The fastest way to record your screen depends on what you own

Windows 10 and 11 come with a built-in screen recorder called Xbox Game Bar that works without installing anything. Mac users have Screenshot, which records video as well as still images. If you use either system, you can start recording in under a minute. Third-party tools like OBS Studio and Camtasia add more control — better audio options, the ability to record multiple windows at once, or to edit the video before you save it — but they take longer to set up.

Your choice depends on what you are recording and what you plan to do with it afterward. A quick tutorial or bug report for your team works fine with the built-in tool. A polished training video or product demo usually needs the extra features a paid tool offers.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 10 and 11 have a free built-in recorder called Xbox Game Bar that starts with Windows key + G and records your entire screen or just one window.
  • Mac users can open Screenshot (Command + Shift + 5), select the screen recording option, and save the video to the desktop or clipboard.
  • OBS Studio is free and open-source, lets you record multiple sources at once, and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
  • Camtasia and ScreenFlow are paid tools that include editing features, so you can trim, add captions, and export without a separate program.
  • Audio quality matters: use a headset microphone rather than your computer's built-in mic, and test the sound before you record anything important.

Recording on Windows with Xbox Game Bar

Open the app or window you want to record. Press Windows key + G to open Xbox Game Bar. A menu bar appears at the top of your screen with a red circle (record button) and a settings icon.

Click the red circle to start recording. The timer shows how long you have been recording. When you are done, press Windows key + G again and click the stop button, or press Windows key + Alt + R to stop without opening the menu. The video saves automatically to your Videos folder in a subfolder called Captures.

By default, Xbox Game Bar records your entire screen. To record only one window, open that window first, then press Windows key + G. The Game Bar menu includes a settings icon where you can change the audio source (microphone, system sound, or both) and the video quality. If you want to record just part of your screen, Xbox Game Bar does not support that — you will need OBS Studio or Camtasia instead.

Recording on Mac with Screenshot

Press Command + Shift + 5 to open the Screenshot app. A menu bar appears at the bottom of your screen with five icons: the first two are for still images, the third records your entire screen, the fourth records a selected area, and the fifth opens options.

Click the third icon to record your entire screen, or the fourth to draw a rectangle around the part you want to record. A floating menu appears with a Record button and a microphone icon. Click the microphone icon if you want to record your voice or system audio. Then click Record. When you are done, press the spacebar or click the Stop button in the menu bar. The video saves to your desktop by default, though you can change that in the options menu.

Screenshot records video as a .mov file, which plays on any Mac and most video players. If you need to edit the video afterward, you can open it in QuickTime Player (which comes with Mac) to trim the beginning and end, but QuickTime does not support adding text, captions, or effects.

Using OBS Studio for more control

OBS Studio is free and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. read it from obsproject.com. When you open it for the first time, you see a blank canvas with sections for Sources, Scenes, and Controls.

To record your screen, click the plus icon under Sources and select Screen Capture (Windows) or Display Capture (Mac). A preview of your screen appears in the canvas. In the Audio Mixer section at the bottom, you can add your microphone as a second audio track. Click Start Recording in the Controls section. OBS saves the video to a folder you choose in Settings > Output.

OBS is powerful but has a steeper learning curve than Xbox Game Bar or Screenshot. You can record multiple sources at once (your screen and a webcam, for example), switch between them during recording, and add overlays like logos or text. However, OBS does not edit video — it only records. If you want to trim, add captions, or add music, you will need a separate video editor like DaVinci Resolve (free) or Adobe Premiere (paid).

Paid tools that include editing

Camtasia (Windows and Mac) costs around $100 per year and records your screen, then opens the video in its built-in editor. You can trim the beginning and end, add captions, zoom in on parts of the screen, and add background music from its library. Camtasia also lets you record your webcam in a corner of the screen and add a cursor highlight so viewers can follow your mouse.

ScreenFlow (Mac only) costs around $30 as a one-time purchase and works similarly to Camtasia. It records your screen and microphone, then opens the video in an editor where you can trim, add captions, and export to different formats. ScreenFlow is lighter and faster than Camtasia but has fewer effects and music options.

Both tools are worth the cost if you record videos regularly and want to avoid switching between a recorder and a separate editor. If you only record occasionally, the free tools are usually enough.

Getting good audio while you record

The microphone built into your computer picks up keyboard clicks, fan noise, and everything else in the room. If you are recording a tutorial or presentation, use a headset microphone instead. A basic USB headset costs $20 to $50 and makes a huge difference in how professional your video sounds.

Before you record anything important, do a test: record 30 seconds of yourself talking, then play it back. Listen for background noise, echo, and whether your voice is clear. In Xbox Game Bar and Screenshot, you can choose your microphone in the settings menu before you start. In OBS, add your microphone as an audio source in the Audio Mixer section.

If you are recording system audio (like a video playing on your screen) as well as your voice, make sure both are turned on in your recording settings. Some tools let you record them on separate tracks so you can adjust the volume of each one later.

Choosing a file format and where to save

All three tools save video in a format your computer can play. Xbox Game Bar and OBS save as .mp4, which works on any device. Screenshot saves as .mov, which plays on Mac and most video players. Camtasia and ScreenFlow let you choose the format when you export.

If you plan to upload the video to YouTube, Google Drive, or a messaging app, .mp4 is the safest choice because it works everywhere. If you plan to edit the video further in another program, check what format that program accepts — some video editors work better with .mov or .mkv files.

By default, all these tools save to your Videos folder or Desktop. If you record a lot of videos, create a dedicated folder so you can find them later. Give each file a descriptive name (like "Tutorial_January_2024" instead of "Recording_1") so you know what it contains without opening it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record just part of my screen instead of the whole thing?

Xbox Game Bar does not support partial screen recording. On Mac, Screenshot lets you draw a rectangle around the area you want to record. On Windows, use OBS Studio: add a Window Capture source instead of Screen Capture, and it will record only that window.

How much disk space does a screen recording use?

A one-hour video at standard quality uses about 500 MB to 1 GB of disk space, depending on your resolution and frame rate. If you record at 4K resolution, expect 2 to 3 GB per hour. Check your available disk space before recording a long video.

Can I record my screen and my webcam at the same time?

Yes, but only with OBS Studio or Camtasia. In OBS, add both Display Capture and Video Capture Device as sources. In Camtasia, there is a built-in option to add your webcam in a corner of the screen. Xbox Game Bar and Screenshot do not support this.

What if I want to edit the video after I record it?

Camtasia and ScreenFlow include built-in editors. For free tools, use DaVinci Resolve (free, works on Windows and Mac) or iMovie (free on Mac). These let you trim, add captions, and add music. OBS records only — it does not edit.

Can I record audio from my computer speakers while I record my screen?

Yes. In Xbox Game Bar, open Settings and choose Microphone and Speaker under Audio. On Mac, Screenshot has a microphone icon in the recording menu. In OBS, add an Audio Output Capture source. Test the audio level before you record anything important.