How to Screen Record on Windows (Snipping Tool or Game Bar)

A quick screen recording saves so much explaining. Show a client where to click, record a short tutorial for your team, capture a bug for a developer or film a walkthrough of your website for a social post. On a Windows PC you don't need to install anything to do it.

Windows has two built-in recorders, and they suit different jobs. Snipping Tool records a chosen area of the screen. Xbox Game Bar records the app or game you're in, with an option to switch your microphone on. Here's how each works, according to Microsoft's own support pages.

Recording part of your Windows screen with Snipping Tool

Most people know Snipping Tool for screenshots, but Microsoft's help says it also has a Video snip that captures a clip of any rectangular part of the screen you choose. That makes it the better pick for tutorials, because you can leave out your messy taskbar and other tabs.

1. Open Snipping Tool: select Start, type snipping tool and choose it from the results.
2. Select the Record button, then select New. Or press the Windows logo key + Shift + R to jump straight in.
3. Drag to select the area of the screen you want to record.
4. Select Start and do whatever you want to capture.
5. Select Stop when you're finished.

Microsoft's help says that once you stop, you can save the recording unchanged or choose Edit in Clipchamp to work on it. Use Save as to pick a location and a filename you'll recognise later, rather than hunting for it afterwards.

Adding captions or sound to a Snipping Tool screen recording

If you're making a how-to video for customers, captions help a lot, because so many people watch with the sound off. Microsoft's help says that after you finish a video snip, the Edit in Clipchamp button lets you add captions or audio.

According to Microsoft, in Clipchamp you go to the Captions tab and select Transcribe media, choose your language, then generate the captions. The Audio tab lets you adjust the volume or detach the audio as a separate file. It's not a full studio, but for a short tutorial it's often all you need.

Screen recording a Windows app with Xbox Game Bar

Game Bar was built for gamers, but it works on ordinary apps too, and it's the quicker option when you want your voice on the recording. Microsoft's help says you need to switch it on first.

1. Open Settings, search for xbox and switch on Enable Xbox Game Bar.
2. Go to the game or app you want to record so it's open on screen.
3. Press the Windows key + Alt + R to start recording.
4. Press the Windows key + Alt + M if you want to switch your microphone on or off while recording.
5. Press the Windows key + Alt + R again to stop.

Press the Windows key + G at any point to bring up the Game Bar controls if you'd rather click than use shortcuts.

Where Windows saves your screen recordings

The two tools save in different ways, which is the main reason people lose their recordings.

Tool	How to start	Where the file goes
Snipping Tool	Record, then New, or Windows logo key + Shift + R	Wherever you choose with Save as
Xbox Game Bar	Windows key + Alt + R	Videos folder, in a subfolder named Captures

Microsoft's help says Game Bar saves each recording as an MP4 file, and the file name includes the app or game name plus the date and time. That makes them easy to sort. For Snipping Tool, I'd always use Save as straight away, so you know exactly where the clip lives.

Picking Snipping Tool or Game Bar for a Windows screen recording

• A tutorial of one part of the screen: Snipping Tool, because you choose the exact area.
• Talking over what you're showing: Game Bar, with the microphone shortcut.
• Adding captions quickly: Snipping Tool, then Edit in Clipchamp.
• Recording a game or a single app full of action: Game Bar.
• Making it a one-click job: pin Snipping Tool to the taskbar by searching for it and choosing Pin to taskbar.

If you'll be making lots of tutorials, a dedicated recorder can add things like webcam overlays and editing. I've compared options in my roundup of screen recording software, and there's more on matching the tool to the job in my guide to choosing software for tutorials.

Using Windows screen recordings for your business

A two-minute screen recording can replace a long email. A few ways I see small businesses use them:

• Onboarding a new client: record where to log in and what to click first.
• Training a virtual assistant: record the task once and reuse the clip.
• Support: answer a common question with a short video instead of typing it again.
• Social content: record a quick walkthrough of a product page or tool and add captions.

Before you record, close anything private, such as email, banking tabs or chat apps, and turn off notifications. It's very easy to share more than you meant to in the corner of the screen.

If screen recording on Windows isn't working

1. Game Bar shortcut does nothing: check Enable Xbox Game Bar is switched on in Settings.
2. Game Bar won't start: make sure the app you want to record is open and in front.
3. No sound on your voice: press the Windows key + Alt + M to toggle the microphone on during recording.
4. Can't find a Snipping Tool video: open Snipping Tool again next time and use Save as to choose a folder.
5. Still stuck: Microsoft's support site has troubleshooting pages for Game Bar, so search there for your exact message.

Frequently asked questions

How do I screen record on Windows without downloading anything?

Use Snipping Tool: select Record, then New, or press the Windows logo key + Shift + R, choose an area, select Start and then Stop. Xbox Game Bar is the other built-in option.

What is the shortcut to screen record on Windows?

In Snipping Tool it's the Windows logo key + Shift + R. In Xbox Game Bar it's the Windows key + Alt + R to start and stop recording.

Where do Windows screen recordings go?

Game Bar saves MP4 files to the Videos folder in a subfolder named Captures. With Snipping Tool you choose the location using Save as.

Can I record my voice while screen recording on Windows?

Yes. In Game Bar, press the Windows key + Alt + M to toggle your microphone during a recording.

Can I add captions to a Windows screen recording?

Microsoft's help says you can select Edit in Clipchamp after a Snipping Tool video snip, then use the Captions tab and Transcribe media.