How to Record Screen on Windows 10: Tips and Tricks

I. Introduction

If you are an educator, gamer, or content creator, you may need to record your screen either for tutorial purposes or personal use. Fortunately, Windows 10 has built-in screen recording features, and you may also use third-party screen recording software programs to capture your screen’s video and audio. This article will guide you through different methods to record screen on Windows 10 and help you choose the best options that suit your specific needs.

II. Built-in Screen Recording Feature of Windows 10

Windows 10 has an in-built screen recording feature that allows you to capture your screen video without downloading any software. To access this feature, press ‘Windows key + G’ simultaneously. The game bar will appear that facilitates screen recording, screenshots, and broadcasting options. Follow the given steps to use the built-in screen recorder:

1. Open the app or window that you want to record.
2. Click on the ‘Record’ button on the game bar’s small panel, or press ‘Windows key + Alt + R’ to begin recording. By default, Windows 10 screen recording saves all the videos in MP4 format.
3. To stop recording, click on the ‘Stop’ button in the game bar’s small panel, or press ‘Windows key + Alt + R.’ The recorded video will automatically get saved in ‘Videos>Captures’ folder in your local disk storage.

Here are some tips and tricks to use effectively the built-in screen recording feature on Windows 10:

• Customize various screen recording settings such as audio, video quality, and recording length by clicking on the game bar settings icon.
• Hide the game bar during recording by pressing ‘Windows key + G’ if you do not want the game bar to appear in the footage.
• Use the built-in Xbox app’s ‘Game DVR’ feature to save gameplay footage with no time limits and more settings. Click on ‘Settings>Game DVR’ and enable the ‘Record in the background while I’m playing a game’ option.

III. Third-party Software Programs for Screen Recording on Windows 10

If you prefer more advanced features and customizable settings beyond the built-in Windows 10 feature, you can use various third-party screen recording software programs. Some of the popular third-party software programs are OBS Studio, Bandicam, Camtasia, and ScreenFlow. The Pros and Cons of using third-party software programs are discussed below:

Pros:

• More advanced features such as live streaming, customized editing, audio mixing, web camera recording, and multiple file formats.
• Better compression rates and minimal frame rates drop, which is essential for recording high-end games and 3D modeling software.
• Some software programs come with a free trial version, and you can upgrade to a paid license for better features if needed.

Cons:

• Third-party software programs may consume more CPU and GPU resources, leading to system lag and slowdowns during recording.
• The learning curve for using some software programs may be high, and it may take more time to set up automatic screen recording.
• You may need to pay a one-time or subscription-based fee to use software programs.

Here are the steps to download and use third-party software for screen recording:

1. Choose the software that suits your specific needs and click on the download link.
2. Go through the installation instructions and follow the prompts.
3. Set up the software as per the specific instructions given for your software program, and start recording your screen.

IV. Recording Screen Audio Along with Video on Windows 10

Capturing audio while recording your screen is crucial, especially if you intend to use the footage for tutorial purposes. Windows 10 also provides you different options to record screen audio:

Using the Default Windows 10 Options to Record Screen Audio:

1. In the ‘Game bar’ options dialog box, click on the ‘Record audio’ option before clicking on the ‘Record’ button to start screen recording.
2. The typical default audio source is the device speaker, and to change that, click on the settings icon and change the audio source to ‘Microphone’ or ‘Stereo Mix’.
3. To stop recording, click on the ‘Stop’ button in the ‘game bar’ small panel or press ‘Windows key + Alt + R.’

Using a separate audio recording software with screen recording:

1. Download an audio recording software, such as ‘Audacity,’ and install it on your system.
2. After installation, open the audio recording software and start recording audio from the ‘Microphone’ or ‘Stereo Mix’ source.
3. Start screen recording using the above-discussed methods, and the audio recording will automatically save as an MP3 file.

Tips to ensure high-quality audio recording:

• Use a high-quality microphone and adjust the volume accordingly to prevent background noise and distortion.
• Check the audio input and output settings before recording.
• Select and use the appropriate audio recording software based on your recording necessities.

V. Keyboard Shortcuts and Other Quick Methods to Start and Stop Screen Recording

Keyboard shortcuts are considered a quick and easy way to start and stop screen recording on Windows 10. Here are some basic keyboard shortcuts:

Keyboard shortcut	Action
Windows key + Alt + R	Start and Stop screen recording
Windows key + Alt + G	Record the last 30 seconds of gameplay footage (only for games supported by Xbox game bar)
Windows key + G	Open Xbox game bar options
Windows key + Alt + PrtScn	Take a screenshot of the active window

Other quick ways to start and stop screen recording:

• Use voice commands such as “Hey Cortana, start screen recording.”
• Assign the mouse’s thumb button or gaming keyboard to start and stop recording.
• Use any gamepad controller to start and stop screen recording using the XBox menu button.

Tips for using keyboard shortcuts effectively:

• Remember the most frequently used keyboard shortcuts and practice them often to boost the recording process’s speed.
• Ensure that the keyboard is connected correctly or paired with your system to avoid any potential keyboard malfunction issues.

VI. Types of Screen Recording Formats and Their Suitability

Screen recording formats are crucial aspects, as they all have distinct compatibility and quality levels depending on the use case. Here are a few popular screen recording formats:

Flash Video (FLV):

• A lightweight and low-quality video format that is suitable for playback on the web’s low bandwidth.
• It has a small file size that makes it a suitable choice for recording short videos or clips.
• However, due to its low quality, it may not be the best choice if your purpose is to produce high-end tutorial videos or game sessions.

MPEG-4 (MP4):

• An efficient and high-quality video format that is compatible with most media players and platforms.
• It is relatively smaller than many other high-quality video formats and is suitable for recording long videos without too much storage space.
• As it is a versatile and cross-platform video, it is commonly used for recording mobile screen videos, YouTube videos, or short films.

WebM:

• A new and open video format that is compatible with all major browsers like Chrome and Firefox.
• The compression rate is optimal, and it is relatively smaller than other high-quality video formats.
• It is suitable for recording webinars, online meetings, or other web-based activities.

Which format is best suited for different scenarios:

• If you intend to share your recordings on the web, use the FLV or WebM formats.
• If you want a versatile format that plays on any device or media player, go for the MP4 format.
• If you have limited storage space, you should consider the MP4 format due to its compression rate.

VII. Editing and Sharing the Recorded Screen Video on Windows 10

After screen recording, you may need to edit or share your video with others. On Windows 10, two methods are available: using dedicated editing software and using built-in tools like the Photos app.

How to edit the recorded screen video using dedicated video editing software:

1. Download any free or paid video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro.
2. Open the editing software and import your recorded screen video.
3. Drag and drop the video clips and edit them as per your preference, such as cutting, cropping, adding effects, sound, and color grading.
4. Save the edited video and export it in desired formats to share it with others.

A guide to using built-in tools like Photos app to edit and share screen recordings:

1. Open the ‘Photos’ app in Windows 10, and from the top-right corner, click on the ‘Import’ button to add video.
2. Once the video is imported, select it, and click on ‘Edit & Create’ -> ‘Edit’ to begin editing the video.
3. You will see many editing options to save your time, such as trimming, video speed, adding or deleting music or text to the video, filters, and many more.
4. Save edited videos and share them with others or store them on your device.

Tips for ensuring high-quality editing and sharing:

• Use a dedicated video editing software to edit high-end videos for commercial use.
• Transcode your videos in suitable formats such as H.264 or H.265 for better compression and quality.
• Record your screen video in high resolution such as 1080p or 4K to retain finer details while editing.

VIII. Conclusion

In conclusion, Windows 10 provides many options to record your screen without the need for external software. You can use built-in screen recording features or opt for third-party software programs. Capturing audio is an important aspect of screen recording, and you can use default options or a separate audio recording software. Keyboard shortcuts are a quick and reliable method to start and stop recordings. Different screen recording formats have different compatibility and quality levels, and you must choose the one that best suits your purpose. Finally, you can use dedicated video editing software or built-in tools to edit and share your recorded videos.

Do you use any other tricks or shortcuts to record screens on Windows 10? Share your experiences and tips in the comment section below.