How to Screen Record on Windows 11

Windows 11 can record your screen without extra software: use Snipping Tool’s Record mode for the desktop, a window, or a selected area, or press Win+G and use Xbox Game Bar when recording a game or ordinary app. The quickest general-purpose method is to open Snipping Tool, choose Record, select New, pick what to capture, and press Start; recordings normally appear in This PC > Videos > Captures.

Before you start

Both tools are included with standard Windows 11 installations, although an organization or school computer may disable them. You do not need an additional recorder, but you will need enough free storage for the video. If you want to include your voice, check Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone and make sure microphone access is allowed for the apps you are recording. Close private windows, turn off notification sounds if they are distracting, and decide whether you want to capture system audio, your microphone, or both before you begin.

Record any screen with Snipping Tool

Snipping Tool is the better choice for a desktop walkthrough, a File Explorer window, a browser, or a particular part of the screen. Its recorder can capture the sound your computer is playing, your microphone, or a mixture of both.

1. Open Snipping Tool. Select Start, type “Snipping Tool,” and choose the Snipping Tool app. If it is already open or pinned to the taskbar, select its icon instead.
2. Choose Record mode. Select the Record button, represented by a video-camera icon, in the Snipping Tool toolbar. This is separate from the screenshot and rectangle controls used for still images.
3. Select New. Snipping Tool will enter its screen-capture interface. Choose the capture mode you want, such as Rectangular, Window, or Full screen; the exact arrangement of these buttons can vary slightly between Windows 11 builds.
4. Choose the recording area. For rectangular recording, drag around the area you want to include and adjust the selection edges if necessary. For window recording, move the pointer over the correct window, and for full-screen recording, select the display you want when more than one monitor is connected.
5. Press Start. A small Snipping Tool control bar appears over the recording area. Once the red recording indicator is visible, the selected region, window, or display is being captured.
6. Set the audio options. In the recording toolbar, use the speaker control labeled System audio to include sound played by your computer. Select the control labeled Microphone to include your voice; you can turn either option on or off while the recording is running.
7. Stop the recording. Select Stop, or the red square control, in the floating Snipping Tool toolbar when you have finished. Make sure the stop control is selected rather than simply moving the mouse away.
8. Save the video. Snipping Tool shows a preview with a Save control. Select it, give the recording a recognizable name, and confirm the suggested location under This PC > Videos > Captures. If you deliberately choose a different folder, the finished file will remain there instead.

If the screen goes dark, an option is missing, or the audio controls do not appear, check for Windows updates in Settings > Windows Update. Snipping Tool’s recording options have expanded over time, so an older installation may not present every control described above.

Record an app or game with Xbox Game Bar

Xbox Game Bar is designed for recording games and full applications. It cannot record the Windows desktop or a File Explorer window, so use Snipping Tool for those tasks. Game Bar records the active app or game rather than an arbitrary region of the screen.

1. Open the app or game first. Bring the program you want to record to the foreground. Do not start from the desktop or File Explorer, because Game Bar does not treat either one as a recordable application.
2. Press Win+G. Xbox Game Bar will open over the app. If it does not appear, Windows may have disabled it, or the keyboard shortcut may be assigned to another action.
3. Open the Capture controls. Select Capture in Game Bar’s top toolbar. Depending on the layout and Windows 11 build, you may see it as a camera button or as a panel containing screenshot and video-recording controls.
4. Choose the audio sources. In the capture options, check From your PC to include system or app audio and From your microphone to include your voice. In some layouts, these checkboxes appear directly in the Capture panel; in others, they are available through Game Bar’s Audio section.
5. Start recording. Select the circular Record control. If your version presents a separate Start button after choosing the recording options, select that button as well.
6. Stop when finished. Select the recording control in Game Bar again, or press Win+Alt+R to stop the recording. The same shortcut can be used to begin recording when Game Bar is available and focused.
7. Find the finished clip. Game Bar normally saves the video automatically, so there is no separate Save As step. Open File Explorer and go to This PC > Videos > Captures, where the recording will have a generated name and a video-file extension.

Game Bar’s controls can move slightly as Windows updates, but the essential choices remain the same: Capture, Record, From your PC, and From your microphone. If the recording contains no sound, confirm that From your PC is selected and that the target app is not muted.

Tips and common mistakes

• Use Snipping Tool for desktop and File Explorer content. Starting Xbox Game Bar on the desktop may produce an empty clip because Game Bar records applications, not the desktop itself.
• Test your microphone before a long recording. A short test clip can reveal permission problems, low input volume, background noise, or feedback from speakers playing the same audio you are recording.
• Choose audio deliberately. From your PC captures sounds such as music, calls, or app notifications. Turn it off when you want only your narration, and turn off From your microphone when you want only the computer’s sound.
• Do not expect protected video to record normally. Some streaming services, paid content, and other protected material may appear black or be blocked because of the app’s security settings. Record only content you are permitted to capture.
• Reduce distractions. Close messaging apps, silence alerts, and avoid opening private information. A clean screen also makes it easier for viewers to follow a software demonstration.
• Record the correct display. If you have several monitors, check the selection before pressing Start. A full-screen recording can otherwise capture the wrong screen or make the controls harder to see.
• Move important clips promptly. Open Videos > Captures after recording, rename the file if needed, and move it to another folder before it is overwritten or removed by a cleanup routine.

Key takeaways

• Use Snipping Tool to record the desktop, File Explorer, a window, or a selected region.
• Use Xbox Game Bar to record a game or a full application, but not the desktop or File Explorer.
• Turn on System audio in Snipping Tool, or From your PC in Game Bar, for computer sound.
• Turn on Microphone in Snipping Tool, or From your microphone in Game Bar, for your voice.
• Recordings normally go to This PC > Videos > Captures; Snipping Tool asks you to save, while Game Bar usually saves automatically.

Frequently asked questions

Can Xbox Game Bar record the Windows desktop?

No. Xbox Game Bar records supported games and applications, not the Windows desktop or File Explorer. Use Snipping Tool’s Record mode when your subject is the desktop, an Explorer window, or a specific region.

Which method is best for recording part of the screen?

Use Snipping Tool and choose Rectangular capture mode. Drag around the area you want, adjust the edges if needed, and press Start. Xbox Game Bar records a full app or game and does not provide the same precise region-selection workflow.

Can I record system sound and my voice at the same time?

Yes. In Snipping Tool, enable both System audio and Microphone. In Xbox Game Bar, select both From your PC and From your microphone. The resulting file will contain the computer audio and microphone input together.

Where are Windows 11 screen recordings saved?

They are normally stored in This PC > Videos > Captures. Snipping Tool shows a save screen where you can confirm the location and filename, while Xbox Game Bar generally saves the clip there automatically after you stop recording.