What You Can Record and Which Tool to Use

Your computer has built-in recording tools for both audio and video, and which one you use depends on what you want to capture. If you want to record your voice, a podcast, or system sound, use the Voice Memos app on Mac or the Voice Recorder app on Windows. If you want to record your screen, your webcam, or both together, use Windows 11's built-in Xbox Game Bar or Mac's Screenshot utility. For more control—like editing, adding titles, or adjusting audio levels—you may want a third-party tool like OBS Studio, which is free and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

The simplest approach is to start with what your operating system already has. You do not need to read anything, and the recordings save directly to your computer in a standard format you can play back or share when ready.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 11 includes Xbox Game Bar (press Win+G) for screen and webcam recording; Mac includes Screenshot (press Shift+Command+5) for the same purpose.
  • Voice Recorder on Windows and Voice Memos on Mac capture audio only and are the fastest way to record a voice memo or podcast.
  • Recordings save to your computer in MP4 (video) or M4A (audio) format and can be played back in any media player or shared when ready.
  • If you want to record your screen while gaming or presenting, Xbox Game Bar on Windows records at up to 120 frames per second without slowing your computer.
  • Third-party tools like OBS Studio offer more features—like multiple audio sources, live streaming, and scene switching—but require installation and setup.

Recording Audio on Windows

Open the Voice Recorder app by pressing the Windows key, typing "voice recorder," and pressing Enter. You will see a microphone icon and a red record button. Click the record button to start. Speak into your computer's microphone. When you are done, click the stop button (a square icon). The recording appears in your list with a timestamp.

By default, Voice Recorder saves files to your Documents folder in M4A format, which plays in Windows Media Player, VLC, or any web browser. If you want to save to a different location, right-click the recording, select "Open file location," and move it where you need it. You can also rename the file here—Voice Recorder names them by date and time, so renaming makes them easier to find later.

Common mistake: If you do not hear yourself or the recording is silent, check that your microphone is plugged in and selected as the input device. Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar, select "Sound settings," scroll to "Input," and confirm your microphone appears and shows a blue bar moving when you speak.

Recording Audio on Mac

Open Voice Memos by pressing Command+Space, typing "voice memos," and pressing Enter. Click the red record button or press Command+R. Speak into your Mac's microphone. When you are finished, click the stop button (a square icon). The memo appears in your list with the date and time it was recorded.

Voice Memos saves files in M4A format to your Mac's local storage. To find the file on your computer, open Finder, click "Locations" on the left, select your Mac's name, then navigate to Library > Containers > com.apple.voicememos > Data > Documents. You can also export directly from Voice Memos: right-click the recording, select "Share," and choose "Save File" to pick a location.

If your recording is too quiet, check System Settings > Sound > Input and confirm your microphone is selected. Speak at normal volume about six inches from the microphone for the clearest recording.

Recording Your Screen on Windows

Press the Windows key and G together to open Xbox Game Bar. You will see a control panel with a record button (a circle icon). Click it to start recording your screen. Everything you do—clicks, typing, window changes—will be captured along with your system audio (music, video playback, notification sounds). Click the stop button (a square icon) to end the recording.

By default, Xbox Game Bar saves video to your Videos folder in MP4 format at 1080p resolution. If you want to record at a higher resolution or change the frame rate, click the Settings icon (gear) in Xbox Game Bar, select "Captures," and adjust "Video quality" or "Frame rate." Higher settings use more storage space and may slow your computer if it is older.

If you want to record your screen and your webcam at the same time, click the camera icon in Xbox Game Bar before you start recording. Your webcam feed will appear in a small window in the corner of your recording. This is useful for tutorials where you want to show your screen and your face together.

Recording Your Screen on Mac

Press Shift+Command+5 to open the Screenshot utility. You will see a toolbar at the bottom of your screen with five icons. Click the second icon from the right (it looks like a rectangle with a dot) to record your entire screen, or click the rightmost icon to record a selected area. Click "Record" to start. Everything on your screen will be captured along with system audio. Click "Stop" in the menu bar to end the recording.

Mac saves screen recordings as MOV files to your Desktop by default. To change the save location, click "Options" in the Screenshot toolbar and select a different folder. To record your screen and your webcam together, you will need a third-party tool like OBS Studio, because the built-in Screenshot utility does not support picture-in-picture recording.

If your screen recording is choppy or stuttering, close other open programs to free up memory. Screen recording is processor-intensive, and running many programs at once can slow it down.

Using OBS Studio for Advanced Recording

OBS Studio is a free, open-source tool that records video and audio with more control than built-in tools. read it from obsproject.com, install it, and open it. You will see a blank canvas called a "scene." To add your screen to the scene, click the plus icon under "Sources," select "Display Capture," and click "Create New." Your screen will appear in the preview. To add your webcam, click the plus icon again, select "Video Capture Device," and click "Create New."

To record, click "Start Recording" in the bottom right. OBS will save to a folder you choose during setup. When you are done, click "Stop Recording." The file will be in MP4 format and ready to play or share. OBS is more complex than built-in tools, but it lets you switch between scenes (useful for presentations), adjust audio levels for each source separately, and stream live to platforms like YouTube or Twitch if you want to broadcast instead of just record.

Checking Your Recording and Troubleshooting

After you record, locate your file and open it in a media player to check the quality. On Windows, use Windows Media Player or VLC. On Mac, use QuickTime or VLC. Play the first 30 seconds and the last 30 seconds to confirm the audio is clear and the video is smooth. If the audio is distorted or too quiet, re-record with your microphone closer to your mouth or at a higher volume.

If your recording will not play, the file may be corrupted or in a format your player does not support. Try opening it in VLC (available free for Windows and Mac), which plays almost any format. If VLC cannot open it, the recording may have been interrupted—try recording again. If you are recording video and it is very choppy, your computer may not have enough processing power. Close other programs, lower the resolution in your recording settings, or use a simpler tool like Xbox Game Bar instead of OBS.

If you recorded but cannot find the file, check the default save location: Windows Voice Recorder saves to Documents, Xbox Game Bar saves to Videos, Mac Voice Memos saves to the Voice Memos app itself (not a folder), and Mac Screenshot saves to Desktop. Use your file explorer or Finder to search by date if you are unsure where it went.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record my computer's audio without recording my voice?

Yes. On Windows, use Xbox Game Bar and do not speak into your microphone—it will record only system sounds like music or video playback. On Mac, use Screenshot and the same approach. If you want to record only system audio without your screen, use a third-party tool like OBS Studio and add only an "Audio Output Capture" source, not a display source.

What if my recording is too large to share?

Video files are large by default. To shrink a file, use a free tool like HandBrake (handbrake.fr) to compress it. Lower the resolution from 1080p to 720p, or reduce the frame rate from 60 to 30 frames per second. Both changes make the file smaller without making it unwatchable. For audio-only files, they are usually small enough to email or upload directly.

Can I record a video call on Zoom or Teams?

Yes, using your screen recording tool. Open Zoom or Teams, start your call, then press Win+G (Windows) or Shift+Command+5 (Mac) to record your screen. Both Zoom and Teams also have built-in recording buttons in the meeting controls—clicking "Record" there saves the recording to the platform's servers instead of your computer. Check with the other people on the call first, as many workplaces require consent before recording.

Why is my recording silent even though I can hear audio?

Your microphone or speaker may not be selected as the input or output device. On Windows, right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and select "Sound settings." On Mac, go to System Settings > Sound. Confirm your microphone is listed under "Input" and your speaker is listed under "Output." If neither appears, your device may not be plugged in or recognized by your computer.

Can I edit my recording after I make it?

Yes. Windows includes a free tool called Photos that can trim video. Open your recording in Photos, click "Edit," and use the trim slider to cut the beginning or end. For more detailed editing—like adding titles, transitions, or background music—use free tools like DaVinci Resolve or Shotcut. Both are available for Windows and Mac and have learning curves, but they give you full control over your final video.