Recording your monitor means capturing video of what appears on your screen, with or without audio from your microphone or system sound

The simplest way depends on what you own. Windows 10 and 11 have a built-in tool called Xbox Game Bar that records without installing anything. Mac users have Screenshot, which includes screen recording. If you want more control — editing the video afterward, removing background noise, or recording multiple monitors at once — you will need separate software like OBS Studio (free) or Camtasia (paid).

What you record for matters too. If you are capturing a game, a quick tutorial, or a presentation, the built-in tools usually work fine. If you are recording yourself talking while showing your screen, or if you need to edit the video later, a dedicated program gives you more options for audio, frame rate, and file format.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 10 and 11 include Xbox Game Bar, which records your screen and audio without downloading anything — press Windows key + G to open it.
  • Mac users can record with the built-in Screenshot app by pressing Shift + Command + 5, then selecting the screen recording option.
  • OBS Studio is free software that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux and lets you record multiple monitors, adjust audio levels, and save in different formats.
  • Dedicated recording software like Camtasia or ScreenFlow includes built-in editing tools, but costs money and takes longer to learn.
  • Before you record, close programs you do not want visible, mute notifications, and test your microphone if you plan to narrate.

Using Xbox Game Bar on Windows

Press the Windows key and G at the same time to open Xbox Game Bar. A menu will appear in the top-left corner of your screen. Look for the "Capture" widget — it shows a camera icon. Click the red circle button to start recording.

While recording, the widget stays visible but small. You can move it out of the way by dragging it. When you are done, click the red circle again to stop. The video saves automatically to your Videos folder in a subfolder called Captures. The file is an MP4 video file that you can play in Windows Media Player or any other video player.

Xbox Game Bar also records system audio by default — whatever sound comes from your speakers. If you want to add your voice, you need to turn on microphone input in the Capture widget settings before you start. Test your microphone first by speaking and checking the audio level slider.

Using Screenshot on Mac

Press Shift, Command, and 5 at the same time. A toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen with five buttons. The second button from the right (it looks like a rectangle with a dot inside) is the screen recording tool. Click it.

A menu appears asking whether you want to record the entire screen or just a portion. Choose your option, then click the Record button. A red dot appears in the menu bar at the top to show recording is active. When you are finished, click the red dot and choose "Stop Recording." The video saves to your Desktop as an MP4 file by default, though you can change where it saves in the options menu.

Mac's Screenshot app records system audio but not your microphone. If you need to narrate, you will need to add your voice in a separate step using a video editor, or use a third-party tool like ScreenFlow or OBS Studio instead.

Setting Up OBS Studio for More Control

OBS Studio is free and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. read it from obsproject.com. When you open it, you see a blank workspace with sections for Sources, Scenes, and Controls.

To record your monitor, click the plus sign under Sources and select "Display Capture" (Windows) or "Display Capture" (Mac). Choose which monitor you want to record if you have more than one. The preview in the center shows what will be recorded.

To add audio, click the plus sign under Sources again and select "Audio Input Capture" for your microphone, or "Audio Output Capture" for system sound. You can add both. Drag the audio sources into the Sources list so they appear alongside your display. In the bottom-right corner, click "Start Recording." OBS saves the video to a folder you choose in Settings under Output.

OBS lets you adjust frame rate, resolution, and audio levels before you record, which is useful if you want a smaller file size or higher quality. It also lets you record multiple monitors at once by adding multiple Display Capture sources.

Preparing Your Screen Before Recording

Close any programs or browser tabs you do not want visible. If you are recording a tutorial, open only the process you plan to show. If you are recording your desktop, clear it of clutter or move files to a folder out of view.

Turn off notifications. On Windows, open Settings, go to System, then Notifications, and toggle off notifications temporarily. On Mac, open System Settings, go to Notifications, and turn off alerts for the apps you are using. Notifications that pop up during recording are distracting and hard to edit out later.

Test your microphone if you plan to narrate. Speak into it and listen back to a short recording to check the volume and background noise. If there is a lot of fan noise or keyboard clicking, move your microphone away from the source or use a noise-cancelling microphone.

Set your monitor to the resolution you want to record at. Recording at your monitor's native resolution (the highest one) produces the clearest video, but the file will be larger. If you are recording for the web or email, a lower resolution like 1280 × 720 is faster to upload and still looks clear on most screens.

Choosing a File Format and Quality Level

Built-in tools like Xbox Game Bar and Mac Screenshot save as MP4, which plays on almost any device and is small enough to email or upload. OBS Studio can save in MP4, MOV, MKV, or FLV format. MP4 is the safest choice if you are not sure where the video will be watched.

Frame rate affects how smooth the video looks. 30 frames per second (fps) is standard and works for most screen recordings. 60 fps looks smoother but creates larger files and is usually only necessary for games or fast-moving content. If you are recording a presentation or tutorial, 30 fps is fine.

Bitrate controls how much detail the video keeps. Higher bitrate means better quality but larger files. For screen recording, 4000 to 6000 kilobits per second (kbps) is usually enough. If you are recording text or code, you may want to go higher so the text stays sharp.

Editing and Sharing Your Recording

After you record, the video file sits in your Videos folder (Windows) or Desktop (Mac) unless you chose a different location. You can play it when ready in any video player to check the quality.

If you need to trim the beginning or end, remove a section in the middle, or add text, you will need a video editor. Windows includes Photos, which can trim videos. Mac includes iMovie. Both are free and straightforward. OBS Studio does not edit video — it only records — so if you use OBS and want to edit, you need a separate tool.

To share the video, you can email it if it is under 25 MB, upload it to YouTube or Vimeo, or share a link through Google Drive or Dropbox. Smaller files upload faster. If your recording is large, consider lowering the resolution or bitrate and recording again, or compressing the file with a tool like HandBrake before you share it.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. In OBS Studio, add a "Window Capture" source instead of Display Capture and select the specific window. Mac's Screenshot tool lets you select a portion of the screen before recording. Windows Game Bar records the entire screen, but you can crop the video afterward in Photos or another editor.

Why is my recording choppy or stuttering?

Your computer may not have enough processing power to record and run other programs at the same time. Close unnecessary programs, lower the frame rate to 30 fps, or reduce the resolution. If you are using OBS, check that your CPU usage is below 80 percent in the stats panel.

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

In OBS Studio, add both "Audio Input Capture" (your microphone) and "Audio Output Capture" (system sound) as sources. Adjust the volume sliders so both are audible. Built-in tools record system sound by default but not your microphone — you will need to add your voice in a separate step or use OBS instead.

What if my video file is too large to upload?

Use HandBrake (free, works on Windows and Mac) to compress the file. Open your video in HandBrake, choose a lower quality preset, and click Start. The new file will be smaller but still watchable. Alternatively, record at a lower resolution or frame rate from the start.

Can I record two monitors at once?

Only OBS Studio lets you do this easily. Add two Display Capture sources, one for each monitor, and position them side by side in the preview. Built-in tools record one monitor at a time.