Last updated: 2026-01-12

To record your screen in Windows 11, use the built-in Snipping Tool for quick area-based captures or Xbox Game Bar for recording a specific app or game. If you’re making polished, presenter-led videos that you’ll reuse or share widely, it’s usually worth moving to a dedicated studio like StreamYard.

Summary

• Use Snipping Tool in Windows 11 to record a selected area of your screen, including optional mic audio.
• Use Xbox Game Bar to record games or apps with keyboard shortcuts, but it won’t capture your desktop or File Explorer.
• Built-in tools are fine for quick clips; they’re limited for multi-participant, branded, or reusable content.
• StreamYard’s browser-based studio gives you layouts, branding, and local multi-track recording when you outgrow the basics. (StreamYard pricing)

How do you record your screen with Snipping Tool in Windows 11?

Snipping Tool in Windows 11 now includes a simple video recorder.

Here’s the basic workflow:

1. Open Snipping Tool

   • Click the Start menu and type “Snipping Tool”, then open it.
   • Only the Windows 11 version includes the video option. (Loom blog)

2. Switch to video mode

   • In Snipping Tool, click the video camera icon to switch from screenshots to screen recording. (Loom blog)

3. Choose what part of the screen to capture

   • Click New.
   • Drag to select the exact area you want to record (for example, just your browser window or a specific app). (Loom blog)

4. Set your microphone

   • Before you hit record, click the microphone icon to toggle your mic on or off or to choose an input. (Loom blog)

5. Start and stop recording

   • Click the blue Start button to begin capturing.
   • When you’re done, click Stop to finish the recording and open a preview. (Loom blog)

6. Save or share the file

   • From the preview window, save the file to your computer.
   • You can then upload it to email, chat tools, or platforms like YouTube.

Snipping Tool is perfect for quick how‑tos, bugs reports, or one‑off demos where you don’t need overlays, layouts, or multiple speakers.

How do you record your screen with Xbox Game Bar in Windows 11?

Xbox Game Bar is built into Windows 11 and is aimed primarily at games and apps.

Step 1: Make sure Xbox Game Bar is turned on

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Gaming → Xbox Game Bar.
3. Ensure the Xbox Game Bar toggle is turned On so it can record your screen. (php.cn)

Step 2: Open the app or game you want to record

Game Bar records within a single app or game, not your entire system.

• Launch the app (for example, a game or a browser window).
• Put it front and center on your screen.

Step 3: Launch Game Bar and start recording

1. Press Windows + G to open the Xbox Game Bar overlay. (Dell)
2. Look for the Capture widget (camera icon).
3. Click the red record button (●) to start, or use Windows + Alt + R as a shortcut. (php.cn)

While it’s recording, you’ll see a small status bar with a timer.

Step 4: Stop recording and find your video

• Press Windows + Alt + R again, or click the Stop button in the capture bar. (Dell)
• Windows will save the video to your Videos → Captures folder.

Game Bar is a good fit for gameplay clips or app-based demos, especially if you like keyboard shortcuts.

Why won’t Xbox Game Bar record your desktop in Windows 11?

A common surprise: you press the keys, the overlay appears, but nothing records when you’re on the desktop.

That’s by design.

Xbox Game Bar only records apps and games, not:

• The bare desktop
• File Explorer
• Certain system windows

One source puts it directly: Game Bar “only works within apps and games—it won't record the desktop, File Explorer, or certain system windows.” (php.cn)

If you need to show your desktop, taskbar, or file management workflow, you have three practical options:

• Use Snipping Tool’s video mode to record a region that includes the desktop.
• Switch to a dedicated recorder like StreamYard or Loom, which can capture full-screen workflows more flexibly. (Loom Windows recorder)
• Use a more configurable app like OBS if you’re comfortable managing scenes and sources. (OBS Studio)

How do you capture system and microphone audio in Windows 11 screen recordings?

With the built-in tools, think about two audio paths: what you hear (system audio) and what you say (microphone).

In Snipping Tool

• Use the microphone icon before recording to enable or disable mic input. (Loom blog)
• System audio support can vary by setup; if it’s critical, test a short clip first.

In Xbox Game Bar

1. Press Windows + G to open Game Bar in your target app.
2. Open the Audio widget.
3. Make sure both your system sound and microphone levels are turned up and not muted.

From there, recordings triggered in the Capture widget will use those audio settings. (Dell)

If you regularly need clean, separate audio tracks for editing or podcast-style voices, the built‑in tools are limited. StreamYard’s local multi-track recording is designed for that, letting each participant’s audio/video be captured separately for post‑production. (StreamYard local recording)

Snipping Tool vs Xbox Game Bar: Which built-in screen recorder should you use?

A quick way to choose:

• Use Snipping Tool if…

  • You want to record a specific area of your screen.
  • You’re capturing short demos, bugs, or one-off walkthroughs.
  • You don’t care about keyboard shortcuts or in-game overlays.

• Use Xbox Game Bar if…

  • You’re recording games or a single app window.
  • You like using Windows + G and Windows + Alt + R to control captures. (php.cn)
  • You don’t need the desktop or File Explorer in your recording.

For most casual Windows 11 users in the US, starting with Snipping Tool for simple clips and Game Bar for gaming covers the basics.

When should you switch from Windows 11’s screen recorder to StreamYard or other tools?

The moment you care about how your recording looks and how often you’ll reuse it, the defaults start to feel basic.

Here’s a simple scenario. You’re a sales rep recording:

• A quick product demo for one prospect → Snipping Tool is fine.
• A polished, branded walkthrough you’ll send to dozens of prospects over months → that’s where a studio matters.

Why many people move to StreamYard first

At StreamYard, we built a browser-based studio that records your screen, camera, and guests with layouts and branding, without needing installs.

Key advantages once you outgrow the Windows defaults:

• Presenter-led layouts: You can share your screen and still keep your face on camera, switching between full-screen, side-by-side, and picture-in-picture styles as you talk.
• Independent audio control: You can adjust or mute your screen audio separately from your microphone, which is hard to manage with the built-in tools.
• Local multi-track recording: Each participant can be recorded locally with separate audio/video files on all plans, which makes editing much easier than working from a single mixed track. (StreamYard local recording)
• Branding, overlays, and notes: You can apply logos, lower thirds, and overlays live, and keep private presenter notes that only you see.
• Portrait and landscape from one session: You can plan content for YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn without having to re-record everything in different orientations.
• Multi-participant demos: Multiple people can join, share their screens, and collaborate on a single recording—something Windows’ built-in tools can’t do.

For teams, StreamYard’s pricing is per workspace, not per user, which often makes it more cost-effective than options like Loom that price per seat once you have several people recording. (StreamYard pricing)

Where Loom or OBS may still fit

• Loom is geared toward quick async clips with instant links and comments—handy for internal feedback, though its free plan has a 5‑minute recording limit and a 25‑video cap before you need to upgrade. (Loom pricing)
• OBS Studio is a free desktop app with deep control over encoding, formats, and scenes, but it expects you to manage local storage, hardware performance, and more complex settings. (OBS Studio)

For most people starting from the simple Windows 11 recorder and looking for a step up—especially if you care about quality, branding, and multi-participant content—a browser studio like StreamYard is usually the most comfortable next move.

Xbox Game Bar not recording in Windows 11? Common fixes and workarounds

If Game Bar refuses to record, try this quick checklist:

• Confirm Game Bar is enabled in Settings → Gaming → Xbox Game Bar. (php.cn)
• Open a supported app or game—remember it won’t capture the desktop or some system windows.
• Check storage in your system drive; very low disk space can interrupt recordings.
• Restart the Game Bar process by closing and reopening your app and pressing Windows + G again.
• Update graphics drivers if recordings stutter or fail.

If you’re still stuck and you need to deliver something soon, using StreamYard in your browser can be a practical workaround: open a studio, share your screen, hit record, and download the file when you’re done. (StreamYard pricing)

What we recommend

• Start with Snipping Tool for quick, one-off clips where you only need a portion of the screen.
• Use Xbox Game Bar when you’re recording gameplay or a single app and like keyboard controls.
• Move to StreamYard when you want presenter-led, branded recordings, separate tracks, or multi-participant demos that you’ll reuse.
• Keep tools like Loom and OBS in mind for specific cases (async feedback or advanced local recording), but for many everyday workflows, a browser studio like StreamYard hits the sweet spot of speed, quality, and reliability.