How to record your screen on Windows 10 and 11

Method 1: Xbox Game Bar (Windows 10 and 11)

Limits: no desktop or File Explorer, no zoom, no editing. Handy for a game or a single app.

1. 1

   Open the app you want to record

   Game Bar records one app at a time. It can't record the desktop or File Explorer.

2. 2

   Press Win + Alt + R

   Recording starts right away. Press the same shortcut to stop.

3. 3

   Find your video

   It's saved in your Videos folder, under Captures.

Method 2: Snipping Tool (Windows 11)

Limits: no editing, no zoom, no webcam or background. Ideal for a clip that lasts a few seconds.

1. 1

   Press Win + Shift + S

   Then switch to video mode in the toolbar that appears (or open the Snipping Tool app).

2. 2

   Draw the area you want to record

   You can select any part of the screen, desktop included.

3. 3

   Start, then stop the recording

   The video opens in Snipping Tool, where you can save it as an MP4.

Method 3: a dedicated screen recorder for polished videos

As soon as your video is meant for customers, social media or a training course, the look matters. A recorder like Clarcut captures your entire screen, a window or an area, with your webcam and microphone, then edits the video for you:

• automatic zooms on every click, which you can tweak afterward;
• a smoothed cursor, cleaned-up audio, background noise removed;
• a background, rounded corners and a macOS-style window frame;
• export in 16:9, vertical 9:16 or square, as MP4 or GIF.

Which method should you choose

• A quick capture for yourself: Snipping Tool.
• A game or a single app: Xbox Game Bar.
• A demo, a tutorial or a product video: a dedicated recorder like Clarcut, free to get started.

Frequently asked questions