Overview

This guide is for recording gameplay on current Windows PCs. With older PCs, the steps may be somewhat different. Windows comes with a built-in screen recorder, but we encourage trying out alternate recording solutions, as their interfaces may feel more intuitive and you may prefer the features. Be aware that running a screen recorder during gameplay might affect your game’s performance. It’s a good idea to test out recording while gaming and adjust your recording sessions if the game is running slowly.

Xbox Game Bar

Windows 10 and 11 come pre-loaded with Xbox Game Bar, which is compatible with most modern graphics cards. You may also be able to download it manually for older systems.

Setup

  1. Press the Start button, then select the Gear icon in the Start Menu.
  2. Select Gaming in the Settings app.
  3. The Xbox Game Bar section should load. Check to see that it’s toggled On. (If you don’t see it, you can download it here.)
  4. Select Captures to adjust your audio and video options and your save location.

Recording

  1. Launch your game.
  2. Press Win + G. You may be prompted to confirm that your game is, in fact, a game.
  3. Xbox Game Bar’s overlay will appear on your screen, with these buttons:
    1. Widget Menu
    2. AudioCapture
    3. Performance
    4. Xbox Social
    5. Gallery
    6. Looking for Group
    7. Settings
  4. Click Capture, then the Start Recording button, or use the keyboard combo Win + Alt + R.
  5. To stop recording, click Stop Recording or press Win + Alt + R.
  6. All captured videos are saved as MP4 files in the Videos > Captures folder under This PC in File Explorer.

Graphics Card Apps

High-end graphics cards come with excellent recording apps. Please note that while these apps will work with newer graphics cards, they might not be compatible with older hardware and/or systems. Your computer may already the software that corresponds to your graphics card pre-loaded, or you may need to download it.