Quick Answer
Recording your screen on Windows 11 takes no extra software: press Windows logo key + Shift + R to open the Snipping Tool recorder, select an area, and choose Start. For a game or a single app window, press Windows logo key + Alt + R to record with Xbox Game Bar, which saves MP4 files in Videos > Captures.
Key Takeaways
- Snipping Tool records any rectangular area of the screen; Microsoft’s support page lists Record > New or Windows logo key + Shift + R as the two ways to start.
- Snipping Tool version 11.2307.44.0 added optional PC audio and microphone voice-over recording, with default audio settings in the app’s Settings page.
- Xbox Game Bar saves recordings as MP4 files in the Captures folder under Videos, and Windows logo key + Alt + M toggles the microphone during a recording.
- Game Bar’s capture options live in Settings > Gaming > Captures, including background recording (off by default), maximum clip length, audio bitrate, frame rate and mouse-cursor capture.
- Clipchamp screen recordings are limited to 30 minutes each, according to Microsoft, and the free, open-source OBS Studio supports Windows 10 and 11 for longer or multi-source recordings.
What are the built-in ways to record your screen on Windows 11?
Windows 11 includes 2 built-in screen recorders and 1 Microsoft video app that can record the screen. They are Snipping Tool, Xbox Game Bar and Clipchamp. Microsoft names all 3 as replacements in its Steps Recorder deprecation notice, which explains that the older Steps Recorder (PSR) is being retired and describes Snipping Tool as a good alternative that ships with Windows.
For third-party options, see the TechJournal guide to the best free screen recording software for PC. The comparison below is based on Microsoft’s and each developer’s published documentation; TechJournal did not run its own tests of these tools.
| Tool | How to start | What it records | Audio | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snipping Tool (built in) | Windows logo key + Shift + R | Any rectangular area of the screen | Optional PC audio and microphone | Editing such as captions happens in Clipchamp |
| Xbox Game Bar (built in) | Windows logo key + Alt + R | A game or app window | Game only, all sounds, or microphone only | One monitor at a time; some games block recording |
| Clipchamp (Microsoft app) | Recording option in the Clipchamp editor | Screen and camera | Microphone, with audio editing afterward | 30 minutes per recording |
| OBS Studio (free, open source) | Start Recording in the app | Full screen, windows, webcam and other sources combined | Multiple audio sources mixed | Takes more setup than the built-in tools |
How do you record your screen with Snipping Tool?
To record your screen with Snipping Tool, start a video snip, select the area to capture, and choose Start. Microsoft’s Snipping Tool support page describes the feature as a way to capture a video clip of a rectangular selection of any part of the screen. Follow these steps:
- Press Windows logo key + Shift + R, or open Snipping Tool from the Start menu, select the Record button, and then select New.
- Drag across the part of the screen you want to record. Select the whole display if you want a full-screen recording.
- Turn on PC audio or microphone recording if you need sound, and choose the microphone if more than one is connected (see the next section).
- Select Start and perform the task you want to capture.
- Select Stop when you finish.
- Save the recording as-is from the preview window, or select Edit in Clipchamp to trim it, add captions or adjust its audio.
Snipping Tool suits tutorials and bug reports because the selected area can cover the desktop and several windows at once. Microsoft’s page also notes that captured snips are saved automatically to the Screenshots folder and that the save behavior and default folder can be changed under See More > Settings. Save each recording deliberately from the preview window if you are unsure where your version stores video files.
How do you add system audio and microphone sound in Snipping Tool?
Snipping Tool records system audio and microphone sound only when you turn them on. Microsoft’s August 31, 2023 Windows Insider post for version 11.2307.44.0 introduced support for optionally recording PC audio and voice-overs from a microphone. The same post says new app settings set the default audio for new recordings, and that you can choose a preferred recording device before you start recording when more than one microphone is connected.
A recording made with audio switched off cannot have the original sound restored later, so set the audio defaults in Snipping Tool’s Settings once and confirm them before each recording. Check the microphone privacy settings under Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone if the microphone option is unavailable, and see the TechJournal guide to fixing a microphone that is not working on Windows 11 if Windows does not detect the device at all.
How do you record your screen with Xbox Game Bar?
To record your screen with Xbox Game Bar, open the game or app you want to capture and press Windows logo key + Alt + R. Microsoft’s Game Bar recording guide lists the full sequence:
- Open Settings (Windows logo key + I), search for “xbox,” and turn on Enable Xbox Game Bar if it is off.
- Open the game or app you want to record and click inside it so it is the active window.
- Press Windows logo key + Alt + R to start recording. The screen flashes to confirm the start.
- Press Windows logo key + Alt + M to turn the microphone on or off during the recording.
- Press Windows logo key + Alt + R again to stop recording.
Game Bar can also be driven from its overlay. According to Xbox Support, pressing Windows logo key + G opens Game Bar, and Widget Menu > Capture offers Start recording, Take screenshot and Record last.
Game Bar has 3 practical limits that affect ordinary screen recording. They are recording one monitor at a time, recording a game or app rather than a freely selected area, and being blocked by some games that disable recording by default. Xbox Support’s Game Bar troubleshooting page confirms the single-monitor limit and the blank clips caused by games that block capture. Use Snipping Tool instead when you need to show the desktop or move between several windows.
How do you record the last few moments with Game Bar?
Game Bar’s background recording captures what just happened, but only after you turn it on. Xbox Support explains that background recording is off by default, that it can affect game performance because it uses PC resources, and that Windows logo key + Alt + G saves the last moments once the feature is enabled. Turn it on under Settings > Gaming > Captures, where you also set how long a period it keeps.
Where do Windows 11 screen recordings save?
Xbox Game Bar recordings save as MP4 files in the Captures folder under Videos. Microsoft’s Game Bar guide adds that each file name contains the game or app name plus the date and time of the recording, and screenshots taken with Windows logo key + Alt + Print Screen go to the same folder as PNG files.
Xbox Support’s capture settings page says the current location appears at the top of Settings > Gaming > Captures with an Open folder button, and that moving the Captures folder with File Explorer makes Windows keep saving clips in the new location.
Snipping Tool recordings are saved through the preview window after you select Stop, and the app’s auto-save options sit under See More > Settings. For still images rather than video, the TechJournal guide on how to take a screenshot on a laptop covers every Windows shortcut and its save location.
Which Game Bar capture settings should you change?
Game Bar’s most useful settings are the audio source, the maximum recording length and the video quality. All of them sit under Settings > Gaming > Captures, and Xbox Support notes that changing a setting there also changes the matching setting in Game Bar’s own menu (Windows logo key + G, then Settings > More Settings > Widgets > Captures). There are 5 settings worth checking before a long recording:
- Audio to record: Game only captures the game’s sound, All captures every sound including your microphone and system sounds, and None blocks game and system audio but still records your microphone.
- System and microphone levels: sliders set each level, and setting either slider to 0 mutes that source completely.
- Max recording length: a dropdown sets the point at which a clip stops and saves automatically, so raise it before recording a long session.
- Frame rate and video quality: video quality controls both resolution and bitrate, and Xbox Support warns that higher settings make the PC work harder and can reduce performance.
- Mouse cursor: a separate option controls whether the pointer appears in the recording, which matters for tutorials.
Why is screen recording not working on Windows 11?
Screen recording on Windows 11 usually fails for 1 of 4 common reasons. They are Game Bar being switched off, a full-screen game hiding the overlay, protected or recording-blocked content, and a recording session that did not end correctly. The table below matches each symptom to the fix Xbox Support documents.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Windows logo key + Alt + R does nothing | Game Bar is turned off, or the game is blocking custom shortcuts | Turn on Enable Xbox Game Bar in Settings; update Game Bar from the Microsoft Store |
| Game Bar does not appear in a full-screen game | Full-screen exclusive mode hides the overlay | Use the keyboard shortcuts, or press Windows logo key + G once so the game is recognized |
| The clip or screenshot is blank | The game disables recording, or protected content is on screen | Record with a different tool only if the content’s terms allow it |
| Recording worked once or twice, then stopped | The previous recording did not end correctly | End the Broadcast bar server (bcastdvr.exe) process in Task Manager and restart the game |
| Recording has no sound | Audio was off when recording started | Turn on PC audio and microphone in Snipping Tool, or set Audio to record to All in Game Bar |
Xbox Support also notes that, as of October 2024, Windows 10 22H2 or newer is required for some Xbox app and Game Bar features, and that Windows N editions may need the free Media Feature Pack. Contact your PC maker’s support if no recorder works and the manufacturer’s graphics driver will not install, because that can point to a hardware or firmware problem.
When should you use Clipchamp or OBS Studio instead?
Clipchamp is the better choice when a screen recording needs editing before you share it. Clipchamp records the screen together with a camera, and Microsoft states on its Clipchamp project length page that webcam and screen recordings in the editor are currently limited to 30 minutes each. Longer sessions must be split into several recordings.
OBS Studio is the better choice for long recordings, several sources at once, or live streaming. The OBS Project describes OBS Studio as free and open source software for video recording and live streaming, and its download page states that the Windows release supports Windows 10 and 11. OBS can combine screens, windows, a webcam and several audio sources in one recording. The limitation is setup time, because OBS asks you to build scenes and choose sources before the first recording.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Windows 11 have a built-in screen recorder?
Yes, Windows 11 has two built-in screen recorders: Snipping Tool and Xbox Game Bar. Snipping Tool records any selected area with Windows logo key + Shift + R, while Game Bar records a game or app with Windows logo key + Alt + R.
How do I record my screen on Windows 11 with audio?
Windows 11 screen recordings include audio when you turn on system audio and the microphone before you start. In Snipping Tool, set the PC audio and microphone options before recording, and in Xbox Game Bar, set Audio to record to All under the capture settings.
Where are Xbox Game Bar recordings saved on Windows 11?
Xbox Game Bar recordings are saved as MP4 files in the Captures folder under Videos. You can open or move that folder from Settings > Gaming > Captures, and Windows keeps saving clips in the new location.
Is there a time limit for screen recording on Windows 11?
Windows 11 screen recording limits depend on the tool. Xbox Game Bar stops at the maximum recording length you choose in Settings > Gaming > Captures, and Microsoft says Clipchamp screen recordings are limited to 30 minutes each.
Can Xbox Game Bar record the desktop or File Explorer?
Xbox Game Bar is designed to record a game or app window rather than a freely selected area, and it supports one monitor at a time. Use Snipping Tool when you need to record the desktop or several windows together.