How to Record a Video in Windows

Written by Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: October 25, 2021

This wikiHow teaches you how to record a video that’s playing in any application on your Windows PC using the Xbox app or OBS Studio.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:
Using the Xbox App

1
Open the search bar. If you see the search bar or a circle icon on the left side of the task bar, click it. If not, press ⊞ Win+S to open search.
2
Type xbox into the search bar. A list of search results will appear.
3
Click Xbox. It’s the green and white icon with an “x” in a circle.
- If you uninstalled this app, follow the link on the screen to download it from the Microsoft App Store.
4
Click Sign in. It’s at the center of the screen.
5
Log in with your Microsoft account. It’s the username and password you use to sign into Windows and/or Outlook.com.
6
Open the video you want to record. You can record any video in any app, such as in a web browser or your favorite video player.
7
Press ⊞ Win+G. A pop-up will appear at the bottom of the video.
8
Click Yes, this is a game. A recording panel will appear.
9
Click the record button. It’s the red circle on the recording panel. This minimized the recording panel and begins recording the video that’s playing.
10
Click the play button on the video you want to record. The video will begin to play.
11
Click the stop button when you’re finished. The video will stop recording.
- To find the video you recorded, click the icon on the left side of Xbox that looks like a film strip with a game controller on top. A list of your recorded videos will appear.
- To open the recorded video, click it in this list.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:
Using OBS Studio

1
Open OBS Studio. To find it, open the Start menu, select All Apps, then click OBS Studio.
2
Navigate to the video you want to record. You can record any video in any app, such as in a web browser or your favorite video player.
3
Return to OBS Studio. You should see it in the taskbar, which is usually at the bottom of the screen.
4
Click + in the “Sources” box. It’s at the bottom-left corner of OBS. A menu will appear.
5
Click Window Capture.
6
Type a name for the source. It’s fine to use the default name, but you can type something else here if you wish, such as the name of the video or app you’re recording.
7
Click OK. The Properties window will appear.
8
Select the app you’re recording from the “Window” drop-down. It’s the first menu on the Properties window.
- For example, if you opened a video that’s playing in VLC Media Player, select that video from the menu.
- If you’re watching a video in a web browser, select that from the menu.
9
Remove the check mark from “Capture Cursor.” This ensures that your mouse movements will not appear in the recording.
10
Click OK.
11
Click Start Recording. It’s near the bottom-right corner of OBS. The selected window is now recording.
12
Return to the video you’re recording and click Play. OBS is now recording the video in the selected window.
13
Click Stop Recording when you’re finished. It’s near the bottom-right corner of OBS. The recorded video is now saved to the Videos folder on your computer.

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About This Article

Written by:

Nicole Levine, MFA

Tech Specialist

This article was written by Nicole Levine, MFA. Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. This article has been viewed 1,633 times.

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Co-authors: 2

Updated: October 25, 2021

Views: 1,633

Categories: Windows