. This option lets you put OBS on one screen and your recording on another. Users with only one monitor don’t get to choose.
- Set the Base Canvas Resolution to your screen resolution and the Output Resolution to your liking. OBS will automatically scale the base resolution down to the output.
- Use the Audio Mixer to adjust the Desktop Audio and Mic/Aux Audio as required.
- Find and click the Start Recording button in the lower right-hand corner of the screen.
- When capturing with one monitor, minimise OBS and create your recording.
- Maximise OBS again and click Stop Recording to finish capturing.
- By default, OBS will store files in .mkv format in your Windows 10 or 11 Videos Folder. You can change the destination folder or format (to MP4 or MOV) in the Settings/Output menu.
Summary
All three Windows screen recorder applications offer a simple solution for creating video tutorials or capturing frantic, in-game action.
If you’re happy with a single-application video/audio recording, Xbox Game Bar offers a quick and easy solution. Or, if you don’t need to record any audio at all, the Windows Snipping Tool is even simpler. But should you need to capture multiple apps and audio, a third-party program like OBS Studio is the way to go.
