How to record your desktop screen windows 10

If you’re still interested in using this tool, you can proceed with the simple steps below! Otherwise, the next screen recorder is a better choice for your needs.


1. Go to the app you want to screen record. The Xbox Game Bar records the app that’s currently opened on your screen.

How to record your desktop screen windows 10

Remember, you can't use the Xbox Game Bar to capture videos of your File Explorer or your desktop. This is due to the limitations of the screen recording process on Windows 10. 

Pro Tip: If you need to record your desktop or your entire screen, try out VEED’s free screen recorder.


2. Press the Windows + G keys or the Xbox button. Although the hotkey to start recording is Windows + Alt + R, we’ll have to first check your recording options to make sure the game bar is recording your voice.

If this is your first time opening the game bar, you’ll get a dialog box that will look like the image below.

How to record your desktop screen windows 10

3. Tick the box next to "Yes, this is a game." to open the Game bar. Regardless of the app you’re trying to record, you’ll always have to check this box. Don’t worry if the app isn’t a game because the end result will be the same anyway.

4. Go to the Settings and navigate to Capturing. From here, you can choose whether or not the game bar will record all your system sounds or just the sound from your app and microphone.

How to record your desktop screen windows 10

5. Hit the "Start Recording" button or press the Win + Alt + R keys. After that, simply hit Escape or Win + G again to exit the Game bar and begin recording your screen. 

How to record your desktop screen windows 10

An indicator with the elapsed time at the top-right corner of your screen will appear when you start recording. You can stop the recording from there or mute your mic when necessary.

6.  Click the Stop button to stop recording. If the Game bar disappears while recording, you can press Win + Alt + R again to stop recording. You can also bring the Game Bar back into view by pressing Win + G and stop the recording from there.

In the same Game Bar, you’ll find the option to “Show all captures” to locate and review your recordings. 

Another way to navigate to your recordings is to go to the Gaming folder on your Windows PC's File Explorer and open the Captures subfolder. That's where you can find them. For Xbox app users, you can find your recordings in the Game DVR Menu.

You can also capture screenshots using the Xbox Game Bar. Instead of hitting the "Start Recording" button, click the Camera icon to take a screenshot. Or, press Print Screen + Win + Alt at the same time. You should be able to find the screenshots in the same Gaming subfolder.

How to record your desktop screen windows 10



How to record your screen using Microsoft Stream

Best for Office 365 subscribers who want to take advantage of a screen recorder they’re already paying for

Microsoft Stream is a video-sharing tool developed by Microsoft to replace the Office 365 video. It’s a paid tool that comes with an Office 365 subscription—so if you don’t have an Office 365 account and don’t want to start subscribing today, then go proceed to the next method.

Here’s how you can screen record using Microsoft Stream:

1. On your browser, go to stream.microsoft.com and log into your Microsoft 365 account. 

2. After that, navigate to the Create tab and select Record screen.

How to record your desktop screen windows 10

If prompted, Allow Microsoft Stream access to your camera and microphone permissions. In case you Blocked the permissions, simply click on the Lock icon near your browser’s address bar and change the permissions to Allow.

How to record your desktop screen windows 10

  1. Now that Microsoft Stream has permission, click on the webcam and microphone icons to set up your recording devices. 
  2. Once everything is ready to record, simply click on the recording button to start recording!

How to record your desktop screen windows 10


3. Select the screen you wish to record and click Share. You can choose between an application window, browser tab, or your entire screen.

This will start a countdown to signify the start of the recording. Microsoft Stream allows only 15 minutes of screen recording, so make sure you plan ahead. You can pause and resume the recording at any time. 


4. Once you’re done, simply Pause the recording and click on Next to save the video. You’ll be redirected to a different page where you can review the recording. 

5. If you’re satisfied with the recording, go ahead and Upload to Stream to save your recording and make it easy to share.


You can either Publish your videos and send it to your friends via link or even do simple edits like trimming through the More actions menu. 


How to record your screen on Windows 10 from your web browser (with VEED)

Best for anyone–Windows, Mac, or Linux Users–who want a powerful and free online screen recorder and editor with no video duration limits.

VEED will help you edit, share, and manage your screen recordings all in one website.


Right off the bat, here are some extra benefits you can get from VEED’s screen recorder:

  • You can screen record your entire screen, including the desktop and switching of tabs or apps
  • VEED has an online video editor with tons of features you can use when you’re done screen recording 
  • After recording your screen, you can easily share your video through VEED by generating a preview link


Here's how you can get started with VEED:


1. Go to the Chrome web store and download the VEED screen recorder extension 

How to record your desktop screen windows 10


2. Click the "Add to Chrome" button to start using VEED on your online browser. This action will prompt a new page to load where you will be asked to create a free account. 

How to record your desktop screen windows 10


You can pin the VEED extension to your browser toolbar to make it more accessible whenever you need to use it once your account has been created.  


3. Click the VEED icon on the toolbar to get started. You should see different box elements on the page. One is asking permission for camera and microphone access. The other shows you the webcam preview. 

How to record your desktop screen windows 10


4. Select the desired layout for your screen recording. If you know exactly what type of video you want as the final output, you should already have a layout in mind. There are three options for you to choose from:

  • Screen and webcam 
  • Webcam only
  • Screen only

How to record your desktop screen windows 10

You’ll also find two boxes in the middle of the page with options for your camera and microphone access. You may use an external or built-in device to record your computer screen with audio. 


5. Press the red button to open a window where you can select the screen(s) you want to share or record.

  • Entire Screen
  • Window
  • Chrome Tab

How to record your desktop screen windows 10

6. Start recording after the 3-second countdown timer. It's important to have everything you need ready  and set beforehand so you don't end up scrambling to get your things the moment VEED starts to record your screen. 

How to record your desktop screen windows 10


The toolbar will be located on the left side of the screen, while the webcam preview is movable. So, if you find that it blocks your view, you can always move it around to find a perfect place for it. Or, you can even resize the webcam preview if you want.

How to record your desktop screen windows 10



7. Play around with VEED’s screen recorder tools to make your video more fun and engaging. If you need to emphasize something on your screen or presentation, use the:

  • Rainbow Draw tool (pen icon) for annotation and highlighting
  • Sticky note for typing extra information for future reference
  • Magic tool for adding more spice to your recording (i.e. confetti and other magic tricks from VEED)


All these advanced features are free to use, so feel free to make the most out of them.

How to record your desktop screen windows 10

8. Hit the red button again to stop recording. Afterward, VEED will redirect you to a page where you can see the rendering progress. Depending on the file size, it can take anywhere between a few seconds to several minutes to render.   

Remember, you can make unlimited recordings without any limits to the screen recording length. If you want to record more videos, VEED will automatically save recordings in your VEED account.

From here on you have two options: either share your video or edit the recording through VEED and make it a bit more professional!

How to record your desktop screen windows 10

For those of you who immediately want to share your video, here’s how you can do that.


9. Click on Share and select Copy Link. Copying the link is the easiest way to share your video. Alternatively, you can also share it on your social media platforms, get an Embed link, or even send the video to an email address.

How to record your desktop screen windows 10

Bonus Tip: You can fiddle through the Privacy Settings to allow people to either comment on your video or even download it.

How to record your desktop screen windows 10

How to turn Screen Recordings into Professional Videos in Minutes with VEED

If you want to take an extra minute and beautify your screen recording into a professional video, then here’s how you can do that with VEED!


1. Click on the Edit Video button at the top-right corner of your screen. If you want to upload a screen recording, do so through the VEED workspace and edit through there.

How to record your desktop screen windows 10


2. Customize your video by adding subtitles, music, transitions, and more. VEED has a lot of features you can use to make your screen recordings exciting. Here’s a quick list of some key features that you should watch out for and take advantage of!

  • Auto subtitles — captions provide more clarity to your recordings
  • Video transitions — clearly define each section of your video
  • Elements (progress bars, music visualizers,shapes, emojis, effects, logos, and more)
  • Drawing — use the drawing pen tool to annotate on video
  • Template — not sure what to make? Pick a layout design!
  • Trim, split, crop, and resize — adjust, resize, and repurpose videos for different platforms

If you’re frequently making video content and need on-brand videos, check out the Pro version of VEED to unlock more customization options like the brand kit. And if you need a solution for your team, contact us for Enterprise plans.


3. Download or share your video. You can share your video through VEED by copying the link specific for your video and sharing that to your friends or colleagues. Otherwise, you can also download the video. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How to record a computer screen with audio?

First, you need a tool that has a screen and audio recorder to start with, like VEED! Then, choose the layout option that allows you to record a computer screen with audio. Use a good external microphone and webcam to have a better quality video and audio. 

How do I record my screen on Windows 10 for free?

Use Game Bar on your Windows to record your screen. This is a built-in tool that’s free to use on your PC. Press the Win + G keys and the Game Bar dialog box will appear. From here, you may choose to record or take screenshots of the apps on your Windows PC.


How do I edit my screen recording on Windows?

You can edit your screen recording on Windows using the Photos app. Click the Edit and Create option, Save a Copy of your edited file, and you’re good to go. But if you want to add professional touches, check out VEED’s online video editor and screen recorder.


What’s the best screen capture software for Windows 10?

The best overall screen capture software for Windows 10 is VEED. It’s easy to use, has no limits on what you can record, makes sharing videos easy, and doubles as an editor with their online video editor. 

How do I record my desktop video on Windows 10?

Record your screen.
Go to the game or app you want to record..
Press the Windows logo key+Alt+R to start recording a clip. ... .
To toggle the microphone on and off during the recording, press the Windows logo key+Alt+M. To display the Game Bar controls, press the Windows logo key+G. You hear: "Xbox Game Bar window.".

Does Windows 10 have a screen recorder?

Did you know Windows 10 has a screen recording utility called the Xbox Game Bar? With it, you can record a video of your actions in just about any Windows app on your laptop, whether you want to capture gameplay or create a tutorial for someone using Microsoft Office.

Can Windows 10 record screen and audio?

Windows 10 comes with a built-in screen recorder called Xbox Game bar. This screen recorder can record screen, webcam and audio. It's easy to use, but comes with many disadvantages. You can also use Vmaker which is a more advanced screen recorder, and comes with a built-in video editor too.

Can you screen record on Windows PC?

Click the Start Recording button or use the Win + Alt + R keyboard shortcut to capture your screen activity. Now perform whatever screen actions you want to capture.