Want to record your laptop screen for a tutorial, a bug report or a presentation? Windows 11 and macOS both have free built-in screen recorders that capture audio too, with no software to install. Here’s how.
Quick fixes to try first
- Windows 11: press Win + Shift + R (or open Snipping Tool and choose the video camera icon), select an area, click Start.
- Mac: press Cmd + Shift + 5 and choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion.
- For gameplay on Windows: Win + Alt + R starts and stops Xbox Game Bar recording.
In this article
Windows 11: Snipping Tool (best for most people)
- Press Win + Shift + R. If nothing happens, open Snipping Tool from Start and click the video camera icon.
- Drag to select the area to record (or the whole screen).
- Before you start, use the toolbar’s microphone and system audio buttons to choose what to record. The mic may be muted by default.
- Click Start. When you’re done, click Stop. The recording opens in Snipping Tool, where you can save it as an MP4.
To include audio every time, open Snipping Tool → … → Settings and turn on “Include microphone input” and “Include system audio” for screen recording. If audio doesn’t record, check Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone and update Snipping Tool from the Microsoft Store.
Windows: Xbox Game Bar (for games and single apps)
- Press Win + Alt + R to start and stop recording the active app, or Win + G to open Game Bar.
- Recordings save to Videos → Captures.
- Game Bar records one app window at a time. It can’t record the desktop or File Explorer, so use Snipping Tool for those.
Windows 10
Use Xbox Game Bar (Win + Alt + R), or the free OBS Studio below. Snipping Tool’s recorder requires Windows 11.
Mac
- Press Cmd + Shift + 5.
- Choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion.
- Click Options to choose a microphone and save location.
- Click Record; stop with the stop button in the menu bar.
macOS records microphone audio, but not the Mac’s own sound out of the box. QuickTime Player (File → New Screen Recording) works the same way.
Chromebook
Open Quick Settings → Screen capture → switch to the video icon, choose full screen, window or partial, and press Record. You can turn on the microphone in the capture settings.
Free advanced option: OBS Studio
For long tutorials, streaming, a webcam overlay or recording multiple audio sources, OBS Studio (free, open source, Windows/Mac/Linux) is the standard tool. It takes 10 minutes to set up, then it’s very powerful.
Tips for better recordings
- Close notifications (Do Not Disturb) and personal tabs before recording.
- Use a USB microphone or headset for clearer narration. See best microphones for laptops.
- Recordings can be big. Make sure you have free space (how to free up space).
- Just need a still image? See how to take a screenshot.
FAQ
How do I record my screen with audio on Windows 11?
Use Snipping Tool’s recorder and switch on both the microphone and system audio buttons before you press Start.
Is there a time limit?
The built-in recorders don’t impose strict limits, but very long recordings create large files. OBS Studio is better for long sessions.
