You can record your computer’s display with a built-in tool on Windows or Mac, and you can add voice, computer sound, or both when the recorder supports them. System audio is sound played by the computer, such as an app’s audio or other playback. A screen recording can save a class demo, a work task, or a tricky setting you want to explain later.
The built-in options are a good place to start, though audio and editing features vary by tool. A microphone can capture your voice as you explain each step, while a voiceover can also be added later. The right choice depends on what you want viewers to see and hear.
This walkthrough explains how to choose a recorder, capture clear sound, and save a usable video. You’ll also find steps for preparing your desktop, fixing common recording problems, and trimming a clip before sharing it. Decide whether you need a quick capture, a voiceover, or a polished tutorial before choosing your recording method.
Key Takeaways
- Windows 11 Snipping Tool records a selected area and can capture microphone voiceover.
- Xbox Game Bar records an app or game on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
- Mac users can start with the Screenshot toolbar or QuickTime Player.
- Audio choices depend on the screen recorder and capture target.
- A short test can catch a wrong capture area or silent microphone.
- Save the original file before trimming or cropping your video.
How to Record Your Computer Screen on Windows
On Windows 11, Windows logo key + Shift + R opens the Snipping Tool recording overlay, while Xbox Game Bar is a separate option for recording an app or game. For a selected area, start with Snipping Tool; for an app or game, Xbox Game Bar fits better. A Windows 11 PC has a built-in screen recorder, and Snipping Tool is a practical starting choice.
Xbox Game Bar does not record the Windows desktop or File Explorer. Choose a supported app or game as the capture target instead. The two built-in tools offer different audio choices and save videos in different folders.
Capture a selected area with Snipping Tool
Snipping Tool suits a screen recording tutorial that focuses on one part of the display. In Windows 11, the overlay lets you select an area, then start and stop the capture. The resulting video goes to the Screen Recordings folder.
Use these steps to record a portion of the screen:
- Press Windows logo key + Shift + R to open the recording overlay.
- Drag over the part of the display you want to capture.
- Select Start, then perform the actions you want to show.
- Select Stop when the recording is complete.
- Open the Screen Recordings folder to find the video.
Snipping Tool can use a microphone for voiceover. Its audio options require version 11.2307.44.0 or later, so an older app version may not show them.
Record an app or game with Xbox Game Bar
Xbox Game Bar is useful when you need to record an app or game without capturing unrelated windows. Press Windows key + Alt + R to start or stop recording. Press Windows key + Alt + M to toggle the microphone during a recording.
You can set Xbox Game Bar to capture all computer sounds through its Capturing settings. Recordings are MP4 files saved in Videos\Captures. Each file name includes the app or game name and the recording date and time.
| Tool | Best capture target | Audio options | Where the video goes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snipping Tool | Selected area | Microphone voiceover | Screen Recordings folder |
| Xbox Game Bar | App or game | Microphone toggle and system audio in Capturing settings | Videos\Captures MP4 |
| Clipchamp | Browser tab, window, or entire screen | Microphone; browser-tab audio sharing | WebM download |
Pick the capture target before you start: Snipping Tool records an area, while Xbox Game Bar records an app or game.
Clipchamp is another option when you want to record a browser tab, window, or entire screen. Its browser-tab audio sharing works with a tab capture, and the recording downloads as WebM. Check the destination folder after a short test capture so you know where the finished file is saved.
Which Mac Screen Recorder Should You Use?
On a Mac, press Shift + Command + 5 to open the Screenshot toolbar and choose a screen-recording option. The toolbar is the quickest first try for a basic video, while QuickTime Player gives you another built-in route. Both can help you record the whole display or focus on selected content.
Use the Screenshot toolbar for the fastest setup, or QuickTime Player when you prefer its recording window. Your choice can depend on the screen area and microphone input you need. Make a brief test recording and play it back to confirm that the chosen microphone input is audible.
Record with the Screenshot toolbar
Press Shift + Command + 5, then review the controls that appear along the bottom of the screen. Choose an option to record the full screen or a selected portion. The toolbar provides separate choices for a still screenshot and a video recording.
If you choose a selected portion, adjust the frame so it covers the content viewers need. Start the recording from the toolbar, then work through the steps you want to show. Stop the capture when you finish, and review the saved video before sharing it.
The toolbar keeps the setup simple because you do not need to open a separate recording app. It works well for a short demonstration, a software issue, or a quick explanation. A narrow selection can keep private desktop items out of the video.
Use QuickTime Player for a basic capture
QuickTime Player offers a basic alternative through File > New Screen Recording. Open the menu and choose the recording command to bring up its capture controls. You can select a microphone input from the recording menu before you begin.
That input choice matters when your voice needs to explain the action on screen. Make sure the selected microphone is the one you intend to use, especially if your Mac has more than one input option. Keep the microphone close enough to pick up your voice clearly.
QuickTime Player works well when you already use it to play video files or want a familiar app window. The Screenshot toolbar takes fewer steps for a basic capture. Make a brief test recording and play it back to confirm that the chosen microphone input is audible.
How Do You Capture Microphone Audio and System Sound?
If your recording needs narration, select a microphone; if it needs app playback, select system audio, and check whether your recorder can capture both together. System audio is sound played by the computer, while microphone audio is your voice or nearby sound. Some screen recording tools can capture both at once, but others cannot.
Choose the audio sources before you start, and confirm the recorder supports the combination you need. A screen recording can contain microphone audio, system audio, or both. Some recorders also offer a silent video option.
Choose the right audio source
Microphone audio works for a voiceover, live explanation, or room sound picked up near your computer. System audio captures playback from an app, such as a video or game. When a video needs both your explanation and app sound, look for a recorder that supports both sources together.
Capture mode can affect the audio choices. Tools may record the whole screen, a single window or app, or a selected area. In Clipchamp personal accounts, shared audio works only when you record a browser tab.
That limit matters if you choose a window or full-screen capture and expect a browser’s sound to join the video. Some software offers separate controls for each source, while another tool may offer just one. Check the options shown for the exact capture target you plan to use.
Set up audio before recording
For a Windows 10 screen recording with audio, select the intended source before recording and confirm the input device. A microphone setting does not capture system audio, and a system-audio setting does not record your voice. Choose the source that matches the job.
If you need both, confirm that the screen recorder supports a combined capture. Then check the microphone input and make sure the app playback is active. The sound settings can vary between apps, even on the same computer.
A class demo may need your voice and the app’s sound, while a software bug report may need only the app playback. A silent tutorial may need neither source. Make a short test with the exact app or browser tab you plan to record, because audio options can change with the capture target.
Which Free Screen Recorder Fits Your Needs?
For a free quick recording with a webcam, ScreenPal is a straightforward option; for advanced recording controls and live streaming, choose OBS Studio. ScreenPal suits a quick webcam or screen capture, while OBS Studio offers more control. Compare each free plan with the length and style of recording you need.
Check the recording time or video-count limit before you choose a free screen recorder. A short message may fit a limited plan, but a longer tutorial may need another tool. Screen recording software can also differ in audio options, operating system support, and sharing features.
| Tool | Free-plan limit | Capture or audio features | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandicam | 5 minutes per recording; edited exports have watermark | Screen and audio recording | Brief Windows captures |
| ScreenRec | 5 minutes signed out; unlimited time with free account | Full screen or selected area; system sound and microphone | Captures and sharing |
| ScreenPal | No recording limit stated in listed free features | Screen, webcam, or both; no account or watermark | Quick webcam or screen recordings |
| OBS Studio | Free | Advanced recording and live streaming | Users who want more control |
| Loom | 25 videos, up to 5 minutes each | Screen recording | Short video messages |
Choose a recorder for quick sharing
ScreenPal lets you record a screen, webcam, or both without an account, and its free recordings have no watermark. A free hosting account supports unlimited screen-recording uploads. That makes it handy when you need a quick video to share with a team or class.
ScreenRec can record a full screen or selected area with system sound, microphone audio, or both. Its signed-out limit is five minutes, while a free account allows unlimited recording time. ScreenRec version 5.0.13 works on Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
ScreenRec lists a minimum of 1024 MB of RAM and recommends 2GB. Bandicam’s free version limits each video or audio-only recording to five minutes, but it does not watermark recordings. Edited video exports do have a watermark.
Choose a recorder for advanced controls
OBS Studio is the advanced-control pick if you want recording tools and live streaming. It may take more setup than a basic screen recorder, but it gives you more control over your video. Loom works better for short video messages, with a free plan that allows 25 videos, each up to five minutes long.
Bandicam’s listed 64-bit version supports Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7. ScreenRec version 5.0.13 and Bandicam both support Windows 7, so either may suit an older PC. Bandicam warns that some protected videos or services may block recording.
If you need a quick screen-and-webcam video, ScreenPal keeps the task simple. If you want to record a longer session, ScreenRec’s free-account time limit may fit better. Check any free-plan time or video-count limit against the length of the recording you need.
What Should You Prepare Before Recording?
A one-minute preflight can prevent a retake caused by the wrong capture area, an unintended microphone, or a desktop notification. Check the setup first, so your video shows only the material viewers need. A little preparation also helps keep the recording on topic.
A 1280 x 720-pixel capture area has a 16:9 aspect ratio, but that size is an example, not a requirement. Choose a frame that fits the place where you will share the video. Use this five-item checklist before recording:
- Close unrelated windows and arrange the desktop around the task.
- Choose a capture area that suits the final video’s aspect ratio.
- Silence nearby distractions and hide desktop alerts that could appear.
- Check that the recorder selected the microphone you intend to use.
- Review the recorder’s shortcut keys and keep them easy to reach.
Set the capture area and workspace
Before you record, open the app or file you plan to show. Place important controls inside the capture area, and move private notes or unrelated windows out of view. A tidy desktop helps viewers follow the action without extra visual noise.
The 1280 x 720-pixel example uses a 16:9 aspect ratio, a common shape for video. A different size may suit a vertical clip, a square post, or a larger display. The destination should guide the frame, not a fixed pixel count.
Leave five seconds of silence at both the start and end of a recording. That buffer gives you room to trim the clip without cutting into a spoken word or action. It also creates a cleaner opening and finish.
Check the microphone and recording controls
Confirm the microphone selection before you begin, especially if you use a headset and a built-in computer mic. A recorder can choose an input you did not expect. Check the controls once so you do not have to repeat a full take.
Shortcuts can help you pause or stop without searching through a menu. In Camtasia, F9 pauses or resumes recording, and F10 stops it. Learn the controls for your chosen tool before the session begins.
Older computers may still have compatible recording options. ScreenRec version 5.0.13 works on Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. Bandicam’s listed 64-bit version supports Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7. Confirm the selected recorder supports your Windows version before starting a longer recording.
How Do You Record a Screen and Webcam in Clipchamp?
In Clipchamp, open Record & Create and choose Screen or Screen & Camera to begin a capture. You can record the screen alone or with a webcam on a personal account. The capture choices include a browser tab, window, or entire screen.
Personal-account browser-tab audio sharing works only when you record a browser tab. A work or school account also offers webcam-only and audio-only choices. The original capture downloads in WebM format.
Start a browser or screen recording
After choosing Screen or Screen & Camera, allow browser access to your microphone or camera if prompted. Choose the permission that matches your recording. If you are recording your face, make sure the camera view looks the way you want.
Select a browser tab, a window, or the entire screen as the capture target. For a browser tab, use the separate audio-sharing control if you want its playback included. That shared audio option applies only to tab capture on personal accounts.
Start the capture, then follow the steps you want to show. Stop recording when you have finished the task. Work or school accounts can choose screen-only, screen and camera, webcam-only, or an audio-only track.
Save the original capture
When the capture ends, download the original recording. Clipchamp saves it as a WebM file, which is separate from an edited project export. Keep the original file intact if you may want to make a different edit later.
The original can help you check whether the screen and webcam appeared as expected. Listen for narration and app sound, too. If a browser tab was the target, confirm its shared audio came through before you build an edit around the clip.
A webcam can make a tutorial feel more personal, but it does not need to cover an important button or menu. Check how the screen and camera share space before recording a longer take. Play the downloaded WebM file once before editing so you can confirm the picture and sound were captured as intended.
How Do You Edit and Export a Screen Recording?
A useful first edit is usually just trimming dead time, removing a distracting mistake, and checking that the picture fits the project frame. Keep the edit simple unless the video needs more work. Save the original before you make changes, so you can return to it if needed.
In Clipchamp, an edited project can be exported as an MP4, while the original capture downloads as WebM. The two files serve different roles: WebM is the original recording, and MP4 is the finished edit. Preview the final export before you share it.
Start by trimming the beginning and end of the clip. Remove extra seconds before the action starts or after it ends. You can split the video to remove a mistake or an unwanted pause in the middle.
Crop the footage when it does not fit the project’s aspect ratio. A crop can remove empty space around the display, but keep important controls inside the frame. Check small text after cropping, since it may become harder to read.
Clipchamp lets you mute or detach audio, then trim or split the video on the timeline. You can also crop a clip to fit the project frame. Make only the changes that help viewers understand the task.
When a screen and webcam capture has separate clips, you can resize each one and arrange them picture-in-picture. Put the webcam view where it does not cover a menu, caption, or key result. Preview the layout at the full project size before exporting.
Keep the untouched WebM file in case the edit removes something you later need. The edited project can become an MP4 for sharing. If you are making a larger video from several clips, this guide to creating and refining video clips covers ways to assemble and polish footage.
Check the exported file from start to finish, including the opening and final seconds. Make sure the screen stays inside the frame and the sound remains clear. Watch the exported MP4 from beginning to end once before sharing it.
How Do You Fix Missing Audio or a Failed Recording?
If a Windows recording has no sound, first check whether the recorder was set to capture microphone audio, system audio, or both. Check each setting in order, since one missed choice can leave the whole video silent. These checks apply to Windows 10 and Windows 11 no-audio recordings.
Windows microphone permission, the selected input device, and the Volume Mixer can all affect recorded sound. Review the four checks below before you record another full take.
- Confirm the recorder’s audio-source selection.
- Check microphone permission under Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone.
- Choose the intended microphone input device.
- Inspect the Volume Mixer for muted or low app sound.
Check audio sources and permissions
First, check the source options in the recorder. It may have been set to capture only system audio or only microphone audio. If the video needs both, make sure the selected tool supports both sources together.
In Windows 10 and Windows 11, microphone access is managed in Settings under Privacy & Security and Microphone. Confirm that access is allowed for the app you used. Then check that the correct input device is selected.
The Volume Mixer can show whether an app or input has been muted. Review its levels while audio is playing or while speaking into the microphone. This can help you find a quiet app or input without changing unrelated settings.
Reduce common capture problems
A recording can stutter when the computer has too much work to handle at once. Close resource-heavy apps, then try reducing capture quality if the problem continues. Make one change at a time so you can tell which adjustment helped.
Some protected videos or services may block recording. If the capture fails only with that content, the restriction may come from the service rather than the recorder. Avoid treating a blank or blocked capture as proof that every screen recording tool has failed.
Change one setting at a time, then make a brief test recording before you try the full capture again.
Note whether the new test has sound and whether the video plays smoothly. That gives you a clear way to judge each adjustment. Make another short test after changing one setting at a time, so you can identify which fix resolved the problem.
Conclusion
For a quick capture, start with the recorder built into your computer; add a separate app only when you need features it does not offer. Built-in tools can handle many simple demonstrations, while another screen recorder may suit a webcam view or extra control.
A short sample can show whether the capture area includes the right content and whether the sound is clear. It is easier to adjust a brief test than to redo a long recording with a missing voiceover.
Record a short test now, play it back, and adjust the capture area or audio source before you begin the full recording.
FAQ
Does PC have screen recording?
Yes, Windows 10 and Windows 11 include Xbox Game Bar, and Windows 11 also includes Snipping Tool screen recording. Xbox Game Bar records an app or game, while Snipping Tool can record a selected area. The tools handle sound differently, so choose the one that fits your capture target. A brief test can show whether the microphone or computer audio came through.
What is Bandicam used for?
Bandicam records screen video or audio on supported Windows versions, and its free version limits each recording to five minutes. The free version does not watermark recordings, but edited video exports have a watermark. Bandicam supports Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11 in its listed 64-bit version. Some protected videos or services may block capture.
Where is my screen recorder?
On Windows 11, open Snipping Tool from Start or press Windows logo key + Shift + R to open its recording overlay. Xbox Game Bar is another built-in option for capturing an app or game. Its recordings save in Videos\Captures as MP4 files. Snipping Tool recordings go to the Screen Recordings folder, so check there if you used that tool.
How to record computer audio in Windows 10?
In Xbox Game Bar, enable computer sounds in Capturing settings before recording. That setting captures system audio, such as playback from an app. If you also want narration, turn on the microphone during the capture. Check both sources in a short test, since a recording can include one source without the other.
How can I record my screen?
Use Snipping Tool on Windows 11, Xbox Game Bar for an app or game on Windows 10 or 11, or the Screenshot toolbar on Mac. Each option has a different capture target and set of audio choices. Choose the one that matches the part of the display you need. Make a brief test and play it back before recording a longer video.
How do I record my Windows screen with audio?
Select microphone audio, system audio, or both in a recorder that supports the source you need. Microphone audio captures your voice, while system audio captures sound played by the computer. The exact controls vary by tool and capture target. Test the chosen app before the full capture to confirm the video includes the intended sound.
Why is there no sound when I screen record on Windows?
Check the recorder’s source, microphone permissions, selected input, and Volume Mixer; these checks apply to Windows 10 and Windows 11. A recorder set to system audio alone will not include your voice. A blocked microphone permission or muted input can also cause silence. Test again after changing one setting so you can spot the cause.
Does Windows 11 have a built-in audio recorder?
Windows 11 includes screen-recording tools that can capture audio, but that is different from a standalone audio-only recorder. Snipping Tool can record video with microphone voiceover, while Xbox Game Bar can include computer sounds. The audio is part of a screen video, not a separate audio-only file. Choose the tool based on whether you need the screen, sound, or both.
