How to Record the Screen in Windows 11

These days, screen recording is a basic feature present in most operating systems by default. Unfortunately, Windows 11 lacks a dedicated built-in screen recording tool, but you can do that via the pre-installed Xbox Game Bar, PowerPoint, Clipchamp, or using third-party software. Today, we’ll share multiple methods of recording your screen in Windows 11 and answer popular questions related to the topic.

How to Record the Screen in Windows 11 via Xbox Game Bar

Xbox Game Bar is a native Windows 11 app pre-installed on every latest Windows operating system. That’s no wonder since both Windows and Xbox are owned by Microsoft. Even if you aren’t a gamer, you can use the Xbox Game Bar to record the screen in Windows 11. Here’s how to do that:

1. Access the Xbox Game Bar using the “Win + G” keyboard shortcut. Alternatively, search for “Xbox Game Bar” in the Start menu.
2. If you’ve launched the Xbox Game Bar for the first time, you’ll see a dialogue box asking you to enable the gaming features. Click on the checkbox to grant the permission – screen recording is impossible without it.
3. In the Xbox Game Bar Widget menu, you’ll see a camera icon. Click on it to see the screen recording option with keyboard shortcut clues.
4. Use the “Win + Alt + G” keyboard shortcut or click on the encircled arrow icon to start a short 30-second screen recording. The recording will end automatically in 30 seconds, or you can stop it earlier using the same shortcut.
5. Use the “Win + Alt + R” keyboard screenshot or click on the dark circle icon to start a new unlimited time recording. Use the same keyboard shortcut to finish the recording.

You can later access your screen recordings made via the Xbox Gam Bar in the “Captions” section of the “Videos” folder.

How to Record the Screen in Windows 11 via PowerPoint

If you use Microsoft PowerPoint for studies or work and have a subscription, you can record your screen using the app. PowerPoint’s screen recording functionality isn’t as advanced as that of Xbox Game Bar, but it does the job. Follow the instructions below:

1. Click on the Start button and search for “PowerPoint.” Alternatively, click the PowerPoint icon if it’s available on the Pinned or Recommended app list.
   
2. Navigate to the “Insert” tab in the menu bar.
   
3. Click on “Screen Recording” in the upper right corner of your screen.
   
4. Click and hold your left mouse button, then drag the red box to select the recording area. Release the mouse button when the area is selected.
   
5. Click on “Record” to start the recording. The microphone is enabled by default, but you can disable it by tapping the microphone icon in the widget menu.
   
6. Use the “Win + Shift + Q” keyboard shortcut to end the recording.
   
7. Your recording will be added to your current PowerPoint presentation. Right-click on the recording and select “Save Media as” from the dropdown menu to save the video locally. You can then delete the recording from your presentation.
   

How to Record the Screen in Windows 11 with Clipchamp

Clipchamp is a video editor pre-installed on Windows 11 that also has a screen recording feature. The app is easy to use, but the maximum video length is limited to 30 seconds, and the quality to 480p in the free version. The app’s paid version supports 1080p video quality and unlimited length. Here’s how to use Clipchamp:

1. Search for “Clipchamp” in the Start menu.
   
2. Sign in with your Google, Facebook, Microsoft, or Dropbox account.
   
3. In the Home menu, click on “Screen and Camera” under the “Start with a recording” section.
   
4. Allow the app to access your camera and microphone before starting the recording.
   
5. Select “Screen Recording” from the left-hand menu.
   
6. Tap the large red button in the center of your screen to start the recording.
   
7. Select whether you want to record the entire screen or a specific window and click “Share.”
   
8. The recording will start instantly. Click on “Stop Sharing” to end it.
   
9. Select “Save and Edit,” make the desired changes, and click on “Export.” You will find the recording in your “Downloads” folder.
   

How to Record the Screen in Windows 11 Using Third-Party Solutions

If you find the screen recording feature in Xbox Game Bar inconvenient or lacking functionality, consider using third-party tools. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of high-quality software developed for Windows 11. For example, here’s how to record Windows 11 screen using OBS software:

1. Visit the official OBS website and click “Windows” to download an installation file for your operating system.
   
2. Run the .exe installation file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup. The process typically takes only a couple of minutes.
   
3. Launch the OBS app. You’ll see a Configuration Wizard window. Select “Optimize just for recording, I will not be streaming” and click on “Next.”
   
4. Click on “Apply Settings” to finish the configuration. You’ll be taken to the dashboard.
5. Tap the plus icon in the “Scene” section in the bottom left corner of your screen and select “Display Capture.”
   
6. Click on “Ok,” then “Ok” again in the Properties dialogue box.
   
7. Click “Settings” in the bottom right corner.
   
8. Select the destination folder of your OBS screen recordings and click on “Ok.”
   
9. Once everything is set up, click on “Start Recording” to begin the recording.
   
10. When you want to finish the recording, tap “Stop Recording.”
    

Alternatively, you can use the App Free Cam. The software’s functionality isn’t as extensive as OBS, but it’s more user-friendly. Note that the app only exports recordings in WMV format. Follow the steps below to use it:

1. Download App Free Cam from the official website.
   
2. Run the installation file and follow the on-screen instructions to configure it.
   
3. Launch the app and select “New Recording” from the dashboard.
   
4. Click on “Fullscreen” from the dropdown menu or select the recording area by holding down the left mouse button and dragging the white box.
   
5. Tap the red recording button to begin.
   
6. Hit the “Esc” key on your keyboard to end the recording.
   
7. Click on “Save as Video” to save the recording or edit it using in-app tools.
   

FAQs

Read this section to find out more about screen recording on Windows 11.

Why can’t I see the screen recording option in Xbox Game Bar?

Sometimes, users wishing to record their Windows 11 screen via Xbox Game Bar can’t find the necessary feature. This is a common and easily solved problem. Follow the steps below:

1. Launch the app and click on the Widgets icon in the menu – it looks like two differently sized rectangles and is located on the left.

2. Select “Capture” from the dropdown menu, and the feature widget will now be displayed in the quick access menu.

How do I customize Xbox Game Bar screen recording settings?

Xbox Game Bar offers numerous screen recording settings that allow users to customize the feature to suit their needs. Here’s how to access the Settings menu:

1. Launch Xbox Game Bar and grant the requested permissions.

2. Click on the gear icon on the right.

3. Choose “Gaming” from the left sidebar.

4. Navigate to “Captures.”

From there, you’ll be able to change the desired settings. Although most settings mention the word “game,” they apply to all apps where you can use the Xbox Game Bar screen recording. For example, enable the “Record what happened” setting to allow the app constant real-time recording. Then, you can record the past 30 seconds of your screen at any moment by using the “Win + Alt + G” shortcut, even if you didn’t enable recording beforehand.

You can also adjust the maximum recording length. The default time is two hours, after which the recording automatically turns off, but you can set it for shorter or longer. Shift the toggle next to “Capture mouse cursor when recording a game” to show or hide your cursor during recording. Additionally, you can adjust the preferred video framerate and quality. In the “Capture audio when recording a game” section, you’ll see multiple sound options, including “System recording volume,” “Microphone recording volume,” and “Audio recording quality.”

Lights, Camera, Action

Hopefully, we’ve provided enough tools for screen recording on Windows 11 to meet every user’s needs. As you can see, although Windows 11 doesn’t have an app dedicated specifically to screen capturing, you can take advantage of pre-installed software for this purpose. And if you need more functionality, third-party software like OBS is an excellent choice.

Which screen recording tool on Windows 11 do you find the most convenient? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.