Built-in screen recording tools work on every major operating system

You can record your screen without buying software or installing anything extra. Windows 10 and 11 include the Xbox Game Bar, macOS has Screenshot with recording built in, and most Linux distributions ship with GNOME Screenshot or similar tools. Each method captures video of what happens on your monitor, along with audio from your microphone or system sound, and saves the file as an MP4 or WebM video you can play back, edit, or share.

The steps differ slightly by operating system, but the basic idea is the same: open the recording tool, press a keyboard shortcut to start, do what you want to record, then press the shortcut again to stop. The video lands in your Downloads folder or a folder you choose.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 10 and 11 use the Xbox Game Bar, opened with Windows key + G, which records in MP4 format and saves to your Videos folder by default.
  • macOS users open Screenshot (Command + Shift + 5), click the Record button, select the area or window to capture, then click Start Recording.
  • Linux users typically open the built-in screenshot tool from the Activities menu or use the keyboard shortcut Super + Print Screen, depending on your desktop environment.
  • All three methods let you record system audio, microphone audio, or both, though you may need to adjust sound settings before you start.
  • Video files are usually saved to your Downloads or Videos folder, and you can trim or edit them in any video editor afterward.

Recording on Windows 10 and 11 with Xbox Game Bar

Press Windows key + G to open the Xbox Game Bar. A control panel appears in the upper left corner of your screen. Look for the red circle icon labeled "Capture" — this is your recording button.

Before you hit record, check your audio settings. Click the microphone icon in the Game Bar to toggle your microphone on or off. If you want to record system sound (like audio from a video or process), you may need to adjust Windows audio settings first. Go to Settings > System > Sound, scroll down to "Advanced," and look for "App volume and device preferences" — this lets you control which sounds get recorded.

Once your audio is set, click the red circle to start recording. A timer appears showing how long you have been recording. Do whatever you want to capture — open a website, run through software steps, play a video. When you are done, click the red circle again to stop. Windows saves the video as an MP4 file in your Videos folder under "Captures."

Recording on macOS with Screenshot

Press Command + Shift + 5 to open the Screenshot app. A toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen with five icons. The fourth icon from the left (it looks like a rectangle with a dot) is the screen recording tool. Click it.

You now see two options: "Capture Entire Screen" or "Capture Selected Window." Choose "Capture Entire Screen" to record everything, or click "Capture Selected Window" and then click the window you want to record. A floating toolbar appears with a red "Record" button and a microphone icon. Click the microphone icon if you want to record audio from your microphone; if you do not click it, the recording will be silent.

Click the red "Record" button. A countdown appears (3, 2, 1), then recording starts. Perform the actions you want to capture. To stop, click the Stop button in the menu bar at the top of your screen, or press Command + Control + Escape. macOS saves the video as a MOV file to your Desktop by default, though you can change this in System Preferences > Screenshots.

Recording on Linux with GNOME Screenshot or Wayland Tools

On most Linux distributions using GNOME, press Super + Print Screen (Super is usually the Windows key). This opens the Screenshot process. Look for a button labeled "Record Screen" or "Record a Video" — the exact label depends on your version.

Click that button. A window appears asking you to select the area to record: you can choose "Entire Screen," "Window," or "Area." Select your preference, then click "Start Recording." A red dot appears in the top bar to show recording is active. Perform your actions, then click the red dot or press Escape to stop. The video saves to your Videos folder as a WebM file.

If you use Wayland (a newer display system on some Linux desktops), the process is similar but the tool may be called "Wayland Screen Recorder" or built into your desktop environment directly. Check your Activities menu or process launcher to find the screen recording tool for your specific setup.

Choosing what audio to record

Most screen recording tools let you record three types of sound: your microphone only, system audio only (sounds from your computer), or both together. The right choice depends on what you are recording.

If you are recording a tutorial where you talk over the video, use your microphone. If you are recording a video call or software demonstration where the important audio comes from your computer, use system audio. If you are doing both — narrating while showing a video — record both and adjust the volume levels later in a video editor.

On Windows, system audio recording sometimes requires extra setup. If the microphone icon in the Xbox Game Bar does not show a system audio option, go to Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer and look for "App volume and device preferences." Find your recording process and set its audio input to "Stereo Mix" or "What U Hear" if available. If those options do not appear, your sound card may not support system audio recording.

Finding and playing back your recording

After you stop recording, the video file appears in a default folder. On Windows, check your Videos folder under a subfolder called "Captures." On macOS, look on your Desktop or in the folder you set in Screenshot preferences. On Linux, check your Videos folder.

Double-click the file to play it in your default video player. Most computers open MP4 and MOV files in the built-in player (Windows Media Player, QuickTime, or your desktop environment's video app). If the file does not open, right-click it, select "Open with," and choose a video player from the list.

The video is a standard file you can move, copy, or share like any other. You can also open it in a video editor (like DaVinci Resolve, which is free) to trim the beginning and end, add captions, adjust audio levels, or make other changes before sharing.

Common problems and how to fix them

No audio in the recording: Check that you toggled the microphone or system audio on before you started. On Windows, verify that Stereo Mix is enabled in Sound settings. On macOS, make sure you clicked the microphone icon in the toolbar. On Linux, check your audio input settings in the system sound preferences.

Recording is choppy or stutters: Close other applications to free up memory and processing power. Reduce the number of browser tabs open. If you are recording at high resolution, try recording a smaller window or area instead of the entire screen. Older computers may struggle with full-screen 4K recording.

File is too large: Built-in tools record at high quality, which creates large files. A 10-minute recording can be 500 MB to 2 GB depending on resolution and frame rate. If storage is tight, trim the video in an editor or compress it using a tool like HandBrake (free, open-source) before sharing.

Cannot find the recording: Search your computer for the file name or the date it was created. On Windows, open File Explorer and search for "*.mp4". On macOS, open Finder and search for "*.mov". On Linux, open your file manager and navigate to the Videos folder, or search for "*.webm".

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record just one window instead of the whole screen?

Yes. On Windows, the Xbox Game Bar records your entire screen, but you can crop the video afterward in a video editor. On macOS, use the "Capture Selected Window" option in Screenshot before you click Record. On Linux, select "Window" when the recording tool asks what area to capture.

How do I record with my voice and the computer sound at the same time?

On Windows, open Sound settings and look for "App volume and device preferences." Set your recording app to use both your microphone and Stereo Mix as inputs, then adjust the volume sliders so both are audible. On macOS and Linux, most recording tools mix microphone and system audio automatically if both are enabled in your sound preferences.

What if my computer does not have a microphone?

You can still record system audio (sounds from your computer). If you want to add narration later, record the screen without audio, then add a voiceover in a video editor like DaVinci Resolve or Audacity. Alternatively, plug in a USB microphone or headset with a built-in mic before you start recording.

Can I edit the video after I record it?

Yes. All screen recordings are standard video files. Open them in any video editor — DaVinci Resolve, OpenShot, and Shotcut are free options available on Windows, Mac, and Linux. You can trim the start and end, adjust audio levels, add text or captions, and export in different formats.

Is there a time limit on how long I can record?

No. Built-in tools will keep recording as long as your hard drive has space. A full hard drive will stop the recording and show an error. If you are recording something long, make sure you have at least 5 to 10 GB of free space available.