How to Record Your Screen in Windows 11

Whether you need to create a software tutorial for a coworker or capture a strange bug to show tech support, recording your screen is incredibly useful. In the past, Windows users had to download clunky, expensive third-party software to capture video.

Today, Windows 11 has a powerful screen recorder built right into the operating system. Here is how to record your screen in Windows 11 using the Snipping Tool.

How to Record Video Using the Snipping Tool

Most people know the Snipping Tool is great for taking static screenshots, but Microsoft recently updated it to capture high-quality video as well.

1. Click the Start button on your taskbar.
2. Type Snipping Tool into the search bar and press Enter to open the app.
3. Look at the top menu of the Snipping Tool window. You will see a camera icon (for screenshots) and a video camera icon (for screen recording). Click the video camera.
4. Click the blue + New button in the top left corner.

Your screen will instantly dim, and your mouse cursor will turn into a crosshair.

Selecting Your Recording Area

You do not have to record your entire messy desktop if you don’t want to. You can choose exactly what the camera sees.

1. Click and drag the crosshair to draw a rectangle over the specific area of the screen you want to record (for example, just the web browser window).
2. Once you release the mouse button, the selected area will brighten, showing you exactly what will be captured.
3. A small toolbar will appear at the top of your screen. If you want to narrate your video, click the Microphone icon to unmute it. If you want to record the sounds the computer is making (like a YouTube video playing), click the System Audio icon.
4. When you are ready, click the red Start button. You will get a 3-second countdown before the recording begins.

Saving and Sharing Your Video

While the recording is active, you can minimize the Snipping Tool toolbar if it is in your way. When you are finished demonstrating your task:

1. Click the red Stop button on the toolbar at the top of the screen.
2. The Snipping Tool window will pop back up, showing a preview of the video you just recorded. Click the play button to review it.
3. If you are happy with the recording, click the Save icon (it looks like a floppy disk) in the top right corner.
4. Choose where you want to save the video file (e.g., your Desktop or Videos folder). The file will be saved as an MP4, which is the most widely compatible video format in the world.

You can now attach that MP4 file to an email, upload it to YouTube, or drop it into a Slack message to share with your colleagues.