Best Free Screen Recorder for Windows 10

If you have a computer or laptop, screen recording is a necessary feature to maximize your PC experience. By recording your computer screen, you can capture lectures and presentations, make tutorial videos for teaching purposes, or create YouTube videos.

If your PC operating system is Windows, you can easily record your screen with a built-in screen recorder called Xbox Game Bar. This tool is available not only for Windows 10 but also for the recently launched Windows 11.

This article will show you how to use the Xbox Game Bar (on Windows 10/11) and Bandicam, an alternative software for the Xbox Game Bar.

How to Screen Record on Windows 10

Xbox Game Bar is designed to capture gameplay videos from your PC, but you can also easily record activity from your web browser, Windows applications, Microsoft Office programs, and more. Make sure that this tool is only available on Windows 10/11. If your PC operating system is Windows 7/8 or Windows Vista, you should check out an alternative Game Bar. Follow the steps below to use Xbox Game Bar.

1. First, you have to enable the “Xbox Game Bar” option in the settings.

2. Type "Xbox" (or press the "Windows icon + G" on the keyboard) to start "Xbox Game Bar."

3. Click the icons in Xbox Game Bar to set the audio settings and capture a program or gameplay.

4. Now, start the program, web browser, or game you want to capture, and click on the record button.

   • If the program is not running, the record button is not activated. The record button will be activated when running a program such as Zoom, Skype, or a game.
   • If you run the Zoom program, for example, the Zoom will appear as the capture target and the record button will become active.
   • Click the record button or press the shortcut key (Windows icon + Alt + R) to start/stop recording.

5. You can check the recorded video by clicking "See my captures."

How to use the Xbox Game Bar on Windows 11

You can use the Xbox Game Bar on Windows 11 in the same way as in Windows 10. Use the Win+G keyboard combination to start the capture tool. If you start the Xbox game bar, you will see the Xbox Game Bar overlay appearing on your display as shown below.

This amazing capture feature allows you to record or take screenshots of games, as well as Windows applications such as Zoom and Skype on Windows 10/11.

However, it is impossible to record a specific area or the entire desktop/laptop screen with Xbox Game Bar. Also, since the Game Bar only records up to 1080p, you must use a third-party program, such as Bandicam, to get a higher resolution.

Bandicam, the best alternative to the Xbox game bar, not only allows you to record specific areas, full screen, games, webcams, etc., but also provides drawing tools, making it the perfect program for creating tutorial videos. Moreover, Bandicam is capable of 4k video capture. You can record your screen with Bandicam and get high-quality results.

Bandicam: the best Xbox Game Bar alternative

Bandicam, the best alternative to the Windows built-in screen recorder, is a popular screen and audio recorder that is compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Vista. Download Bandicam to explore its amazing features and record your screen, capture videos, and save them to your PC.

1. Download and install Bandicam.

   
   

2. Bandicam sound settings

   • Choose "(Default Output Device)" as Speakers in Bandicam to record your computer sound.
   • If you want to record computer sound and your voice, select "(Default Output Device)" for the Speakers and "Your microphone device" for the Microphone. » How to record microphone sound

3. Start Bandicam and select the recording mode you want to use.

   • You can record a partial area, the whole screen of your display, or around the mouse cursor being moved by the user over the desktop screen.
   • Bandicam also allows users to record external video devices such as webcam, capture card, gameplay, etc.

4. If you click the "Rectangle area" in recording mode, you can record a specific area.

   • You can capture videos from TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, etc., by adjusting the recording area.
   • Click the '● REC' button to start/stop recording.
   • You can easily capture your computer screen as an image (BMP, PNG, JPG) by clicking the camera icon. » How to take a screenshot
   • If you click the 'Pencil' icon, you can draw lines, boxes, or highlights while recording. » How to draw on your PC screen

5. Tap on the Rec button again to end the recording and check the recorded video.

   • Click on Home -> Video to view, edit, or upload the video file to YouTube or Vimeo.

Last Updated on June 20, 2024, 10:00:00 AM