How to Screen Record on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android

To screen record, press Windows logo key + Shift + R on Windows, Shift + Command + 5 on a Mac, tap Screen Recording in Control Center on an iPhone, or tap the Screen record tile in Quick Settings on Android. Every one of these tools is built in, free and ready to use without installing anything.

Quick answer

• Windows: Windows logo key + Shift + R opens the Snipping Tool recorder. Windows logo key + Alt + R records with Xbox Game Bar.
• Mac: Shift + Command + 5 opens the Screenshot toolbar. Choose a record option, then click Record.
• iPhone: Open Control Center and tap the Record button. Recording starts after a three-second countdown.
• Android: Swipe down twice from the top, tap Screen record, choose your options, then tap Start.
• To stop: Use the stop button in the toolbar, menu bar, status bar or notification.

How to Screen Record on Windows

Windows has two built-in recorders. The Snipping Tool is best for recording a chosen part of the screen. Xbox Game Bar is handy for recording an app or game.

Record with the Snipping Tool

1. Press Windows logo key + Shift + R. You can also open the Snipping Tool, select the Record button, then select New.
2. Drag to select the area of the screen you want to record.
3. Select Start.
4. When you're finished, select Stop.
5. Save the recording, or choose Edit in Clipchamp if you want to trim or edit it first.

Record with Xbox Game Bar

1. Open the app or game you want to record.
2. Press Windows logo key + G to show the Game Bar controls (optional, but useful for checking settings).
3. Press Windows logo key + Alt + R to start recording.
4. Press Windows logo key + Alt + M to turn the microphone on or off while you record.
5. Press Windows logo key + Alt + R again to stop.

Game Bar saves clips as MP4 files. Open File Explorer, go to Videos, then open the Captures folder.

How to Screen Record on a Mac

Every Mac includes a Screenshot toolbar that can record video as well as take pictures.

1. Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the toolbar.
2. Pick what to record: Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion. Newer versions of macOS also offer Record Selected Window. If you pick a portion, drag its edges to resize the box.
3. Click Options to set things up before you start: - Choose a microphone if you want to record your voice. - Turn on Show Mouse Clicks to put a circle around the pointer when you click. - Set a timer if you need a few seconds to get ready. - Change Save to if you don't want files on your desktop.
4. Click Record. If you chose a window, click the window you want.
5. To stop, click the Stop button in the menu bar or press Command + Control + Esc.
6. A thumbnail appears in the corner. Click it to trim or share the video, or wait and it saves automatically.

By default, recordings go to your desktop as .mov files named "Screen Recording" plus the date and time. Press Esc before you click Record to cancel.

Prefer QuickTime? Open QuickTime Player from Applications and choose File > New Screen Recording. QuickTime opens the recording for you when you stop.

How to Screen Record on iPhone

The iPhone recorder lives in Control Center. If you don't see it, add it first.

Add the Record button (one time only)

1. Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen.
2. If the Record button isn't there, edit Control Center and add the Screen Recording control. The exact steps for editing Control Center can vary slightly by iOS version.

Start and stop a recording

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center.
2. To record your voice, touch and hold the gray Record button, then tap Microphone to turn it on.
3. Tap the gray Record button and wait for the three-second countdown.
4. Leave Control Center. Everything on your screen is now being recorded.
5. To stop, tap the Screen Recording indicator at the top of the screen, then tap Stop. You can also open Control Center and tap the red Record button.

Your video is saved in the Photos app. Look for it in your Library with your other photos and videos.

How to Screen Record on Android

Most Android phones have a Screen record tile in Quick Settings. Phone makers sometimes rename it or move it, but the steps are similar.

1. Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings.
2. Find and tap Screen record. You may need to swipe sideways to find it.
3. If it's not there, tap Edit (often a pencil icon) and drag Screen record into your Quick Settings.
4. Choose your options, such as whether to record audio and whether to show touches on the screen.
5. Choose what to record and tap Start. Recording begins after a short countdown.
6. To stop, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the screen recorder notification.

On phones that use Google Photos, open Photos and go to Collections > On this device > Movies. Other gallery apps usually keep recordings in a Videos or Screen recordings album.

Screen Recording Shortcuts at a Glance

Menu names and shortcuts can vary slightly by device and software version.

Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting

• No sound in your video. Sound is often off by default. Turn on the microphone in Mac Options, in iPhone's long-press menu, or in Android's audio setting before you start. In Game Bar, use Windows logo key + Alt + M.
• The recording is black or silent. Some streaming, banking and video call apps block screen recording on purpose. This is normal and can't be bypassed with built-in tools.
• The Record button is missing. On iPhone, add Screen Recording to Control Center. On Android, tap Edit in Quick Settings and add the tile.
• Can't find the file. On a Mac, reopen the toolbar with Shift + Command + 5 and check Options to see the save location. On Windows, check Videos > Captures for Game Bar clips.
• Recording stops or fails to save. Video files are large. If your phone is nearly full, free up phone storage first.
• Recording private information by accident. Notifications can pop up mid-recording. Turn on Do Not Disturb before you start, and rewatch before sharing.

If you only need a still image, it's quicker to take a screenshot instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I screen record with sound?

On a Mac, choose a microphone in the toolbar's Options menu. On iPhone, touch and hold the Record button in Control Center and tap Microphone. On Android, turn on audio in the options before you tap Start, and on Windows Game Bar press Windows logo key + Alt + M.

Is there a time limit on screen recordings?

For everyday use, the main limit is usually your free storage space, because long or high-resolution videos take up a lot of room. Battery life can also cut a long phone recording short. Keep an eye on storage before recording anything long.

Can I record just one window or part of the screen?

Yes on computers. The Windows Snipping Tool lets you drag to select an area, and the Mac toolbar offers Record Selected Portion (and, on newer macOS versions, a selected window option). Phones usually record the whole screen, though some Android phones ask what you want to record before you start.

Why can't I screen record Netflix or a banking app?

Many apps protect their content and your privacy by blocking recording, so you may get a black screen or no audio. Built-in recorders respect these blocks.

Where do screen recordings go?

On Mac they go to the desktop by default, and on iPhone they appear in the Photos app. Android recordings usually show up in Photos or your gallery app, and Windows Game Bar clips go to Videos > Captures.

Do screen recordings take up a lot of space?

Yes. A few minutes of video can be much larger than hundreds of screenshots. Move recordings you want to keep to a computer or the cloud, and back up your phone before deleting anything important.

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Sources

• Microsoft Support – Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots
• Microsoft Support – Record your screen with Xbox Game Bar
• Apple Support – How to record the screen on Mac
• Apple Support – Record the screen on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch