The fastest way to start recording your screen

Windows 10 and 11 come with a built-in recording tool called Xbox Game Bar that works on any game without installing extra software. Press Windows key + G to open it, then click the record button (or press Windows key + Alt + R) to start. The video saves automatically to your Videos folder in a subfolder called Captures. This method works for most games and streams directly to Discord if you want to broadcast while recording.

If you use a Mac, QuickTime Player (built into macOS) records your screen at any resolution. Open QuickTime, go to File > New Screen Recording, click the red record button, and drag to select the area you want to capture. The file saves as an .mov file that you can edit or share. For more control over quality and file size, many Mac users switch to ScreenFlow or OBS Studio, both of which let you choose frame rate and bitrate before recording starts.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Game Bar (Windows key + G) records gameplay without installation and saves files automatically to your Videos folder.
  • QuickTime on Mac records your screen natively, and you can select which area to capture before you start.
  • OBS Studio works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, lets you switch between multiple scenes, and is free to read.
  • Recording at 1080p and 60 frames per second uses roughly 5 to 8 gigabytes per hour, so check your storage before long sessions.
  • Most games run slower while recording; if your frame rate drops too much, lower your recording resolution or turn off in-game graphics settings.

Using OBS Studio for more control

OBS Studio is a free, open-source recorder that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It gives you control over resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and audio sources—useful if you want to record your voice separately from game audio, or if you plan to stream later. read it from obsproject.com, install it, and open the process.

When you first open OBS, you will see a blank canvas. Click the + button under Sources and select Display Capture (to record your whole screen) or Game Capture (to record only the game window). Drag the preview to fit your screen, then click Start Recording. OBS saves the file as an .mp4 in a folder you choose during setup. The learning curve is steeper than Game Bar, but you can save different setups (called Scenes) for different games, which saves time if you record often.

Recording quality settings and file sizes

The quality you choose affects both how your video looks and how much storage it uses. At 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second, you will use roughly 5 to 8 gigabytes per hour. At 1440p and 60 fps, expect 10 to 15 gigabytes per hour. At 720p and 30 fps, you will use 2 to 3 gigabytes per hour. Choose based on what your game looks like and how much storage you have.

Higher bitrate (measured in megabits per second, or Mbps) means better quality but larger files. For 1080p at 60 fps, a bitrate of 8000 to 12000 Mbps is standard. For 720p at 60 fps, 4000 to 6000 Mbps is typical. If you are recording to edit later, use a higher bitrate; if you are uploading directly to YouTube or Twitch, you can use lower bitrate because those platforms compress video anyway. Check your hard drive space before you start—a full drive will stop recording mid-session.

Why your game slows down while recording

Recording uses CPU (processor) power, which means your game has less power to run at full speed. If your frame rate drops noticeably, you have three options: lower your recording resolution, lower your recording frame rate, or lower your in-game graphics settings. Most players find that recording at 1080p 60 fps causes a 5 to 15 percent frame rate drop on mid-range computers, which is usually not noticeable.

If you have an NVIDIA graphics card (GTX 1050 or newer), you can use NVIDIA ShadowPlay (built into GeForce Experience) to record using your graphics card instead of your processor. This reduces the slowdown significantly. AMD cards have a similar feature called AMD ReLive. Both are faster than CPU-based recording because they offload the work to hardware designed for it.

Recording audio from your game and microphone

By default, Game Bar records only game audio. If you want to add your voice, you need to set up a separate microphone track. In OBS Studio, click the + under Audio Input Capture, select your microphone, and adjust the volume slider so your voice does not drown out the game. You can record both on the same track or split them into separate audio channels (useful if you want to adjust volumes during editing).

On Windows Game Bar, you cannot record your microphone directly—you will need to add your voice during editing, or use a third-party tool like Audacity to record your microphone separately and sync it later. Many streamers use a mixer (hardware or software) to blend game audio and microphone audio before recording, which gives them more control over the final sound.

Editing and sharing your recording

After you record, your file is ready to watch or edit. Windows comes with Photos (built-in app) which can trim the start and end of a video and add basic effects. For more detailed editing—cutting out mistakes, adding transitions, or adjusting audio levels—use DaVinci Resolve (free version available) or Adobe Premiere Pro (paid subscription). Both run on Windows and Mac.

If you want to upload directly without editing, YouTube accepts .mp4 files up to 256 gigabytes, and Twitch lets you upload past broadcasts from your dashboard. Compress your file before uploading if it is larger than 4 gigabytes—use a tool like HandBrake (free, works on Windows and Mac) to reduce file size without losing much quality. A 10-gigabyte file can usually compress to 2 to 3 gigabytes with minimal visible difference.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Running out of storage mid-recording is the most common problem. Check your available disk space before you start—if you have less than 20 gigabytes free, record at 720p or delete old files first. Recording at too high a bitrate creates huge files that are slow to edit and upload; start with the standard bitrate for your resolution and increase it only if the video looks blurry. Forgetting to mute notifications means your recording will include Discord pings, email alerts, and system sounds—turn off notifications before you hit record.

Another frequent issue is audio out of sync after editing. This happens when you record game audio and microphone audio on separate devices. To avoid it, record both on the same track in OBS, or use a mixer to combine them before recording. If sync does drift, most editing software has a tool to shift audio timing—usually found under Audio or Synchronization in the menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record a game that uses anti-cheat software?

Most anti-cheat systems allow recording for personal use. Some games (like Valorant) block third-party overlays, which means Game Bar and OBS may not work—in those cases, use the game's built-in recording feature if it has one, or use your graphics card's native recorder (ShadowPlay or ReLive). Check the game's support page if you are unsure.

What frame rate should I record at?

Record at the same frame rate your game runs at. If your game runs at 60 fps, record at 60 fps. If it runs at 144 fps but you record at 60 fps, the video will look choppy. If your game runs at 30 fps, recording at 60 fps wastes storage without improving quality.

How do I record just one monitor if I have two?

In OBS Studio, use Game Capture instead of Display Capture—it will record only the window you select. In Game Bar, it records whichever monitor your game is on. If you use QuickTime on Mac, drag the selection box to cover only the monitor you want.

Can I record gameplay while streaming to Twitch at the same time?

Yes. In OBS Studio, click Start Streaming and Start Recording simultaneously—OBS will send video to Twitch and save a local file at the same time. The local file will be higher quality than what Twitch receives because Twitch compresses the stream. Game Bar does not stream, so you would need OBS or a streaming service's native tool.

Why is my recording file corrupted or won't play?

This usually means the recording was interrupted (power loss, full disk, or crash). Always let the recording finish and close the process properly before unplugging or restarting. If a file is already corrupted, some media players can still play it partially—try VLC Media Player, which is more forgiving than Windows Media Player.