How to Record Internal Audio on Windows 10/11 [Free Ways]

Melissa Lee updated on Feb 24, 2025 to Screen Recording Utility

Learn how to record computer audio Windows 10 or 11 with Voice Recorder, Audacity, Game Bar, OBS, and more. Capturing system and mic sound can be easy with the EaseUS sound recorder.

Looking for the best voice recorder app for PC or Mac to capture high-quality audio? This guide offers 6 free ways on how to record computer audio Windows 10 and 11, helping you record system audio, microphone sound, and any voice from your Windows or Macbook with ease.

Before diving into the details of each method, check the comparison table of them first.

Methods

Pros

Cons

EaseUS RecExperts

Record system audio and mic sound together or separately

Lack of advanced editing tools

Voice Recorder

Built-in tool to record microphone sound

Require Stereo Mix to record system audio

Audacity

Record system audio and mic sound, together with editing

Cannot record system audio and mic sound together

Game Bar

Default tool to record screen with sound

Cannot record system and mic sound separately

OBS

Record system audio and mic sound together or separately

Cannot preview the recording

Audio Cable

Record system audio without Stereo Mix

Potential quality loss

How to Record Audio on Windows 10 with Best Sound Recorder

Compatibility: Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, macOS 10.13 or later

Best for: Novices and professionals who want a comprehensive and user-friendly screen and audio recorder

EaseUS RecExperts is an all-in-one sound recording software that can record audio Windows 10 from its system, microphone, speaker, or application without compromising quality.

Whether you want to record audio from YouTube, guitar, voice messages, music, or any output devices, the EaseUS sound recorder Windows 10 is a good choice.

✅Pros

  • Intuitive design - easy to operate for both beginners and professionals
  • Multiple audio file formats like MP3, WMV, and AAC - accessible for audio editing and sharing
  • High quality - lossless play track, noise cancellation, and microphone boost ensure seamless recording experiences
  • Versatile recording features - record audio only, record screen with sound, record webcam overlay, etc.

❌Cons

  • Lack of advanced editing tools

Steps for how to record audio from Windows 10 computer with EaseUS audio recorder:

Step 1. Launch EaseUS RecExperts and choose "Audio" (looks like a speaker) from the left side of the interface. Select the sound source by clicking on the speaker sign (the system sound) or the mic sign (the microphone). Or, you can record them both at the same time.

Step 2. Hit "REC" button to start recording audio. To finish it, you just click on the red square icon to stop the recording.

Step 3. After that, the recording list window will pop up automatically. You can listen to or edit the recording with built-in tools.

🚩If you prefer to watch a video tutorial to solve your problem, you can check the following one:

  • 00:23 - 01:19 Method 1. Use EaseUS RecExperts
  • 01:19 - 01:59 Method 2. Record with OBS Studio
  • 01:59 - 02:49 Method 3. Record with EaseUS Online Screen Recorder

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How to Record Internal Audio on Windows 10 Voice Recorder

Compatibility: Windows 10 PCs

Best for: quick microphone recordings, voice memos, lectures, or meetings

Voice Recorder, called Sound Recorder in Win 11, 8, and 7, is a Windows 10 built-in app designed for recording microphone input. It doesn't natively capture internal system sounds. However, you can still record internal audio with Voice Recorder on Windows 10 desktop by enabling Stereo Mix.

Introduction to Stereo Mix:
Stereo Mix, also called What You Hear, is a virtual audio device built into some Windows sound cards that lets you capture everything your computer plays - system sounds, music, game audio, and more. It acts as a microphone input that records the output audio from your speakers or headphones.

✅Pros

  • Pre-installed on Windows 10 – no need to download extra software
  • Very easy to use - one-click recording
  • Basic editing features – trim recordings within the app
  • Saves in MPEG-4 Part 14 (.m4a), which is widely supported

❌Cons

  • No multi-track recording – record microphone and system audio separately
  • Limited file format support – only exports to M4A.
  • No advanced features – no noise reduction, gain control, or multi-source recording

Steps for how to record system audio on Windows 10 with Voice Recorder:

If you only need to capture the microphone sound, skip step 1.

Step 1. Enable Stereo Mix.

  • Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar.
  • Select "Sounds" and go to the "Recording" tab.
  • Right-click in the blank area and select "Show Disabled Devices".
  • If Stereo Mix appears, right-click it and choose "Enable".

💡Notes:

  • If you don't see Stereo Mix, update your sound drivers: go to "Device Manager" > "Sound, video, and game controllers" > "Update driver" > "Search automatically for updated driver software".
  • If no update is available, your sound card may not support Stereo Mix.

Step 2. Use Voice Recorder to capture sound from Windows PC.

  • Search for "Voice Recorder" on your computer, and click on the top result to open it.
  • Click on the "Record" button. To help yourself jump to the important part of the audio file later, click on the "Flag" button to add a marker during the recording. This operation will not interrupt the audio recording process.
  • Click on the "Pause" button to stop recording temporarily or click on the "Stop" button to end the voice recording. You can choose the "Play" button to preview your audio file.
  • After recording, the audio file will be saved automatically as .m4a format in the "Sound recordings" folder below "Documents".

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How to Record Computer Audio Windows 10/11 with Audacity

Compatibility: Windows 11/10/8.1/7/Vista, Mac OS X 10.7 Lion and later

Best for: recording and editing Windows system and microphone

Audacity is a free, easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder developed by volunteers. This Windows sound recorder can record live audio through a microphone or a mixer or digitize recordings from other media. After recording, you can easily edit your audio file by cutting, copying, pasting, and deleting.

✅Pros

  • Record mic and system audio – capture both separately or together
  • High-quality recording – lossless formats like WAV and FLAC
  • Free & open-source – no cost, no ads, and regularly updated
  • Advanced editing features – cut, trim, remove noise, apply effects, and more
  • Multi-track recording – record and edit multiple audio sources independently
  • No Stereo Mix required – uses WASAPI Loopback to capture internal audio on any PC

❌Cons

  • Not beginner-friendly – the interface can be confusing for first-time users
  • Limited multi-source recording – can't record system audio and mic to separate tracks at the same time
  • Basic UI – the interface looks outdated compared to modern DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations)
  • No real-time effects – effects (noise reduction, equalization, etc.) are applied after recording, not live
  • Audio recording only - cannot capture the screen

Steps for record computer audio on Windows 10 with Audacity:

Step 1. Download & Install Audacity from the official website.

Step 2. Open Audacity and go to "Audio Setup" > "Audio Settings".

Step 3. In the Audio Settings popup, select:

  • Host: "Windows WASAPI" (let Audacity capture the audio directly from your computer's output)
  • Recording Device: choose to record sound from the system or the microphone
  • Other parameters you need

Step 4. Click the "Record" button (red dot) and start speaking or playing.

Step 5. Click "Stop" (square) when done. You can play and edit the recording.

Step 6. To save your Audacity recording, go to "File" > "Export Audio...". Follow the on-screen instructions.

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How to Capture Internal Audio on Windows 11/10 Game Bar

Compatibility: Windows 10/11

Best for: recording gameplay with system and mic sound simultaneously

Xbox Game Bar recording is a native screen and voice recorder Windows 10 and 11, primarily designed for game recording but also helpful in capturing system audio and microphone.

✅Pros

  • Built into Windows 10 and 11– no need to install extra software
  • Records both system audio & microphone – captures in-game sounds, apps, and voice simultaneously
  • Lightweight – uses fewer system resources
  • Background recording – automatically capture gameplay for later saving
  • Record in MP4 format – compatible with most media players and editors

❌Cons

  • No audio recording only - cannot record audio only and must record screen with audio
  • Limited to app recordings – cannot record desktop, File Explorer, or system settings
  • No multi-track audio – records system and mic audio into a single-track
  • Basic recording controls – no advanced features like noise reduction, gain control, or separate audio mixing
  • Fixed bitrate and format – cannot customize recording quality beyond built-in settings.

Steps for how to record screen with audio on Windows 10 with Xbox Game Bar:

Step 1. Press "Win + G" to openthe Game Bar.

Step 2. Go to "Settings" > "Widget" > "Capture" to select:

  • "All" (Records game + system + microphone)
  • "Game Only" (Records only game sounds + microphone)
  • "None" (Disables audio recording)

Step 3. Open the app or game you want to record (e.g., browser, music player, game).

Step 4. Click "Start recording" (white circle) or press the "Windows + Alt + R" shortcut to start recording.

Step 5. When done, hit "Stop recording" in the status bar or press the "Windows + ALT + R" shortcuts to end the session.

Step 6. Go to "See my captures" to view the video recording. Or go to "C:\Users\username\Videos\Captures".

Step 7. Convert the MP4 video to an audio file with EaseUS RecExperts format if needed.

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How to Record Audio on Windows 10 with OBS Studio

Compatibility: Windows & Mac & Linux

Best for: advanced gameplay recording and live streaming

OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) Studio is a powerful, free, and open source screen recorder and live streaming tool. It allows high-quality audio recording, supports multiple audio sources, and provides advanced controls for sound mixing.

✅Pros

  • Record system audio & microphone together or separately
  • Real-time audio mixing – adjust volume levels, apply filters
  • Record multiple audio sources at once – ideal for podcasting, gameplay, or tutorials
  • Free and open-source – no watermarks or restrictions

❌Cons

  • No audio recording format - cannot save a recording in audio only
  • No recording preview - must access File Explorer to play the recorded file
  • Higher system resource usage – may cause performance issues on low-end PCs
  • Steep learning curve – advanced features can be overwhelming for beginners

Steps for how to record desktop audio on Windows with OBS:

Step 1. Download OBS Studio from the official website. Install, launch OBS, and follow the on-screen guidance.

Step 2. At the bottom-right corner:

  • Go to "Settings" > "Audio".
  • Under "Global Audio Devices", set "Desktop Audio" (internal audio) and "Mic/Auxiliary Audio" (external sound).
  • Click "Apply" and "OK".

Step 3. In the "Sources" panel (bottom-left), click "+", then:

  • Select "Audio Input Capture" (for microphone) and choose your mic.
  • Select "Audio Output Capture" (for system sounds) and choose your speakers/headphones.
  • Click "OK" to confirm.

Step 4. Click "Start Recording" at the bottom-right corner and click "Yes" to confirm the popup. (If you want to add a video source, click "+" under the "Sources" panel to select Display Capture instead.)

Step 5. Now, speak into your microphone or play system audio. Click "Stop Recording" when done. The OBS recording file (.mkv) will saved automatically in C:\Users\admin\Videos by default.

Tip: To change the recording path and format in OBS, go to "File" > "Settings" > "Output" > "Recording".

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Record System Sound from Win 10 Computer with Audio Cable

Compatibility: Any Windows computer

Best for: Users who have cable and adapter and want a stable recording experience.

Apart from that internal audio recorders software, there is also a simple way to help you capture the internal sound from your computer. All you need is a 3.5 mm mail and a USB audio adapter.

As a basic screen recording feature on Windows computers, Audio Cable can only offer you an ordinary performance. If you need more, you may choose other options in this post.

✅Pros

  • No extra software needed
  • Works on any PC
  • Record system audio without Stereo Mix with Win 10 Voice Recorder

❌Cons

  • Require an AUX cable
  • Need manual volume control
  • Quality loss possible
  • Cannot record microphone sound

Step 1. Plug one end into the microphone jack on your PC, and the other end into the headphone jack of the audio adapter.

Step 2. Move to the Sound Control Panel, set the USB audio device as default.

Step 3. In the recording tab, set the microphone as the default communication device. Right-click on "Microphone" and click "Properties" to enable "Listen to this device", and click "Apply",

Step 4. At last, you can use any audio recording software to capture the computer sound on Windows 10.

Tip: If there is no audio cable available, you can record internal sound (system audio) on Windows 10 using a virtual audio cable (VAC).

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Conclusion

In this article, we offer six quick and easy ways on how to record computer audio Windows 10. You can choose the best one, according to your needs, from the five audio recorders mentioned above.

If you need to capture the system and your voice simultaneously, EaseUS RecExperts is your best choice. This recording software helps you record audio and captures screen, webcam, and gameplay effortlessly.

FAQs About Sound Recorder Windows 10

Here, we collect some questions that most people frequently ask, and you can take a look.

1. Does Windows 10 have an audio recorder?

Yes, Windows 10 has a sound recorder called the Voice Recorder App. If you need a quick way to record audio on your computer, this app can help you. You can use it to record interviews, conversations, lectures, and anything that can make a sound.

2. How can I record sound from my computer?

Audacity can help you record sound from your computer. You can choose to record the internal voice, microphone, or your voice and microphone at the same time. Moreover, you can use it to record your screen and favorite games.

3. How do I record only internal audio?

  • Download and install EaseUS RecExperts, launch this program on your computer, and click "Audio" on the main interface.
  • Click the Sound icon on the lower left to select the "System sound" as the recording source.
  • Click "REC" to begin your recording.