Windows 11 comes with a built-in screen recorder called Xbox Game Bar, and you don’t need to download anything extra to use it. It lets you capture video and audio from an app or window with a simple keyboard shortcut, and your recordings are saved automatically to a folder on your PC.
Quick steps
- Open the app or window you want to record.
- Press Windows key + G to open Xbox Game Bar.
- Click the Capture widget, then select the round Record button (or press Windows key + Alt + R).
- Do whatever you want to show on screen, then press Windows key + Alt + R again to stop.
- Find your video in the Videos > Captures folder.
Before you start
Xbox Game Bar is built into Windows 11 and works on most PCs, but there are a few things to check first:
- Game Bar records the active app or window, not your whole desktop or File Explorer. If you need a full-desktop recording tool, you’ll need a different app.
- Your PC’s graphics hardware needs to support the recording feature. Very old or low-powered devices may not be able to record smoothly.
- Game Bar needs to be turned on in Settings before the recording shortcuts will work.
- Recordings are saved locally first, so make sure you have free disk space, especially for longer videos.
How to screen record on Windows 11 using Xbox Game Bar
- Go to Settings, then select Gaming.
- Select Xbox Game Bar and make sure the option that enables Game Bar features is turned on.
- Open the app, window, or game you want to capture and make it the active window.
- Press Windows key + G to bring up Xbox Game Bar.
- Select the Capture widget from the toolbar. If you don’t see it, select the widget menu icon and choose Capture from the list.
- Select the circular Record button in the Capture widget to start recording. A small capture status bar will appear on screen while recording is active.
- Carry out whatever actions you want in the video.
- When you’re done, select the Stop button in the capture status bar, or press Windows key + Alt + R.
- Your clip is saved automatically as an MP4 file.
How to record your screen with audio
- Open the Capture widget as above before you start recording.
- Check the microphone icon in the widget. If it’s crossed out, select it to turn your microphone on so your voice is included.
- Start recording as normal with the Record button or Windows key + Alt + R.
- Speak normally while you record. System sounds from the app you’re capturing are usually included by default.
- Stop the recording the same way you started it.
If you only want system audio and not your voice, simply leave the microphone toggled off before you begin.
Where to find your recorded videos
- Open File Explorer.
- Go to This PC, then Videos.
- Open the Captures folder.
- Your recordings appear here as MP4 files, named with the app and the date and time of the recording.
From here you can rename, move, or upload the file like any other video. You can also open the Capture widget in Game Bar and select Show all captures to see your recent clips without leaving the app.
If it doesn’t work
The keyboard shortcut does nothing
Make sure Xbox Game Bar is enabled in Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar. If the toggle is off, the keyboard shortcuts for recording won’t respond at all.
You can’t record the desktop or File Explorer
Game Bar is designed to capture an active app or game window, and it won’t record your desktop or File Explorer windows. If that’s what you need, you’ll have to look at a different recording tool outside of Game Bar.
Recording stops after a few seconds or won’t start
This usually points to a graphics driver or hardware limitation. Try updating your graphics driver, close other resource-heavy apps, and make sure you have enough free storage space on your drive.
No sound in the recording
Open the Capture widget before you record and check that the microphone icon isn’t muted if you want your voice included. Also check your Windows sound settings to confirm the correct input and output devices are selected.
The Capture widget is missing from Game Bar
Select the widget menu (usually shown as a small icon or plus sign in the Game Bar toolbar) and choose Capture from the list of available widgets to add it back.
Frequently asked questions
Does Windows 11 have a built-in screen recorder?
Yes. Windows 11 includes Xbox Game Bar, which has a Capture widget for recording video and audio from an app or window without installing any extra software.
Can I record my whole screen on Windows 11?
Xbox Game Bar records the active app or window rather than your full desktop. If you need to capture your entire screen including File Explorer or your desktop background, you’ll need a separate recording tool.
How long can a screen recording be on Windows 11?
There’s no fixed time limit built into Game Bar, but longer recordings use more storage space and depend on your PC’s performance. Keep an eye on free disk space during long recording sessions.
Where do Xbox Game Bar recordings get saved?
By default, recordings are saved as MP4 files in the Videos > Captures folder, accessible through File Explorer or the Capture widget itself.
Why can’t I turn on Xbox Game Bar?
Check that the feature is enabled under Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar. Some managed work or school devices may have this feature restricted by an administrator, in which case you won’t be able to turn it on yourself.
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