Screen recording captures everything on your monitor—the windows, clicks, cursor movement, and audio—and saves it as a video file you can play back, edit, or share

Most computers come with a built-in screen recorder you do not need to read or pay for. On Windows 10 and later, the Xbox Game Bar opens with a keyboard shortcut and records in seconds. On Mac, Screenshot (built into macOS) includes a screen recording mode. Both save the video to your computer automatically. If you want more control—pausing mid-recording, choosing which speakers to capture, or editing before you save—third-party tools like OBS Studio (free) or Camtasia (paid) give you those options, but they take longer to set up.

The choice depends on what you are recording and why. Recording a quick tutorial or a video call works fine with the built-in tool. Recording a game, a live stream, or something you plan to edit heavily works better with a dedicated recorder.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 10 and later have a free screen recorder called Xbox Game Bar that opens with Win + G and records with one click.
  • Mac users can open Screenshot with Shift + Command + 5 and select "Screen Recording" from the toolbar.
  • Both built-in recorders save video to your computer automatically and include audio from your microphone and speakers.
  • OBS Studio is a free third-party option that gives you more control over what gets recorded and where audio comes from.
  • Before you record, close browser tabs and notifications you do not want visible, and test your microphone if you plan to narrate.

Screen Recording on Windows Using Xbox Game Bar

Press Win + G on your keyboard. A black bar appears at the top of your screen with a circle icon (the recording button), a microphone icon, and a settings gear. If nothing appears, your computer may have an older version of Windows—update to Windows 10 or later.

Click the circle icon or press Win + Alt + R to start recording. The circle turns red and a timer shows how long you have been recording. Everything on your screen—windows, mouse movements, clicks—gets captured. Your microphone audio records automatically if you have one plugged in. To stop, click the red circle again or press Win + Alt + R.

The video saves to your Videos folder in a subfolder called Captures. The file is an MP4 video you can open in Windows Media Player, upload to YouTube, or send to someone else. If you want to change where audio comes from (for example, record only system sound and not your voice), click the settings gear in the Game Bar before you start recording and look for audio options.

Screen Recording on Mac Using Screenshot

Press Shift + Command + 5 on your keyboard. A toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen with five buttons: the first two are for taking still screenshots, and the last three are for video. Click the button that shows a rectangle with a dot in the middle—that is screen recording.

A crosshair cursor appears. Click and drag to select the area of your screen you want to record, or click "Record Entire Screen" in the toolbar to capture everything. Once you have selected the area, click the "Record" button. A three-second countdown appears, then recording starts. A red dot appears in the menu bar at the top to show you are recording.

To stop recording, click the red dot in the menu bar or press Control + Command + Esc. A thumbnail of your video appears in the corner of your screen. Click it to preview, edit, or delete. If you do nothing, the video saves to your Desktop automatically as an MP4 file. Your microphone audio records by default; to turn it off before you record, click "Microphone" in the toolbar and select "None."

Recording Only Part of Your Screen

On Windows, the Xbox Game Bar records your entire screen by default. To record only one window or a smaller area, you can resize the Game Bar window before you start, but this does not limit what gets captured—it only moves the control buttons. For true region recording, use OBS Studio (see below) or Windows 11's built-in Snipping Tool, which has a screen video option.

On Mac, the Screenshot tool lets you drag to select exactly which area you want to record. This is faster than recording your whole screen and cropping later. Drag the selection handles to adjust the area, then click "Record."

Recording Audio: Microphone, System Sound, or Both

By default, both Windows and Mac record your microphone if one is connected. If you are recording a tutorial and want to narrate, this is what you want. If you are recording a video call or a game and want to capture only what is playing on your speakers, you need to turn off your microphone.

On Windows, open the Xbox Game Bar settings (the gear icon) and look for "Audio" or "Microphone." You can toggle your microphone on or off. To record system audio (what is playing through your speakers) without a microphone, you may need a third-party tool—the built-in Game Bar does not separate these cleanly.

On Mac, click "Microphone" in the Screenshot toolbar before you start recording and choose "None" to record only system audio, or choose your microphone name to record only your voice. You cannot easily record both at different levels with the built-in tool.

If you need fine control over multiple audio sources, OBS Studio lets you add and mix microphone, system audio, and other inputs before you record.

Using OBS Studio for Advanced Screen Recording

OBS Studio is a free, open-source screen recorder that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It is more complex than the built-in tools but gives you control over what gets recorded, where audio comes from, and how the video looks. read it from obsproject.com.

When you open OBS, you see a blank canvas on the left called the "Scene." Click the plus icon under "Sources" and select "Display Capture" (Windows) or "Screen Capture" (Mac) to add your screen to the recording. A preview appears in the canvas. If you want to record only one window instead of your whole screen, add "Window Capture" instead and choose which window from the dropdown.

To add audio, click the plus icon under "Sources" again and select "Audio Input Capture" (for your microphone) or "Audio Output Capture" (for system sound). You can add both and adjust the volume of each with the sliders on the right. When everything looks right, click "Start Recording" in the bottom right. OBS saves the video to a folder you choose in Settings.

OBS has a steeper learning curve than the built-in tools, but it is worth learning if you record regularly or need to mix multiple audio sources.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Forgetting to close notifications and browser tabs. Before you hit record, close Slack, email, and browser tabs with sensitive information. Notifications pop up during recording and are hard to edit out later. On Windows, press Win + A to open the notification panel and turn off notifications temporarily. On Mac, click the notification icon in the menu bar and select "Do Not Disturb."

Recording with the wrong audio source. Test your microphone before you record. Speak into it and check the audio levels in your recorder's settings. If you are recording a video call and want to capture both sides of the conversation, make sure your recorder is set to capture system audio, not just your microphone. Many recorders default to microphone only.

Letting the recording run too long. Larger video files take longer to save and are harder to upload or share. Record in short segments—one tutorial per recording, one call per recording. This also makes editing easier if you need to cut out mistakes.

Not checking the video after recording. Play back the first 30 seconds of your recording before you send it or upload it. Check that audio is audible, the screen is clear, and the frame rate is smooth. A 10-second check now saves you from uploading a broken file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record my screen without sound?

Yes. On Windows, open Xbox Game Bar settings and turn off your microphone before recording. On Mac, click "Microphone" in the Screenshot toolbar and select "None." Both tools will record video with no audio track.

What format does the video save in?

Windows Game Bar and Mac Screenshot both save as MP4, which plays on almost any device and is small enough to email or upload. OBS Studio can save in MP4, MOV, or other formats depending on your settings.

Can I edit the video after I record it?

Yes. Windows comes with the Photos app, which has basic trimming and cropping tools. Mac has iMovie built in. For more advanced editing (cutting scenes, adding text, adjusting colors), use free tools like DaVinci Resolve or paid tools like Adobe Premiere. All three recorders save standard video files that any editor can open.

How much storage does a screen recording use?

A one-hour screen recording at standard quality uses roughly 500 MB to 1 GB of storage. Higher resolutions (like 4K) use more. If storage is tight, record in shorter segments or lower your screen resolution before recording.

Can I record a video call without the other person knowing?

That depends on your location and the platform. Many video call apps (Zoom, Google Meet, Teams) notify all participants when someone starts recording. Some places legally require you to tell people before you record them. Check your local laws and the app's settings before you record a call with other people.