Recording on PC: The Basic Steps

You can record video and audio on your PC using built-in Windows tools or third-party software. The fastest method is Windows 11's built-in Game Bar, which works for any window on your screen—not just games. Press Windows key + G to open it, then click the red record button. For audio-only recording, the Voice Recorder app (search "Voice Recorder" in the Start menu) captures microphone input directly.

The method you choose depends on what you're recording: a video call, your screen while presenting, gameplay, or just voice notes. Each has a different tool that works best, and each saves your file in a different location on your PC.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 11's Game Bar (Windows key + G) records video from any window and saves it to your Videos folder by default.
  • The Voice Recorder app records only audio from your microphone and saves as .m4a files in your Recordings folder.
  • OBS Studio is free software that gives you more control over what gets recorded, including the ability to mix multiple audio sources.
  • Before you record, check your microphone volume in Settings and test it once to make sure Windows is picking up sound.
  • Video files take up significant disk space—a 10-minute recording at standard quality uses roughly 500 MB to 1 GB.

Using Windows Game Bar to Record Your Screen

Game Bar is the simplest option for recording video on Windows 11. Open the window or process you want to record, then press Windows key + G. A small menu appears in the top-left corner. Click the red circle icon (or press Windows key + Alt + R) to start recording. A timer shows how long you've been recording. Press the same keys again to stop.

Your video saves automatically to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Videos\Captures. The file is an .mp4 file that plays in Windows Media Player or any video player. Game Bar records whatever is on your screen at that moment—a Zoom call, a PowerPoint presentation, a browser window, or a game. It does not record system audio by default on some Windows versions, so test it once before relying on it for important recordings.

If you need to adjust what Game Bar records, open Settings, go to Gaming > Xbox Game Bar, and toggle the feature on or off. You can also set the audio source (microphone, system audio, or both) in the same menu before you start recording.

Recording Audio Only with Voice Recorder

Voice Recorder is built into Windows and requires no setup. Search for "Voice Recorder" in the Start menu and open it. You will see a large microphone icon in the center. Click it to start recording, and a timer begins. Click the pause button to pause, or the stop button (the square) to finish. Your recording saves when ready as an .m4a audio file.

By default, Voice Recorder saves files to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.SoundRecorder_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\Recordings. The file names include the date and time, so you can tell them apart. You can rename files directly in the app by right-clicking them. Voice Recorder is useful for voice memos, interviews, or recording a single microphone input without any video.

If your microphone is not picking up sound, check the microphone icon in the Voice Recorder window. If it has a line through it, your microphone is muted. Click it to unmute. If you still hear nothing, go to Settings > System > Sound and scroll down to Input. Make sure your microphone is selected and the volume slider is not at zero.

Using OBS Studio for Advanced Recording

OBS Studio is free software that gives you more control than built-in tools. read it from obsproject.com. It lets you record multiple windows at once, mix audio from different sources, and save in formats other than .mp4. OBS is more complex than Game Bar, but it is worth learning if you record regularly.

When you open OBS, you see a blank canvas called a "scene." Click the plus button under Sources to add what you want to record—a window, your entire screen, a webcam, or a text overlay. Drag the source to position it. Click Start Recording (bottom right), and OBS records everything in the scene. Click Stop Recording to finish. Your file saves to a folder you set in Settings > Output > Recording.

OBS also lets you control audio separately. Under Audio Mixer, you can adjust the volume of your microphone, system audio, or other sources independently. This is useful if you are recording a video call and want the other person's voice louder than background noise.

Checking Your Microphone Before You Record

Before you record anything with audio, test your microphone. Go to Settings > System > Sound. Scroll down to Input and look for your microphone in the dropdown. Click it to select it if it is not already selected. Below that, you will see a blue bar labeled "Test your microphone." Speak into your microphone and watch the bar move. If it does not move, your microphone is not connected or not recognized.

If the bar moves but you do not hear yourself, click the volume slider next to your microphone name and drag it to the right. The slider should not be at zero. If you still have no sound, right-click your microphone in the Input list and select "Open device properties." Go to the Advanced tab and check the Default Format dropdown. Some microphones work better on specific settings.

Once the test bar responds to your voice, your microphone is ready. Open Voice Recorder or Game Bar and do a short test recording (10 to 15 seconds) to confirm the audio is actually being saved. Play it back before you record anything important.

Where Your Recordings Save and How Much Space They Use

Different tools save recordings to different folders. Game Bar saves to your Videos > Captures folder. Voice Recorder saves to a hidden folder in AppData. OBS saves wherever you set it in Settings. To find your recordings quickly, search for the file name in File Explorer or check the most recent files in each app.

Video files are large. A 10-minute recording at 1080p resolution uses roughly 500 MB to 1 GB of disk space, depending on your frame rate and compression. If your PC is running low on storage, delete old recordings or move them to an external drive. You can check how much space you have left by right-clicking your C: drive in File Explorer and selecting Properties.

If you record frequently, consider setting up a dedicated folder for recordings outside your main drive. Right-click the folder, select Properties, and note the path. Then open your recording app's settings and change the output folder to that location. This keeps your main drive from filling up and makes it easier to back up your recordings.

Common Recording Problems and How to Fix Them

If Game Bar does not record audio, check Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar > Microphone. Make sure it is toggled on. If system audio is not recording (the sound from your speakers or the process itself), go to the same menu and toggle on "Record audio from your microphone and system audio." Some applications block recording for copyright reasons—streaming services like Netflix and Spotify will not record their audio this way.

If your recording is choppy or stutters, your PC may not have enough processing power. Close other applications before you record. If that does not help, try lowering the resolution in Game Bar settings or using Voice Recorder instead of video. OBS lets you lower the frame rate (30 fps instead of 60) to reduce the load on your CPU.

If you cannot find your recording after it finishes, check the default save location for the app you used. Game Bar recordings are in Videos > Captures. Voice Recorder files are in the Recordings folder (search for "Recordings" in File Explorer). OBS saves to the folder you set in Output settings. If you still cannot find it, search for the file by date—search for "modified: today" in File Explorer to see all files changed today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record a Zoom call or Teams meeting?

Yes. Open the meeting, then press Windows key + G to open Game Bar. Click the red record button. Game Bar will record both the video window and the audio from your speakers and microphone. The recording saves as an .mp4 file in your Videos > Captures folder. Check your meeting app's settings first—some require you to turn on recording permissions.

What format do I need to save my recording in?

Game Bar saves as .mp4, which plays on almost any device and video player. Voice Recorder saves as .m4a, which is an audio format. OBS can save in .mp4, .mkv, .mov, or other formats depending on your settings. For most purposes, .mp4 is the safest choice because it works everywhere.

How do I record just my voice without background noise?

Use Voice Recorder and record in a quiet room. Close windows, turn off fans, and ask others not to make noise while you record. If you need more control, use OBS and add a noise gate filter to your microphone source—this mutes sound below a certain volume level, cutting out background hum.

Can I record my screen without recording my microphone?

Yes. In Game Bar, before you record, go to Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar and toggle off "Record audio from your microphone and system audio." Then only the video will record with no sound. In OBS, straightforward do not add a microphone source to your scene.

Why is my recording file so large?

Video files are naturally large. A 10-minute 1080p recording typically uses 500 MB to 1 GB. If your file is much larger, you may be recording at a higher resolution or frame rate than necessary. In Game Bar settings, you can lower the resolution. In OBS, lower the bitrate in Settings > Output > Recording.