Screen Recorder Windows 10: Everything You Need to Know

Jane Zhou updated on Dec 22, 2025 to Screen Recording Utility

Learn how to use built-in screen recorder Windows 10 to record screen on Windows 10 with audio. You will learn the Windows screen recorder shortcuts and its free alternatives. EaseUS RecExperts is recommended here for more advanced capabilities.

💡Key Takeaways

  • Windows 10 has a built-in screen recorder called Xbox Game Bar. It's free and suitable for basic recordings like gameplay or app walkthroughs.
  • For more advanced needs like full-screen recording with audio, professional screen recorders like EaseUS RecExperts are highly recommended.
  • Free tools like OBS Studio offer extra flexibility and are great alternatives for power users.

Want to know how to record computer audio Windows 10 but not sure if you need third-party software? You're not alone. Many users wonder whether Windows 10 comes with a built-in screen recorder. In this guide, we'll explore the best screen recorder Windows 10, compare popular tools, and help you choose the right one for your needs.

Does Windows 10 Have a Built-in Screen Recorder?

Yes. Windows 10 includes a built-in screen recorder called Xbox Game Bar. While it was initially designed for recording gameplay, many users also use it for basic screen recording, such as capturing app windows, tutorials, or simple demos.

👉What is Xbox Game Bar?

Xbox Game Bar is a pre-installed and customizable gaming overlay on Windows 10 and 11 computers. This utility lets you record on-screen activity and audio without installing third-party software. It works best with individual apps or windows, not the whole desktop or File Explorer. Besides recording the screen, the Game Bar recording feature can also save highlight moments by clipping the last 15 seconds to 10 minutes of what just happened.

👉What You Need to Know About Xbox Game Bar

Item

Details

Recording source

Full screen

Audio sources

System sound, microphone, or both

Output format

MP4 (H.264 + AAC audio)

Save location

Videos > Captures folder

Max Recording Length

4 Hours

Video frame rate

30 fps, 60 fps

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Screen Recorder Windows 10 Shortcut

If you want to record your screen quickly on Windows 10, keyboard shortcuts are the fastest way to control the built-in screen recorder without opening any menus. Xbox Game Bar comes with a set of default shortcuts that let you start recording, capture clips, and manage audio instantly while you're in an app or game.

👉Xbox Game Bar Default Shortcuts

Action

Shortcut

Open Xbox Game Bar

Win + G

Start / Stop recording

Win + Alt + R

Save last clip (15s–10min)

Win + Alt + G

Turn microphone on / off

Win + Alt + M

Take a screenshot

Win + Alt + PrtScn

HDR on / off

Win + Alt + B

Where to Change Game Bar Shortcuts

You can customize these shortcuts by pressing Win + G and going to Settings > More settings > Shortcuts. From there, you can assign new key combinations or restore the defaults based on your recording habits.

How to Screen Record on Windows 10 with Audio

Now that you know Windows 10 has a built-in screen recorder and the key shortcuts, let's look at how actually to record your screen with audio using Xbox Game Bar. This method works best for recording apps, browsers, or games that are actively open on your screen.

🚩Steps to Screen Record on Windows 10 with Audio:

Step 1. Press "Win+G" to open the Game bar. If required, select the "Yes, this is a game" checkbox.

Step 2. Press the "Start/Stop Recording" button to start/stop a recording. Use the "Turn Microphone On/Off" button to toggle the microphone if you wish.

Step 3. After recording, trim your video or rename it in the Xbox app. Your video will be saved in the "Captures folder," which is in your "Videos" folder by default.

However, it is very convenient to use the Windows built-in screen recorder. You cannot select the recording area, create a schedule recording task, or capture a screen with audio. If you have these requirements, this Windows 10 default screen recorder may not be a good option. So you can check the following professional Windows 10 screen recorders.

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Pros and Cons of the Windows Screen Recorder

Before deciding whether to use the built-in screen recorder in Windows 10, it's helpful to understand its strengths and limitations. The Xbox Game Bar is free and ready to use right out of the box, but it is also designed for simplicity rather than advanced recording needs. Below is a summary of what users frequently praise and complain about online.

PROS

 
Free and Built-In: Comes pre-installed with Windows 10 (no download or installation needed) and works instantly with Win + G.
Easy to Use: The interface is simple and doesn't require steep learning curves.
No Watermark: Outputs clean recordings saved as MP4 to your Videos\Captures folder.
Decent for Quick Clips: Good for basic screen capture and capturing gameplay or app windows.
Includes Audio Toggle: Lets you record microphone and system sound together.

CONS

 
Limited Flexibility: Can only capture apps and games, not the desktop or File Explorer.
Basic Settings Only: No fine-grained controls like custom area, bitrate, or frame rate adjustments.
Performance Impact: May affect FPS or stability on lower-end PCs, especially during intense sessions.
No Editing Tools: Doesn't include trimming, annotations, or multi-track audio mixing.
Occasional Reliability Issues: Some users report inconsistent recording or greyed-out capture buttons in certain builds.

Overall, Game Bar works well for casual users who need quick, no-frills screen recording, but falls short for creators who want advanced control or professional features.

Best Windows 10 Screen Recorder Alternatives Without Watermark

While Xbox Game Bar is convenient for basic screen recording, its limitations can be frustrating for users who need more flexibility or advanced features. If you're looking for a Windows 10 screen recorder without a watermark, the following alternatives offer more control, better output options, and broader recording support.

#1. EaseUS RecExperts

If you want to find unlimited Windows 10 screen recording software, look no further than EaseUS RecExperts. This program lets you capture screens in flexible sizes on your Windows 10 PC and provides a wide range of advanced tools to enhance your recording experiences, including, but not limited to, schedule recording, screen recording with audio, auto-clipping, unlimited time recording, etc.

Most importantly, this Windows 10 screen recorder with audio is extremely easy to use, as it has a friendly UI and intuitive workflow!

✨What we like about the EaseUS screen recorder:

  • Allow capturing full screen or a selected region on your desktop
  • Support recording screen, camera, and audio at the same time
  • Let users draw shapes or add text on the screen in real-time while recording
  • There is no time limit for any recording
  • Offer some basic video editing tools to make recordings stand out

🎨How other users review EaseUS RecExperts:

  • "EaseUS RecExperts is a very good screen recorder, even better if you record tutorials, and the ability to select a particular region of the screen to record is the best part of this software..." Kunal D. from G2

#2. ActivePresenter

ActivePresenter is an all-in-one video editor and screen recorder for Windows 10. It has virtually all the features and effects you may need to screen recording and edit videos. For example, you are able to capture full screen or specific windows on PC freely. After the capture phase, you're allowed to trim, cut, split your recording, change the speed and volume, add closed captions, and more. More advanced audio and video editing features are available to create impressive videos, and software simulations are available only when you upgrade to the paid version.

Pros

  • Let you screen record any region on your desktop with sound
  • Provide a video editor to edit captured videos as well as imported videos
  • Publish videos directly to YouTube

Cons

  • Not allowed to schedule recordings
  • There is no video cropping feature, though there is a workaround
  • Support 64-bit only

#3. OBS Studio

Another free screen recorder for Windows PC is OBS Studio, a free and unlimited screen recording tool. With its help, you can capture not only the entire display or a window but also from a webcam and microphone. You can also record the screen and webcam at the same time, if needed. However, due to the complicated UI, users, especially the novices, always need a long learning curve!

Pros

  • Screen Record full screen, window, region, webcam, microphone, computer sound
  • Stream to Twitch, YouTube, Mixer, DailyMotion, and more
  • There is no watermark or time limit

Cons

  • There is no stopping during the recording
  • No built-in video editor
  • Beginners may find it hard to use

    #4. Flashback Express

    Another excellent software to help you make screen recording on Windows 10 is Flashback Express. This tool supports capturing screens, webcams, and sounds simultaneously. Like the Windows 10 default screen recorder, it neither sets a time limit on recording nor stamps watermarks on the output videos. You can either record screens across multiple monitors or limit capturing to a single monitor.

    If needed, you can also use this PC screen recorder do scheduled recordings to start and stop recording at scheduled times or when a specified application is launched. After recording, users can save videos like MP4, AVI, or WMV and directly upload them to YouTube.

    Pros

    • Record full screen, window, region, webcam, microphone, computer sound
    • Screen Record multiple monitors
    • Scheduled recordings

    Cons

    • Not allowed to record webcam alone
    • Output formats limited to MP4, AVI, WMV
    • No built-in video editor

      #5. Camtasia

      Camtasia is one of the highest-priced Windows screen recording software at present. As an all-in-one screen recorder for Windows 10, Camtasia has a collection of brand-new video assets, such as customizable intros, outros, etc. It also includes several themes to maintain a consistent look and feel across a series of videos.

      You can edit a video directly after you finish screen recording with essential video editing functions. A 30-day free trial is available with a watermark added. If you want a more comprehensive service from it, you need to upgrade to a paid version.

      Pros

      • Screen Record full screen, window, region, webcam, microphone, computer sound
      • Feature a video editor to edit captured videos as well as imported videos
      • Video editing features: trim, cut, split, change speed/volume, add zoom-n-pan, annotations, multimedia, animations, transitions, audio fade in/out, green screen effect, and more

      Cons

      • Relatively expensive in comparison with other screen-casting software
      • Support 64-bit only
      • The operation is relatively difficult

        Conclusion

        To summarize, there is a screen recorder Windows 10 built in on your device, and we have given you detailed operating steps. You may use it directly to do screen recording or some other screen recorders to screen record it and make more advanced edits to the recorded files. Among the recorders recommended, EaseUS RecExperts is the best choice for Windows beginners. You may go to the official website and download it.

        Frequently Asked Questions

        1. Can you record full screen on Windows 10?

        Sure! Recording full screen on Windows 10 is much easier. For almost users, Xbox Game Bar is a nice option. This default full screen recorder for Windows 10 will capture your full Windows 10 desktop by default, and you can record your Windows 10 screens for up to 4 hours.

        2. What is the screen recorder button on Windows 10?

        Windows 10 comes with a built-in screen recorder called Xbox Game Bar. You can press Win + G to open and launch this tool. As for starting your recording task, you can directly hit Win + Alt +R.

        3. How do I Record my screen on Windows 10 without software?

        If you want to record your Windows 10 screen without software, you can rely on online screen recorders. This kind of tools requires no downloading or installation. And here are some popular ones you can take a look:

        • EaseUS Online Screen Recorder
        • Screen Capture
        • ScreenApp
        • RecordCast

        4. Can I record the screen with sound on Windows 10?

        Yes, both Xbox Game Bar and EaseUS RecExperts support audio recording. For full control, EaseUS is recommended.

        5. Where are Xbox Game Bar recordings saved?

        They're saved in Videos > Captures by default.

        6. Is screen recording on Windows 10 legal?

        For personal use, yes. But if you're recording meetings or calls, check local laws and get permission.

        7. What is the best free screen recorder for Windows 10 with audio?

        OBS Studio and EaseUS RecExperts are the top choices. OBS is open-source; EaseUS screen recorder is easier to use.

        Article Update Log

        1️⃣Adjusted the overall focus of the article. Based on search intent, the content now prioritizes a more in-depth introduction to Xbox Game Bar, including what it is, key features, shortcuts, and its pros and cons, to help readers better understand the built-in tool.

        2️⃣Moved EaseUS RecExperts to the alternatives section and integrated it as a comparison option. This makes the structure clearer and reduces the promotional tone, keeping the article more user-centric.

        3️⃣Improved wording throughout the article, updated images, and refined the visual layout to enhance readability and overall presentation.