The easiest way to record video on Windows 10 is with the built-in Xbox Game Bar: open the app you want to record, press Windows + G, and select the record button (or press Windows + Alt + R to start and stop). Recordings are saved as MP4 files in Videos > Captures. To record yourself with a webcam, use the Camera app instead. For recording the whole desktop or several windows, a free tool like OBS Studio works better. This guide covers all three.
Note: Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) now run until October 12, 2027. These steps still work on Windows 10, but upgrading to Windows 11 is the long-term way to keep getting security fixes.
Which recording tool should you use?
- Record one app or game window: Xbox Game Bar (built in, quickest).
- Record yourself with a webcam: Camera app (built in).
- Record the full desktop, File Explorer, or several windows: PowerPoint’s Screen Recording or OBS Studio, because Game Bar can’t record the desktop.
- Record a short tutorial with your face in the corner: OBS Studio.
Method 1: Screen record with Xbox Game Bar
- Open the app, browser, or game you want to record and click inside it so it’s the active window.
- Press Windows + G to open Game Bar.
- In the Capture widget, select the microphone icon if you want to record your voice too.
- Select the Start recording button (the circle). A small timer appears in the corner of the screen.
- To stop, select the stop button on the timer, or press Windows + Alt + R.
A “Game clip recorded” notification appears. Select it, or open File Explorer and go to Videos > Captures, to find the MP4 file.
Useful Game Bar shortcuts
- Windows + Alt + R: start or stop recording.
- Windows + Alt + M: turn the microphone on or off while recording.
- Windows + Alt + G: save the last few moments (requires background recording, below).
- Windows + Alt + Print Screen: take a screenshot of the active window.
Change Game Bar recording settings
Go to Settings > Gaming > Captures to:
- Change where recordings are saved (move the Captures folder).
- Set the maximum recording length.
- Choose 30 or 60 frames per second and standard or high video quality.
- Choose whether to record audio, and adjust microphone and system volume.
- Turn on background recording so you can save a clip after something happens.
Game Bar limitations
- It records one app window at a time. It can’t record the desktop or File Explorer, and if you switch to another window the recording continues on the original one.
- It needs a graphics card that supports video encoding. On some older PCs you’ll see a message that the PC doesn’t meet the hardware requirements.
- If Windows + G does nothing, make sure Game Bar is turned on in Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar. If you turned it off earlier using our guide to disabling Game Bar in Windows 10, reverse those steps.
Method 2: Record webcam video with the Camera app
- Select Start, type Camera, and open the app.
- Allow camera and microphone access if asked.
- Select the video camera icon to switch to video mode.
- Select the record button to start, and select it again to stop.
Videos are saved to Pictures > Camera Roll. If the app can’t find your camera, check Settings > Privacy > Camera and make sure apps are allowed to use it.
Method 3: Record the full screen with PowerPoint
If you have Microsoft PowerPoint, it includes a screen recorder that can capture any part of the desktop:
- Open PowerPoint and a blank presentation.
- Go to Insert > Screen Recording.
- Select Select Area and drag around the part of the screen to record, or press Windows + Shift + F to select the full screen.
- Select Record. Press Windows + Shift + Q to stop.
- Right-click the video on the slide and choose Save Media as to save it as an MP4.
Method 4: Record anything with OBS Studio (free)
OBS Studio is a free, open-source recorder from obsproject.com. It can record the whole screen, specific windows, your webcam, and audio sources at the same time.
- Install and open OBS Studio. You can skip or run the auto-configuration wizard.
- Under Sources, select + and add Display Capture (whole screen) or Window Capture (one app). Add Video Capture Device for your webcam.
- Select Start Recording on the right, and Stop Recording when done.
- Find the file under File > Show Recordings. If your recordings are saved as MKV files, use File > Remux Recordings to convert it.
Tips for better recordings
- Close notifications with Focus assist (Action Center > Focus assist) so pop-ups don’t appear in your video.
- Do a 10-second test to check that audio is recording and the levels sound right.
- Watch disk space. Long, high-quality recordings can take several gigabytes.
- Trim the video afterward with the trim tool in the Photos app or in Clipchamp.
Related: Screen record on a Google Pixel.
Frequently asked questions
Does Windows 10 have a built-in screen recorder?
Yes, Xbox Game Bar. It’s meant for games but works with most apps and browsers. It can’t record the desktop itself.
Why is my recording silent?
Check that audio recording is on in Settings > Gaming > Captures, and turn on the microphone in the Capture widget if you want your voice included.
Is there a time limit?
Game Bar stops at the maximum recording length you set in Settings > Gaming > Captures. OBS Studio has no built-in limit beyond your free disk space.
Using Windows 11? See how to screen record on Windows 11 with audio.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.