The three ways to record your screen

You can record your monitor using built-in tools that come with your operating system, third-party software you download and install, or web-based tools that run in your browser. Built-in tools are free and require no setup — Windows has Xbox Game Bar, and Mac has Screenshot with recording options. Third-party software like OBS Studio or Camtasia gives you more control over what gets recorded and how the video looks. Browser-based tools like Loom or Screencastify work without installation but usually have limits on video length or quality unless you pay.

The choice depends on what you're recording and what you need the final video to do. If you're making a quick recording to send to a coworker, the built-in tool is usually fastest. If you're recording regularly or need to edit the video afterward, downloading software gives you more options. If you need to share a link immediately without saving a file, a browser tool might be simpler.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows includes a free screen recorder in Xbox Game Bar (press Windows key + G), and Mac has a built-in recording option in the Screenshot app.
  • OBS Studio is free, open-source software that records your screen and lets you choose which parts of your monitor to capture and where to save the file.
  • Browser-based tools like Loom record directly in your web browser and can share a link instantly, but most limit free recordings to 5 or 15 minutes.
  • When you record your monitor, the video file saves to your computer's storage, and you can edit it with video software or share it as-is.

Using Windows built-in recording

On Windows 10 and Windows 11, press the Windows key and G together to open Xbox Game Bar. A menu appears on the left side of your screen with a red circle (record button) and a blue circle (screenshot button). Click the red circle to start recording, and the timer begins in the top-left corner. Everything on your monitor is captured — your cursor, any windows you open, and any audio playing through your speakers or microphone.

To stop recording, press Windows key + G again and click the stop button, or click the stop icon in the Game Bar menu. The video saves automatically to your Videos folder in a subfolder called Captures. The file is an MP4 video that you can open in Windows Media Player, edit in the Photos app, or upload to another platform. If you want to record only part of your screen instead of the whole monitor, Xbox Game Bar does not have that option — you'll need third-party software.

Using Mac built-in recording

On Mac, press Shift + Command + 5 to open the Screenshot app. A menu bar appears at the bottom of your screen with five buttons: the first four let you take still screenshots, and the fifth (a rectangle with a dot inside) records your screen. Click the screen recording button, then click the Record button that appears. A red dot shows in the menu bar while recording. To stop, click the red dot and select Stop, or press Control + Command + Esc.

The video saves to your Desktop by default as a MOV file. You can change where it saves by clicking Options in the Screenshot menu and choosing a different location. Like Windows, Mac's built-in tool records your entire monitor. To record just one window or a specific area, you can select that option before you hit Record — the menu lets you choose "Entire Screen" or "Selected Window." The MOV file plays in QuickTime or most video players and can be edited in iMovie or Final Cut Pro.

Recording with OBS Studio

OBS Studio is free software that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Download it from obsproject.com, install it, and open the program. The interface shows a black preview area in the center and a list of "Sources" on the left. To record your monitor, click the plus sign under Sources and select "Display Capture" (Windows) or "Screen Capture" (Mac). A menu appears asking which monitor to record — select the one you want. You'll see your monitor preview in the black area.

Before you record, check the settings in the bottom-right corner. The "Output" section shows where the video will save and what format it will use. The default is usually fine — it saves an MP4 file to your Videos folder. Click the red "Start Recording" button to begin. Your cursor and everything on screen are captured. Click "Stop Recording" when you're done. The file appears in your Videos folder ready to play or edit.

OBS Studio also lets you record only part of your screen. Instead of Display Capture, choose "Window Capture" to record just one open window, or use "Crop/Pad" settings to select a specific area. You can add multiple sources, switch between them during recording, and add text or images as overlays — features the built-in tools don't have. The learning curve is steeper than built-in tools, but the flexibility makes it worth it if you record often.

Using browser-based recording tools

Loom and Screencastify are browser extensions that record your screen without downloading software. Install the extension from the Chrome Web Store, click the extension icon in your browser toolbar, and click "Start Recording." A menu appears asking what to record — your entire screen, a single window, or just your browser tab. Select what you want and click Share or Record. The video uploads automatically to the tool's website, and you get a shareable link within seconds of stopping.

The main advantage is speed and sharing — you don't save a file to your computer or upload it yourself. The main limitation is length and quality. Loom's free plan limits recordings to 5 minutes, and Screencastify's free plan limits them to 10 minutes. Paid plans remove these limits. Both tools also record your webcam at the same time if you want — a feature built-in tools don't offer without extra steps. If you need to edit the video, you'll have to download it from their website first, then use separate video editing software.

Choosing what to record and where to save it

Before you start recording, decide whether you want to capture your entire monitor or just one window or area. Built-in Windows and Mac tools record the whole screen by default. OBS Studio and browser tools let you choose. Recording the whole screen is simpler but creates larger files and may include things you don't want in the video — notifications, other open windows, or your taskbar. Recording just one window or area keeps the file smaller and focused.

All these tools save video files to your computer except browser-based tools, which upload to their servers. Built-in tools save to your Videos or Desktop folder by default. OBS Studio saves to your Videos folder. You can change the save location in the settings of any desktop software. Browser tools give you a link to share but also let you download the video file if you want to keep a copy. Consider how much storage space you have — a 10-minute screen recording can be 100 MB to 500 MB depending on your screen resolution and the tool you use.

Audio and video quality settings

By default, most screen recording tools capture audio from your speakers and microphone. If you're recording a video call or a presentation with sound, this happens automatically. If you don't want audio, you can usually turn it off in the settings before you record. Built-in tools on Windows and Mac don't have detailed quality settings — they record at your monitor's native resolution. OBS Studio lets you set the resolution, frame rate, and bitrate, which affects file size and video smoothness. Higher settings create larger files but look sharper.

Browser-based tools usually record at 720p or 1080p resolution depending on your plan. If you're recording something with text or code, higher resolution makes it easier to read. If you're recording a general tutorial or demo, 720p is usually enough. Test a short recording with your chosen tool to see if the quality meets your needs before you record something important.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record just one window instead of my whole screen?

Yes, but it depends on the tool. OBS Studio and browser-based tools let you select a single window before you record. Built-in Windows and Mac tools record the entire monitor by default, though Mac's Screenshot app lets you choose "Selected Window" before recording. If you need to record just one window with Windows' built-in tool, you'll need to use third-party software instead.

What file format does the recording save as?

Built-in tools save as MP4 (Windows) or MOV (Mac). OBS Studio saves as MP4 by default but can save as other formats if you change the settings. Browser-based tools usually save as MP4. All of these formats play in most video players and can be edited in common video editing software. If you need a different format, you can convert the file using free tools like HandBrake or FFmpeg.

How much storage space does a screen recording take up?

A 10-minute recording typically uses 100 MB to 500 MB depending on your monitor resolution and the tool you use. A 1920x1080 resolution recording uses less space than a 4K recording. If you record at 60 frames per second instead of 30, the file will be larger. Check your available storage before recording something long, and delete recordings you don't need to free up space.

Can I record my screen and my webcam at the same time?

Browser-based tools like Loom and Screencastify record both by default — you see your webcam video in a corner of the screen recording. Built-in tools and OBS Studio can do this too, but it requires extra setup. In OBS Studio, you add a Video Capture Device as a second source and position it as a layer over your screen recording. Built-in tools don't have a simple way to add a webcam overlay without third-party software.

What should I do if the recording is laggy or choppy?

Close other programs running in the background to free up your computer's processing power. Lower your screen resolution or frame rate if you're using OBS Studio — 30 frames per second uses less power than 60. If you're using a browser-based tool, close other browser tabs. Restart your computer if the problem persists. Built-in tools usually perform better than third-party software because they use your operating system's native recording features.