Oftentimes, one needs to record some activity on their screen. It can be gameplay, a tutorial a how-to video, or creating something unique.
Luckily, Windows 10 came with a built-in feature to allow users to record screen activity. Before Windows 10 users had to resort to third-party applications, which often came with limited free features.
This feature is known as the Xbox Game Bar. It is not a third-party application but rather an official feature of Windows 10 and 11 that allows you to record your gameplay and every other activity as well.
This guide delves into the intricate details you need to know about starting screen recording on a laptop.
Let’s get right to it:
Contents
How to Start Screen Recording on a Laptop? – Windows 10
The settings for screen recording on Windows 10 and 11 are pretty much similar, but there are some minor differences. So, I will be discussing them separately.
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Here’s a proper step-by-step guide to help you set up screen recording and then use it on Windows 10.
Step 1: Access Settings
First of all, you need to modify your settings according to your desired preferences in order to use this feature effectively.
Go to Settings from the Start Menu. Click on Gaming and then go to Captures from the left tab.
These are your settings for the Xbox Game Bar that will be responsible for capturing all the videos and recordings.
Step 2: Adjust Settings According to Your Preferences
There are several things you need to take into account here. First, you must choose between background recording and instantaneous recording.
If you turn on background recording, the laptop will automatically start recording each time you start playing a game and you can access that recording later on.
However, in the case of instant recording, you will have to start the recording yourself. So, the choice rests with you.
You will also have to adjust the record length. You can choose to record only the sounds in the game or turn on the microphone with the sound.
As for instantaneous recording, a game bar will appear on the screen and you can access these features during the recording.
Step 3: Adjust Video Quality
This is an important setting that must be paid proper attention. You need to adjust video quality, including both frame rate and resolution.
Higher-quality videos are bound to take up more space. Hence, you need to ensure that there is ample storage space in your PC.
Make sure that the storage path is adjusted to the drive that has ample space.
Step 4: Access Game Bar
Now that you have adjusted the settings, it is time to start the recording. Set up the activity that you want to record.
If you have enabled background recording and you are about to record gameplay, then you don’t have to go through these steps as your gameplay will be automatically recorded.
However, if you are recording any other activity, you will have to record it manually. The settings are already adjusted and the rest is a piece of cake.
Simply press the Windows Key + G command to access the Xbox Game Bar. Click on Capture to access the capture screen that will allow you to capture screenshots and screen recordings.
Step 5: Start Screen Recording
Now, you can start the screen recording by clicking on the record button. You can activate or deactivate the microphone by clicking on the microphone button.
You can also hide or show the recording bar during the screen recording. The process is pretty much easy and simple.
However, if you don’t want to access the Game Bar each time you start screen recording, then you can simply use the shortcut commands instead of going through the whole process each time.
Simply press Windows Key + Alt + R to start recording the screen activity and the same command when you want to finish.
Step 6: View Your Recorded Clip
Just as you finish the screen recording, a notification will appear showing you that the clip has been saved to your selected path.
You can click on this Xbox Game Bar notification to view the clip or open the file location. The clip will be saved to the location that you have set earlier in the settings.
If you are not comfortable with using the current commands, you can edit these commands in the settings and adjust them according to your preferences.
How to Start Screen Recording on a Laptop? – Windows 11
Windows 11 provides you with 2 methods to record the screen activity. The first is the same as Windows 10, which involves using the same commands as you did in Windows 10.
There might be some alternate settings names, but mostly all the steps to start screen recording through Xbox Game Bar in Windows 11 are similar to Windows 10.
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However, the second method is not available in Windows 10, which is recording the screen on Windows 11 with the Snipping tool.
Yes, you can use the Snipping Tool on Windows 11 to capture as well as record screen activity.
Here’s what you have to do:
- Open the Snipping Tool from the Start Menu. You can go to All Apps and locate the app or simply search for it to get to it faster.
- Click on the Video Camera icon and then click on the “+ New” button.
- Select the area of the screen you want to record and click on the Start recording button that will appear in a top floating bar.
- Once the recording starts, you will be free to perform the screen activity you want. Once you are done, you can click on the Stop button.
- Between the recording, you can also use the pause button to take a break during the recording.
- Once you have clicked on the stop button, you will be able to see a preview of the file. From here, you can save the file in your desired path.
The primary benefit of using the Snipping Tool to capture screen recordings is that you can focus on a specific area of the screen instead of the whole screen. This feature saves you from the trouble of cropping the videos out later on.
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In the latest version of the Snipping Tool, you can also configure the audio settings and add the microphone sound too if you wish to. However, this feature is only available in the latest OS version.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I record video playing on the screen with its audio using a screen recorder?
Yes, you can. You can go to the settings and choose the option to only record the sounds that are playing on the screen by choosing to turn off the microphone. You can turn on the microphone to record your own sound as well.
How do I turn on screen recording?
There are two methods. First is to access the Xbox Game Bar and then manually start the screen recording feature. The second is to use a shortcut key command to do the task which is as follows: Windows Key + Alt Key + R.
Is the screen recorder limited to the full screen of the laptop?
On Windows 10, with the official Xbox Game Bar, you can only record full-screen. However, on the latest version of Windows 11 OS, you can record a portion of the screen using the screen recording tool.
Wrapping Up!
Summing it all up, screen recording is pretty easy on Windows 10 and Windows 11 because of the Xbox Game Bar.
On Windows 11, you also have an additional option to record with the Snipping Tool. The best part is, that these applications have been officially pre-installed and come with an official OS.
Hence, you no longer need any third-party applications to record screen activity on Windows 10 and 11.
Also, if you are looking for affordable laptops that offer powerful and efficient performance, check out our guide to the best laptops under $600 in 2024.