Before you start
- Windows 11/10 or macOS
- A microphone, if you want to narrate
Method 1 Windows 11: Snipping Tool
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Step 1: Open Snipping Tool
Press Win + Shift + R to start a screen recording directly, or open Snipping Tool from Start and click the video icon.
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Step 2: Select the area
Click New and drag over the area you want to record, or select the whole screen.
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Step 3: Turn on audio
In the recording bar, turn on system audio (speaker icon) and microphone as needed.
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Step 4: Record and save
Click Start, then Stop when finished. Preview the video and click Save (it saves as MP4 in Videos > Screen Recordings).
Method 2 Windows 10 and 11: Xbox Game Bar
Game Bar records one app window at a time, not the desktop or File Explorer. Microphone recording is controlled in the Audio widget or Settings > Gaming > Captures.
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Step 1: Open Game Bar
Open the app you want to record and press Win + G.
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Step 2: Record
In the Capture widget, click the record button, or press Win + Alt + R to start and stop.
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Step 3: Find the video
Recordings are saved in Videos > Captures.
Method 3 Any computer: OBS Studio (free)
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Step 1: Install OBS
Download OBS Studio from obsproject.com (Windows, Mac, Linux) and run the auto-configuration wizard, choosing Optimize just for recording.
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Step 2: Add a source
Under Sources, click + and add Display Capture (whole screen) or Window Capture (one app).
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Step 3: Check audio
In the Audio Mixer, make sure Desktop Audio and Mic/Aux move when there’s sound.
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Step 4: Record
Click Start Recording. Files are saved in your Videos folder by default (change it in Settings > Output).
Method 4 Mac: screenshot toolbar
The Mac toolbar records your microphone but not the sound playing on the Mac. For system audio, use OBS Studio’s macOS audio capture (macOS 13 or later).
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Step 1: Open the toolbar
Press Shift + Command + 5.
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Step 2: Choose what to record
Click Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion.
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Step 3: Pick a microphone
Click Options and choose your microphone.
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Step 4: Record and stop
Click Record. Stop with the stop button in the menu bar or Command + Control + Esc.
Troubleshooting
The recording has no sound
Check that system audio or microphone was turned on in the tool, and that Windows’ default output device is the one playing sound (Settings > System > Sound).
Game Bar says “Gaming features aren’t available”
Game Bar can’t record the desktop or File Explorer. Open an app first, or use Snipping Tool or OBS.
OBS shows a black screen
On laptops with two graphics chips, set OBS to use the power-saving GPU in Settings > System > Display > Graphics for display capture.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a time limit?
No fixed limit in Snipping Tool, Game Bar or OBS, but long recordings use a lot of disk space (around 1 GB per 10 minutes at 1080p, varies).
Can I record my webcam too?
Yes in OBS: add a Video Capture Device source and position it as a small overlay.
Summary
On Windows 11, Snipping Tool records any area with system sound and microphone. Use Win + Alt + R for quick app recordings, Shift + Command + 5 on a Mac, and OBS Studio when you need full control.
