The fastest way to record your screen depends on your operating system

Windows 10 and later have a built-in screen recorder called Xbox Game Bar that works on any program—you do not need to own a game. Mac users have Screenshot, which includes a screen recording tool. Both are free and take less than a minute to start. If you need to record audio from your microphone or the system sound, or if you want to edit the video afterward, you may want a third-party tool instead, but the built-in options work for most people recording a presentation, tutorial, or video call.

The steps differ between Windows and Mac, so scroll to the section that matches your computer. Both methods let you choose whether to record your entire screen or just one window, and both save the file to your computer automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 10 and later: press Windows key + G to open Xbox Game Bar, then click the record button or press Windows key + Alt + R to start recording.
  • Mac: press Shift + Command + 5 to open the screenshot menu, select the record option, choose your screen or window, then click Record.
  • Both tools record video only by default—you must turn on microphone or system audio in the settings before you start if you want sound.
  • Recordings save as video files (.mp4 on Windows, .mov on Mac) in your default video folder, and you can trim or edit them in most video players.
  • If the built-in tools do not meet your needs, free third-party options like OBS Studio and ScreenFlow offer more control over quality and file size.

Recording on Windows 10 or Windows 11 using Xbox Game Bar

Open the program or window you want to record. Press Windows key + G to launch Xbox Game Bar—a dark panel will appear along the top or side of your screen. If this is your first time, Windows may ask whether you want to open Game Bar; click Yes, this is a game to proceed (the label does not matter for screen recording).

Look for the Capture widget, which shows a circle with a dot inside. Click the red record button, or press Windows key + Alt + R to start recording when ready. A small timer will appear on your screen showing how long you have been recording. To stop, press Windows key + Alt + R again, or click the stop button in the Capture widget.

Your video saves automatically to Videos > Captures in your user folder. The file is named with the date and time, and it plays in Windows Media Player or any video player on your computer. If you do not see the Capture widget when you open Game Bar, click the Settings icon (gear symbol) and make sure Captures is turned on.

Recording on Mac using Screenshot

Open the program or window you want to record. Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the screenshot menu. A toolbar will appear at the bottom of your screen with several icons. Click the icon that shows a rectangle with a dot inside—this is the screen recording tool (it is the second or third icon from the left, depending on your macOS version).

A menu will appear asking you to choose what to record. Click Entire Screen to record everything, or click Selected Window and then click the window you want to record. Once you have chosen, a red Record button will appear in the bottom right corner of your screen. Click it to start. A red dot will appear in the menu bar at the top of your screen while recording is active.

To stop recording, click the red dot in the menu bar and select Stop, or press Control + Command + Esc. A thumbnail will appear in the bottom right corner of your screen. Click it to preview the recording, or wait a few seconds and it will save automatically to your Desktop. The file is a .mov video that opens in QuickTime or any video player.

Turning on audio before you record

By default, both Windows and Mac record video only—no sound from your microphone or the program you are recording. If you want to capture audio, you must enable it before you start recording.

On Windows: Open Xbox Game Bar and press Windows key + G. Click Settings (the gear icon), then go to Audio. Turn on Microphone to record your voice, or turn on Game audio (or System audio, depending on your version) to record sound from your program. Close Settings and start recording.

On Mac: Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the screenshot menu. Before you click Record, look for an Options menu at the bottom of the screen. Click it and select your microphone from the Microphone dropdown. There is no built-in option to record system audio on Mac using Screenshot; if you need that, use a third-party tool like ScreenFlow or OBS Studio.

Choosing between your entire screen and one window

On Windows: When you open Xbox Game Bar, the Capture widget shows a preview of what will record. If you want to record only one window instead of your entire screen, right-click the Capture widget and select Capture window. Then click the window you want to record. To switch back to full screen, right-click and select Capture screen.

On Mac: The screenshot menu gives you the choice before you record. Click Selected Window and then click the window you want to record, or click Entire Screen to record everything. You can change your choice each time you open the menu.

Recording one window is useful when you want to hide other open programs, or when you are recording a video call and want to focus on the participant's face rather than your entire desktop. Recording your entire screen is better when you need to show multiple windows or when you are demonstrating how to switch between programs.

Finding and playing your recording

On Windows: Your recording saves to Videos > Captures. Open File Explorer, click Videos in the left sidebar, then double-click the Captures folder. Your video file has a name like "2024-01-15 14-32-45.mp4". Double-click it to play it in Windows Media Player or your default video player.

On Mac: Your recording saves to your Desktop by default. Look for a file with a name like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.32.45 PM.mov". Double-click it to play it in QuickTime. If you want to save it to a different folder, click the thumbnail that appears after you stop recording and select Save As.

Both file types (.mp4 and .mov) play on most computers and phones. If you want to trim the beginning or end, or make other edits, you can use the built-in video editors: Windows has Photos app, and Mac has iMovie. Both are free and open automatically when you right-click your video file and select Edit or Open with.

When to use a third-party tool instead

The built-in tools work well for most tasks, but they have limits. Windows Game Bar does not let you choose the video quality or file size, and Mac Screenshot cannot record system audio. If you need more control, OBS Studio (free, Windows and Mac) lets you adjust resolution, frame rate, and audio sources. ScreenFlow (Mac only, paid) is designed for screen recording and includes built-in editing tools.

You might also choose a third-party tool if you are recording regularly and want to save time. OBS Studio and ScreenFlow let you save custom settings so you do not have to configure them each time. For occasional recordings of presentations or tutorials, the built-in tools are usually enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record just part of my screen, like a specific rectangle?

Yes. On Windows, right-click the Capture widget in Game Bar and select Capture region, then drag to draw a rectangle around the area you want to record. On Mac, press Shift + Command + 5, click Selected portion, and drag to select the area. Both will record only that region.

Why is my recording silent even though I turned on the microphone?

Check that your microphone is not muted in your system settings. On Windows, right-click the volume icon in the taskbar and make sure your microphone is not set to mute. On Mac, go to System Settings > Sound and check that your microphone is selected and the input volume is not at zero. Also make sure the program you are recording has permission to use your microphone.

How do I make my recording smaller so it takes up less space?

The built-in tools save at a fixed quality. To reduce file size, you can compress the video after recording using free tools like HandBrake (Windows and Mac) or the Photos app (Windows). Alternatively, use OBS Studio before recording and set the output resolution lower than your screen resolution—this records at smaller file size from the start.

Can I record my screen while on a video call?

Yes. Open your video call program, then start recording using Game Bar or Screenshot. Both will record the call window and your voice if you have the microphone turned on. Some video call programs (like Zoom) have their own built-in recording feature, which may be easier if you are recording the call itself rather than demonstrating something else on your screen.

What if Xbox Game Bar does not open when I press Windows key + G?

Game Bar may be turned off in your settings. Go to Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar and turn on Open Xbox Game Bar using this button. If it still does not work, make sure you are on Windows 10 or later. On older versions of Windows, you will need to use a third-party tool like OBS Studio instead.