Screen recording captures everything on your monitor—your cursor, windows, video playback, and audio—and saves it as a video file you can watch, edit, or share later.

Most computers come with a built-in screen recorder you can start with a keyboard shortcut or menu click. Windows 11 has the Xbox Game Bar, macOS has Screenshot (which includes recording), and Linux distributions vary but often include GNOME Screenshot or similar tools. If the built-in option doesn't meet your needs—because you want to edit the video, record only part of the screen, or capture audio from multiple sources—third-party software like OBS Studio (free, all platforms) or Camtasia (paid, Windows and Mac) gives you more control.

The choice depends on what you're recording. A quick tutorial or bug report? Built-in tools work fine. A polished presentation or gaming video? You'll want software that lets you add overlays, crop the frame, or pause the recording without stopping the file.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 11 users can press Win + Alt + R to start recording with Xbox Game Bar; Windows 10 users access it through the Start menu or by pressing Win + G.
  • Mac users open Screenshot (Command + Shift + 5), click the video camera icon, select the area or window to record, and click Record.
  • Built-in tools save recordings to your default folder (usually Documents or Downloads) and include system audio by default, but not microphone audio unless you adjust settings first.
  • OBS Studio is free and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, but requires more setup—you choose what to record, where audio comes from, and how the video is compressed.
  • Before recording, close browser tabs and notifications you don't want visible, mute notifications in your operating system, and test your audio input if you plan to narrate.

Screen Recording on Windows 11 Using Xbox Game Bar

Windows 11's quickest method is the Xbox Game Bar, which you start with a two-key combination. Press Win + Alt + R to begin recording when ready. A small control panel appears in the upper right corner showing a red dot (recording active), elapsed time, and buttons to stop or pause. Your cursor and everything on screen are captured, including system audio (music, video playback, notification sounds).

When you stop recording by pressing Win + Alt + R again or clicking the stop button, the file saves automatically to your Videos folder in a subfolder called Captures. The video is saved as an MP4 file with a timestamp in the filename. If you want to record only part of the screen or adjust audio settings before you start, open the Xbox Game Bar first by pressing Win + G, then look for the Settings icon (gear) in the bar to choose whether to include microphone audio.

A common mistake is forgetting that Xbox Game Bar records system audio by default but not your voice unless you turn on microphone input in settings beforehand. If you're narrating a tutorial, open Settings within the Game Bar, find the Audio section, and enable your microphone before you press Record.

Screen Recording on Windows 10

Windows 10 also has Xbox Game Bar, but you access it differently. Press Win + G to open the Game Bar overlay. A menu appears with recording controls. Click the red Record button (or press Win + Alt + R) to start. The same red control panel appears in the corner. Stop the same way—press Win + Alt + R or click the stop button.

Recordings save to the same Videos/Captures folder as Windows 11. The main difference is that Windows 10's Game Bar is less integrated into the system settings, so if you need to enable microphone audio, you may need to dig into the full Game Bar settings menu rather than finding it in a quick panel.

Screen Recording on Mac Using Screenshot

macOS includes a built-in tool called Screenshot that handles both still images and video. Press Command + Shift + 5 to open the Screenshot menu. You'll see five icons at the bottom of the screen: the first two are for still screenshots, the third is for recording the entire screen, the fourth records a selected window, and the fifth records a selected portion of the screen.

Click the icon for the type of recording you want. If you choose full screen or window recording, a Record button appears. Click it to start. If you choose a portion, drag to select the area you want to record, then click Record. A red recording indicator appears in the menu bar. When you're done, click the Stop button in the menu bar or press Command + Control + Esc.

By default, Screenshot saves recordings to your Desktop. Before you record, you can click Options in the Screenshot menu to change the save location, include or exclude the mouse pointer, or set a timer delay. macOS records system audio automatically but not your microphone—to add narration, you'll need third-party software like OBS Studio or Camtasia.

Screen Recording with OBS Studio (Windows, Mac, and Linux)

OBS Studio is free, open-source software that works on all three major operating systems. It gives you precise control over what you record, where audio comes from, and how the video is compressed. read it from obsproject.com and install it like any other process.

When you open OBS, you see a blank canvas on the left (called the Scene) and a Sources panel below it. To record your screen, click the plus icon under Sources and select Screen Capture (Windows/Linux) or Display Capture (Mac). A window appears asking which monitor to record—choose the one you want. Click Add Source, and your screen appears in the preview.

To add audio, click the plus icon again and select Audio Input Capture (for your microphone) or Audio Output Capture (for system sounds like video playback). Drag the audio source into the Sources list. In the bottom right, click Start Recording. OBS saves the file to a folder you set in Settings—go to Settings, Output, Recording, and choose your folder and filename format. When you're done, click Stop Recording.

OBS is more complex than built-in tools but much more flexible. You can record only part of the screen by resizing the source in the preview, add text overlays, switch between multiple scenes, or pause without stopping the file. If you're new to it, the learning curve is steeper, but tutorials are abundant online.

Preparing Your Computer Before You Record

A few steps before you hit Record save you from having to re-record later. Close any browser tabs, email windows, or files you don't want visible on camera. Disable notifications so pop-ups don't interrupt your recording—on Windows, open Settings and search for Focus information, then turn it on; on Mac, click the notification icon in the menu bar and select Do Not Disturb.

Test your audio. If you're narrating, open your recording software's audio settings and speak into your microphone while watching the audio level meter. It should move when you talk. If it doesn't, check that your microphone is selected as the input device and that the volume isn't muted in your system settings.

Decide what frame rate and resolution you need. Built-in tools usually default to your monitor's native resolution (1920×1080 or higher) and 30 frames per second, which is fine for tutorials and presentations. If you're recording a game or fast-moving content, 60 fps looks smoother but creates larger files. OBS lets you adjust this; built-in tools usually don't.

Saving, Finding, and Playing Your Recording

After you stop recording, the file is saved when ready. On Windows, go to Videos > Captures (for Xbox Game Bar) or your chosen folder (for OBS). On Mac, check your Desktop or the folder you selected in Screenshot options. The file is a standard video format—MP4 on Windows and Mac, which plays in any media player or video editor.

If you want to edit the recording, you can open it in free software like DaVinci Resolve (Windows, Mac, Linux) or iMovie (Mac only). You can trim the beginning and end, add captions, speed up or slow down sections, or overlay text and images. Most editing software also lets you export the final video in different formats or resolutions, which is useful if you're uploading to a website with specific requirements.

File size depends on resolution, frame rate, and length. A 10-minute recording at 1080p and 30 fps is typically 500 MB to 1 GB. If storage is tight, you can compress the file during export in your editing software, though this reduces video quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. On Mac, use Screenshot (Command + Shift + 5) and click the window recording icon, then click the window you want. On Windows, OBS Studio lets you add a Window Capture source instead of Screen Capture. Built-in Windows Game Bar records the full screen only.

How do I record my microphone and system audio at the same time?

Built-in tools on Windows and Mac don't mix microphone and system audio easily. OBS Studio does this by default—add both an Audio Input Capture (microphone) and Audio Output Capture (system sounds) as separate sources. They'll both be recorded in the same file.

Why is my recording choppy or laggy?

Your computer is working hard to record and run everything else simultaneously. Close unnecessary programs, lower the recording resolution or frame rate if possible, and make sure your hard drive has at least 10 GB of free space. On slower computers, OBS lets you reduce the bitrate (quality) to ease the load.

Can I pause a recording without stopping it?

Built-in tools on Windows and Mac don't have a pause button—you stop and start a new file. OBS Studio has a Pause button that freezes the recording without ending the file, so you can resume without creating a gap.

What if I want to record a video call or streaming service?

Most streaming services and video call platforms allow screen recording for personal use. Use the same methods as above. Some services (like Netflix) block recording for copyright reasons—your recording software will capture a black screen instead. Check the service's terms if you're unsure.