How to
How to screen record on Windows 11 and 10, with sound.
Windows has two free recorders: the Snipping Tool on Windows 11, and the Xbox Game Bar on Windows 10 and 11. They record different things, so here's how each works and which to use.
How to
Record your screen with the Snipping Tool (Windows 11)
- 01
Open the Snipping Tool
Search for Snipping Tool in the Start menu and open it. Keep it updated from the Microsoft Store: recording with sound needs version 11.2307.44.0 or later.
- 02
Switch to Record
Click the video camera icon, then New, and drag over the part of the screen you want to record.
- 03
Turn on sound
Use the microphone and system audio buttons in the recording bar to include your voice and your PC's sound. You can make either one the default under the Snipping Tool's Settings.
- 04
Start, stop and save
Click Start. When you're done, click Stop, then save the video from the Snipping Tool window.
How to screen record on Windows 10: the Xbox Game Bar
Windows 10's Snipping Tool doesn't record video, so use the Xbox Game Bar, which is built into Windows 10 and 11. Open the app you want to record and press Win+Alt+R to start and stop, or press Win+G to open the Game Bar and use its Capture panel.
It records the sound of the app, and your microphone if you turn it on in the Capture panel. Recordings are saved in your Videos › Captures folder.
What the built-in recorders can't do
The Game Bar records one app window at a time: it can't record your desktop or File Explorer, or follow you from one app to another. The Snipping Tool records a region, but on Windows 10 it doesn't record video at all. Neither one zooms in, tidies the cursor, adds your camera or edits the result.
Record your whole screen with sound, already edited
SmoothCut records the whole screen or any window on Windows 10 and 11, with your PC's sound and your microphone as separate tracks. It zooms in on what you click, smooths the cursor, can add your camera, and writes captions on your computer.
It's free to use, export included; a free export is 720p with a small mark. The installer isn't code-signed yet, so if SmartScreen warns you, choose More info, then Run anyway.
The features that matter here
What does the work
- Automatic zoom Screen recorder with auto zoom: SmoothCut watches where you click and zooms there for you, with depth, timing and easing set. Adjust any zoom on the timeline.
- Cursor smoothing Smooth cursor for screen recordings: SmoothCut records your cursor as data, so you can smooth, enlarge and restyle it and add click effects afterwards.
- Camera layouts Record screen and camera together, then arrange them afterwards: picture-in-picture, side by side, stacked or fullscreen. Switch layouts mid-video.
- On-device captions On-device captions: SmoothCut turns your voice into word-timed captions with a speech model on your computer. Download it once; it then works offline.
Questions
How do I screen record on Windows 11 with audio?
Open the Snipping Tool, switch to Record, select an area, and turn on the microphone and system audio buttons before you press Start. Audio needs Snipping Tool version 11.2307.44.0 or later, from the Microsoft Store.
How do I screen record on Windows 10?
Press Win+Alt+R in the app you want to record. That uses the Xbox Game Bar, which records one app window with its sound. Windows 10's Snipping Tool doesn't record video.
Why can't the Game Bar record my desktop?
It is designed to record one app or game at a time, so the desktop and File Explorer can't be recorded with it. Use the Snipping Tool on Windows 11, or an app like SmoothCut that records the whole screen.
Where are Windows screen recordings saved?
Game Bar recordings go to Videos › Captures. The Snipping Tool asks where to save when you press Save.
Is there a free screen recorder for Windows?
Yes. The Snipping Tool and the Xbox Game Bar are free and built in. SmoothCut is also free to use, with free exports at 720p and a small mark.
Keep reading
- Screen recorder for Windows Screen recorder for Windows 10 and 11: how to record with built-in tools and with SmoothCut, which adds auto zoom, a smooth cursor and on-device captions.
- Best screen recorder for Windows The best screen recorder for Windows 11 and Windows 10 in 2026: SmoothCut, FocuSee, Camtasia, Cap, Tella, Cursorful and OBS, with pricing and who each suits.
- Screen recorder with audio Record your screen with microphone and system audio as separate tracks you can balance afterwards, then clean up your voice on your computer. Mac and Windows.
- Download Download the SmoothCut screen recorder for macOS and Windows. Free to use with no account; a licence removes the small mark and adds 4K and share links.
Record better videos, faster.
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