How to record video of an app on Windows 10

By Mauro Huculak
last updated

You can screen-record any app, and this guide, we show you how to complete this task on Windows 10.

Windows 10 Screen Recording App
Windows 10 Screen Recording App (Image credit: Windows Central)

Although Windows 10 doesn't include an app designed specifically to record or capture your screen, the Xbox Game Bar app features an option to capture gameplay, which also works to record apps.

If you search around, there are plenty of other solutions with many additional features that you can use. However, if you need something quick and straightforward to make a video tutorial, create a presentation, or record a problem that you can send to tech support, the Xbox Game Bar experience is a good (enough) alternative.

In this Windows 10 guide, we walk you through the steps to record a video of an app without the need to use third-party software with the Game Bar experience. Additionally, we also outline the steps to edit the screen capture using tools built into the OS.

How to screen-record on Windows 10

To start recording an app on Windows 10, you must enable the option in the Settings app using these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Gaming.
  3. Click on Game Bar.
  4. Turn on the Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using Game Bar toggle switch.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

Once you complete the steps, you should be able to use the Xbox Game Bar app to screen-record apps on Windows 10.

How to record app with Xbox Game Bar

To record a video on Windows 10, open the app that you want to capture, and then use these steps:

Quick note: Although you can use the Xbox Game Bar experience to record apps, there are some limitations, and you can't record File Explorer or the desktop. Only applications.

  1. Open Start.
  2. Search for Xbox Game Bar, click the top result to open the app.
  3. In the "Capture" module, click the Record button.Quick tip: If you don't see the Capture module, click the Capture button from the main toolbar (the one that includes the clock). Also, you can use the Windows key + Alt + R keyboard shortcut to start recording immediately.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Click anywhere to dismiss the Xbox Game Bar interface.
  2. Continue with the screen capture.
  3. (Optional) Click the microphone button using the available controllers to narrate while recording the video.Quick tip: If you're unable to record sound, it's because your privacy settings are blocking the app. You can fix this issue using Settings > Privacy > Microphone, and then make sure to turn on the toggle switch for Xbox Game Bar to allow access to your microphone.
  4. Click the Stop button (or minimize the app) to terminate the session.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

After you complete the steps, the video recording will be saved automatically in the Captures folder, inside your "Videos" library.

You can alternatively use the Windows key + G keyboard shortcut, click the Show all captures option, and in the "Gallery" module, click the Open folder location icon.

How to edit video recording with Photos

While the Xbox Game Bar app has limited functionality, you can still edit some aspects of the screen recording with the Photos app for Windows 10.

To edit a screen capture using the Photos app, use these steps:

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. Type the following path in the address bar and press Enter:%HOMEPATH%\Videos\Captures
  3. Right-click the .mp4 capture file, select Open with, and click the Photos option.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Click the Edit & Create menu to access the available editing options:
    • Trim — Shorten the recording.
    • Add slo-mo — Adds slow motion to the video.
    • Save photos — Saves a frame of the video as a photo.
    • Draw — Annotates using touch.
    • Create a video using text — Allows you to access various additional features to edit the video.
    • Add 3D effects — Adds effects on top of the video.
    • Add animated text — Add animation effects to the video.
  2. Select the Trim option (as an example).

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Use the white pins in the track to select the beginning and end of the recording.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Use the blue pin to scrub the footage to make sure you're trimming the right parts of the video.
  2. Click the Save a copy button from the top-right corner.

Once you complete the steps, you'll end up with an edited version of the video, which you can upload to YouTube or share it with other people via email or other mediums.

If you're looking to record voice instead of video, you can use the Voice Recorder app on Windows 10.

Mauro Huculak
Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral.com. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the most out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. He has an IT background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he's a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community.

12 Comments
  • The biggest limitation I've encountered with Game bar is that it can't capture popup windows. I had to make a video about one application that asked for different values in popups. So when I checked the recorded video, everything was there except those additional windows.
  • Same here. It was such a bummer too when I reviewed the capture and realized this limitation.
  • There is also "Steps Recorder" built in.
  • Does anyone know why don't Microsoft build a complete screen recorder similar to snip and sketch. A basic one just sufficient for casual users not for power users. It will be helpful for those who just can't try to many recorders.
  • Maybe because it's less of a common use case than taking screenshots? I've personally never had to record apps, but I understand why it would be valuable to do.
  • Yes you are right, it's less common to record screen. But this is exactly why Microsoft needs to bring it. Since it is not used much used no one will like to go through the process of installing a new software which they are going to use just once once. It will help a lot in such situation.
    I just don't get to know why Microsoft does not make a a complete screen recorder, if it has something which has the ability to do the same. Don't you think so.
  • "Screen Record anything on Windows 10" should be the right title I guess because no app/program limits it from doing that.
  • It can't record the desktop so it actually is really limited.
  • Mauro Huculak, Please keep in mind that when editing 30+ FPS videos with the Photos app, they get downgraded to 30 FPS on save. Feedback on the issue: https://aka.ms/AA364or
  • A pity it isn't possbile to record the desktop
  • Just a Word of warning for everyone. I've been using this feature for long now. Since 1903 Game Bar can record anything but will ask you whether the app you are trying to record is indeed a game. Of course nobody cares, sure it is. Bear in mind, that if you have focus assist set up, anything you had classified as game, and will put in full screen will trigger focus assist for you. So if you record your Microsoft Word window, anytime you set it full size (not even full screen) your notifications will be hidden until you close Word and you will recieve a summary notification afterawards. Currently I haven't found a way to check all applications I have configured to be games to record with Game Bar and then make Windows forget about them.
  • If it would just capture the mouse AND it's context menus then this would be an ultimate solution for screen recording.