How to Record Your Screen in Windows 11

Whether you need to create a software tutorial for a colleague, capture a bug to send to IT support, or record gameplay footage for YouTube, you no longer need to download expensive third-party screen recording software. Windows 11 includes two excellent, built-in tools for capturing your screen.

The first is the Snipping Tool, which is perfect for everyday desktop recording. The second is the Xbox Game Bar, designed specifically for high-performance gaming. Here is how to record your screen in Windows 11 using both methods.

Method 1: The Snipping Tool (Best for Everyday Use)

Historically, the Snipping Tool could only take static screenshots. In Windows 11, Microsoft finally updated it to capture high-quality MP4 video.

1. Click the Start button and type “Snipping Tool” into the search bar, then hit Enter.
2. Look at the top of the Snipping Tool window. You will see two icons: a camera and a camcorder. Click the camcorder icon to switch to video mode.
3. Click the blue + New button in the top-left corner.
4. Your screen will dim, and your cursor will turn into a crosshair. Click and drag your mouse to draw a box around the exact area of the screen you want to record. (You can draw a box over the entire screen, or just one specific application window).
5. A small toolbar will appear at the top of the screen. Here, you can click the microphone icon if you want to record your voice while you demonstrate something.
6. Click the blue Start button on that toolbar. A 3-second countdown will begin.

When you are finished recording, click the red Stop square on the toolbar. The Snipping Tool will pop back up, allowing you to preview the video. Click the Save icon (the floppy disk) in the top-right corner to save it as an MP4 file.

Method 2: Xbox Game Bar (Best for Gaming)

If you try to record a fast-paced video game using the Snipping Tool, the resulting video will likely be choppy and laggy. The Xbox Game Bar is integrated directly into the Windows 11 graphics architecture to record high-framerate gameplay smoothly.

1. Launch the video game or full-screen application you want to record.
2. Press the Windows Key + G on your keyboard. This will instantly open the Game Bar overlay.
3. Look in the top-left corner for the “Capture” widget. (If you don’t see it, click the small webcam icon in the very top-center menu bar to reveal it).
4. In the Capture widget, click the circular Record button (or press Windows Key + Alt + R).

The overlay will disappear, and a small, floating timer will appear in the corner of your screen indicating that recording has started. You can click the microphone icon on this timer to add voiceover.

To stop recording, simply click the square Stop button on the floating timer. Windows automatically saves these videos in the Videos > Captures folder on your main hard drive.