The simplest way to record your screen
Windows 10 and 11 come with a built-in screen recorder called Xbox Game Bar that works on any process — you do not need to own a game or use Xbox. On Mac, the Screenshot app (built into macOS Monterey and newer) records video. Both are free and require no setup.
The basic process is the same on both: open the app or window you want to record, launch the recorder, press a keyboard shortcut to start, and press it again to stop. The video saves automatically to your computer. No software to read, no account to create, no watermark added to the file.
If you use an older Windows version, or if you want more control over what gets recorded, third-party tools like OBS Studio or Camtasia offer more options — but they take longer to learn. Start with what your computer already has.
Key Takeaways
- Windows 10 and 11 have Xbox Game Bar built in; press Windows key + G to open it, then click the record button or press Windows key + Alt + R to start recording.
- Mac users can open Screenshot from the Applications folder or press Shift + Command + 5, then click the video record button to capture screen video.
- Both built-in tools save video files automatically to your computer without watermarks or time limits.
- If you need to record audio from your microphone or system sounds separately, check the audio settings before you start recording.
- Third-party tools like OBS Studio are free but require more setup; use them only if the built-in recorder does not do what you need.
Recording on Windows with Xbox Game Bar
Open the window or process you want to record. Press Windows key + G to open Xbox Game Bar. A small menu appears in the upper left corner of your screen with a circle icon (the record button) and other controls.
Click the circle record button, or press Windows key + Alt + R to start recording when ready. A timer appears on screen showing how long you have been recording. Do whatever you want to show in the video — open menus, type text, click buttons. The recorder captures everything on your screen and all audio playing through your speakers.
When you are done, press Windows key + Alt + R again to stop. The video saves automatically to a folder called Videos on your computer, in a subfolder named Captures. You can find it by opening File Explorer, clicking Videos, then opening the Captures folder. The file is an MP4 video that plays in any media player.
If you want to record your voice while recording the screen, make sure your microphone is plugged in and working before you start. Xbox Game Bar records system audio (sounds from your computer) by default, but to add your own voice, you may need to adjust your audio settings in Windows Sound settings first.
Recording on Mac with the Screenshot app
Open the window or process you want to record. Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the Screenshot app. A toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen with five buttons — the last one on the right is the video record button (it looks like a circle inside a square).
Click the video record button. Your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area of your screen you want to record, or click the Options menu and choose "Entire Screen" to record everything. Then click the Record button that appears.
A three-second countdown appears, then recording starts. You will see a red dot in the menu bar at the top of your screen showing that recording is active. Do whatever you want to show in the video. When you are done, click the red dot in the menu bar and select Stop Recording.
A thumbnail appears in the lower right corner of your screen. Click it to preview the video, or wait a few seconds and it will save automatically to your Desktop. The file is an MP4 video that plays in QuickTime or any other media player on your Mac.
Choosing what audio to record
Both Xbox Game Bar and Mac Screenshot record system audio — the sounds your computer is playing — by default. This includes music, video sound, notification sounds, and anything else coming from your speakers.
If you want to add your own voice (narration), you need a microphone. On Windows, plug in a USB microphone or use the built-in microphone on your laptop, then open Windows Settings, go to Sound, and make sure the correct microphone is selected as your input device. On Mac, go to System Settings, click Sound, and select your microphone under Input.
Test your microphone before you record by speaking into it and watching the input level meter move. If it does not move, the microphone is not working or is not selected. Once it is working, start your screen recording — both tools will capture your voice along with system audio.
If you record system audio and your voice at the same time and they sound too loud or too quiet, you can adjust the volume in a video editor after recording. Most computers come with a basic video editor: Windows has Photos, and Mac has iMovie.
Recording only part of your screen
On Windows, Xbox Game Bar records your entire screen by default. To record only one window or a specific area, you can use the built-in Snipping Tool instead — but it only captures still images, not video. For video of just one window, you need a third-party tool like OBS Studio.
On Mac, the Screenshot app lets you choose. After you press Shift + Command + 5 and click the video record button, your cursor becomes a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the area you want to record. Release the mouse, then click Record. Only the area inside your box will be recorded.
If you want to record a specific window on Mac, you can also use the keyboard shortcut Shift + Command + 6 after starting the video record tool, which lets you click a window to record just that window and its audio.
Saving and sharing your video
On Windows, your video saves to Videos > Captures. On Mac, it saves to your Desktop by default, but you can change this in Screenshot settings. Both save as MP4 files, which play on any computer, phone, or tablet.
To move your video to a different folder, straightforward drag it there like any other file. To share it, you can email it (if it is not too large), upload it to a cloud service like Google Drive or OneDrive, or upload it to a video platform like YouTube or Vimeo.
If your video file is very large and you need to make it smaller, you can use a free online video compressor or a tool like HandBrake (free, available for Windows and Mac). These tools reduce file size without losing much quality, which makes the video easier to email or upload.
When to use a third-party tool instead
The built-in recorders on Windows and Mac work well for most tasks — recording a tutorial, capturing a video call, showing a problem to tech support. They are fast, free, and do not add watermarks.
Use a third-party tool like OBS Studio (free, Windows and Mac) or Camtasia (paid, Windows and Mac) if you need features the built-in tools do not have: recording multiple windows at once, adding text or graphics during recording, switching between different areas of your screen, or recording at a specific quality or frame rate.
OBS Studio is free and powerful but has a steeper learning curve — it takes time to set up. Camtasia costs money but is easier to learn. For most people, the built-in recorder is enough. Try it first, and only read something else if you find you need a feature it does not have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I record just my voice without showing my screen?
Yes, but the built-in screen recorders are not designed for this. Use the Voice Memos app on Mac or the Voice Recorder app on Windows instead — both are built in and record audio only. If you want to record your voice and system audio together (like narrating over a song), use Audacity, which is free and available for both Windows and Mac.
Why is my video file so large?
Screen videos are large because they contain a lot of visual information. A one-minute video can be 50 to 200 MB depending on your screen resolution and what is on screen. If you need a smaller file, use a free tool like HandBrake to compress it, or record at a lower resolution if your tool allows it.
Can I edit my video after recording?
Yes. Windows comes with the Photos app, which can trim the beginning and end of a video. Mac comes with iMovie, which can trim, add text, and rearrange clips. Both are free. For more advanced editing, use free tools like DaVinci Resolve or Shotcut, available for Windows and Mac.
What if my microphone is not picking up sound?
Check that your microphone is plugged in and selected in your system audio settings. On Windows, go to Settings > Sound and make sure your microphone is listed under Input devices. On Mac, go to System Settings > Sound and select your microphone under Input. Test it by speaking and watching the input level meter move.
Can I record a video call on Zoom or Teams?
Yes, both tools have built-in recording features that are easier to use than screen recording. In Zoom, click the Record button during a call. In Teams, click the three dots menu and select Start recording. Both save the video automatically. If you want to record using your screen recorder instead, start the recording before you join the call and stop it after the call ends.