The need to record online material is becoming more widespread recently. Whether your purpose is educational, professional, or simply recreational, people want to capture streaming that might not be easily retrievable. Whatever the case may be, there are multiple ways you can record a PC screen. If you simply follow several straightforward steps, you should know how to screen record on Windows, regardless of the content, and then edit it later.
Steps to take in recording your screen
Many people do not realize that Windows actually comes with recording capability. The initial purpose of creating this function was for recording gameplay. However, you can actually record any type of material.
Of course, there are also professional software programs that will allow you to do this. Some of them offer fairly sophisticated editing tools – but if you aren’t ready to take this step, you can also just record using your PC’s existing features.
Windows 10 – Xbox Game Bar
If you want to record your screen on Windows 10, your PC is automatically equipped with the ability to do this. You can record by using the Xbox Game Bar. People generally think of this tool as only being applicable to games, but it actually serves a much wider function. You can use it to create a recording of whatever is on your screen, and you can also add audio to it using a microphone or other audio source.
To do this, you should take the following steps:
- Open the window that you want to record from.
- Open up the Game Bar app, which you can do by pressing the Windows button and the G key. This will open up the Game Bar option in your settings.
- You’ll then see a list of options, and you can press “Record” in the Capture window. When you’re finished, press Stop, and your recording will finish. It will be saved as an MP4 file.
To watch your video, press the Windows button and the G key again. All of your recordings will be available on a list in the left-hand sidebar called “Gallery.” You might also read some Xbox Game Bar tips to use the tool better.
Editing recordings made in Windows 10
After choosing a reliable PC screen recording software and making recordings, you can also edit recordings that you make in Windows 10. The Windows photo app allows for video editing in the same way that it does photo editing. Just select your video, then right-click on it and select Open > Photos. Then select Edit from the toolbar and click on Create to find a list of editing tools.
You can do things such as trimming out parts of videos and adding clips to make them a desirable length. Then you can save copies of your edited videos along with the originals.
Windows 11 – Snipping Tool
Another tool that many people don’t realize can actually capture video as well as still images is the snipping tool. The snipping tool is most commonly used to snip out pieces of screenshots, but it actually serves more than one purpose. Although it doesn’t work on older operating systems, if you have a newer computer you should be able to use it.
You can test this by looking in your Settings and going to System > About and looking at the build number. If it is above 22621.1344, you should be in good shape. If not, you can simply upgrade your system in the Play Store to get the latest version.
To make a recording using the Snipping Tool, you should take the following steps:
- Go to Start > All Apps > Snipping Tool. Where you see the Camera icon, select “New” and you’ll be able to start a new recording. You can also use a shortcut by pressing Windows + Shift + S.
- You will see a 3-second countdown to when your recording actually begins.
- You can actually select the area of your screen that you want to capture simply by cropping it as you would a still image. You can pause at any time to remove unnecessary parts.
- When you’re finished, click on Stop and the recording will end. It will save as an MP4 file, and you can share it from your desktop or another saved location just as you would any other file.
Unfortunately, this option is limited to video only. To record with audio, you will need to find a more sophisticated tool. You may also use a dedicated audio recording software.
Keep track of video and other types of files
Like many people, you’ve probably got a big load of files to deal with. In addition to video, most people have countless Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other kinds of files. It is easy to suddenly find yourself with a blinding desktop full of uncategorized files that you can’t even remember the original purpose for.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to get yourself a desktop organizer. The right tool can help you keep things in the right place, resize your files as you wish, delete old ones when necessary, etc. As your workload grows, the need for an additional organizing tool becomes greater. Look into getting a helpful tool before you become overwhelmed.
Create great recordings, whatever your needs
Whether you are looking to make simple recordings or more sophisticated ones that might require the use of a professional tool, there should be a method out there that is right for you. If you’re not confident, read up on some of the options that are available these days. And your device type shouldn’t be prohibitive. Whether you have a PC or a mobile, Android or iPhone, there are products out there that should suit your requirements. You can capture from a phone screen just as you would on a PC.
There are also free options that might require downloading, but offer editing tools with varying degrees of sophistication. And if your needs are more elaborate, there is a wide range of paid programs out there as well.
Another feature commonly used on Windows that many people fail to realize sleeves multiple purposes is the snipping tool. This is often used for snipping pieces of screenshots, but it also works for capturing videos.