# How to screen record on Windows 10 and 11 (with audio) > Record your screen on Windows with the Snipping Tool (Windows + Shift + R), Xbox Game Bar or free NeetoRecord. With audio, shortcuts and fixes. - **Authors**: Kirti Gulati - **Published**: 2026-11-04 - **URL**: https://www.neeto.com/neetorecord/blog/how-to-screen-record-on-windows - **Page title**: How to screen record on Windows 10 & 11 with audio | NeetoRecord - **Meta description**: Record your screen on Windows with the Snipping Tool (Windows + Shift + R), Xbox Game Bar or free NeetoRecord. With audio, shortcuts and fixes. - **Keywords**: how to screen record on windows, screen record windows, record screen windows 10, screen record windows 11, how to screen record on pc, and windows alt r --- Windows has two built-in ways to record your screen. On Windows 11, use the Snipping Tool: press **Windows + Shift + R** , drag over the area you want, and click Start. On Windows 10 or 11, you can also use the Xbox Game Bar: press **Windows + Alt + R** inside an app to start and stop recording. Both are fine for a quick clip that stays on your computer. If you need to send the recording to someone, [NeetoRecord](https://www.neeto.com/neetorecord) is a free screen recorder for [Windows](https://www.neeto.com/neetorecord/download) that records your full screen, a window or a tab, with your webcam and voice. When you stop, the share link is already copied. The free plan gives you 200 videos a month, up to 15 minutes each, in up to 4K, with AI titles, summaries and transcripts. This guide covers every method step by step. It also covers recording with audio, keyboard shortcuts, where your videos are saved, and what to do when Windows + Alt + R does not work. ## Quick answer: which method should you use? - **Snipping Tool** (Windows 11 only). Best for a quick recording of part of your screen. Records the whole desktop, including File Explorer. - **Xbox Game Bar** (Windows 10 and 11). Best for recording one app or a game. It cannot record the desktop or File Explorer. - **NeetoRecord for** [Windows](https://www.neeto.com/neetorecord/download) (Windows 10 and 11, free). Best when you want your webcam in the video, a link to share, or a recording longer than a few minutes. ## Method 1: Screen record on Windows 11 with the Snipping Tool The Snipping Tool is no longer just for screenshots. On Windows 11, it can record a video of any part of your screen. 1. Press **Windows + Shift + R**. Or open the Snipping Tool from the Start menu and click the video camera icon (Record), then click **New**. 2. Drag to select the part of the screen you want to record. To record the full screen, drag from one corner to the opposite corner. 3. Turn on the microphone in the toolbar if you want to talk over the recording. Recent versions also have a system audio button for sound from your computer. 4. Click **Start**. A short countdown runs, then recording begins. 5. Click the red **Stop** button when you are done. A preview opens. **Where it is saved:** Windows saves the recording automatically to **Videos \> Screen Recordings**. You can also save a copy anywhere you like from the preview window. **Good to know:** If Windows + Shift + R opens the screenshot overlay instead, your Snipping Tool is out of date. Update it from the Microsoft Store, or start the recording from the Record icon inside the app. ## Method 2: Screen record on Windows 10 or 11 with the Xbox Game Bar The Xbox Game Bar comes with both Windows 10 and Windows 11. It was built for games, but it records most apps, such as your browser or PowerPoint. 1. Open the app you want to record and click inside it. 2. Press **Windows + G** to open the Game Bar. 3. In the Capture widget, click the record button. Or skip the Game Bar and press **Windows + Alt + R** to start recording right away. 4. Press **Windows + Alt + M** to turn your microphone on or off while you record. 5. Press **Windows + Alt + R** again to stop. **Where it is saved:** Recordings are saved as MP4 files in **Videos \> Captures**. **Limits:** The Game Bar records one app window at a time. It does not work on the desktop or in File Explorer, and some apps are not supported. If you need to show more than one window, use the Snipping Tool or NeetoRecord. ## Method 3: Screen record on Windows with NeetoRecord (free) Use [NeetoRecord](https://www.neeto.com/neetorecord) when the video is going to someone else, such as a teammate, a client or a student. You can record from the desktop app for Windows, or from the Chrome extension, which also works in Microsoft Edge. 1. [Download NeetoRecord for Windows](https://www.neeto.com/neetorecord/download) and run the .exe file. Then search for NeetoRecord in the Start menu. 2. Sign up for free and log in. 3. Choose what to record: your full screen, one window or a custom area. Choose your microphone and camera. 4. Click **Start recording**. After a 3-second countdown, recording begins. You can pause, restart or discard from the toolbar. 5. Click **Finish recording**. The share link is copied to your clipboard, ready to paste into email, Slack or Teams. What you get on the free plan: - 200 videos a month per user, up to 15 minutes each. - Recording quality up to [4K](https://www.neeto.com/neetorecord/features/4k-screen-recording). - Your webcam in a bubble, with background blur. - AI titles, [summaries](https://www.neeto.com/neetorecord/features/ai-video-summaries), chapters and [transcripts](https://www.neeto.com/neetorecord/features/video-transcripts). - Auto zoom on clicks, mouse-click highlights and trimming. - An option to save the video to your laptop as well as in your workspace. If you need longer videos, the [Pro plan](https://www.neeto.com/neetorecord/pricing) allows up to 2 hours per recording and costs $5 per user a month, or $30 a year. ## How to screen record on Windows with audio There are two kinds of audio: your voice (microphone) and the sound playing on your computer (system audio). Here is how each tool handles them. - **Snipping Tool:** Turn on the microphone and system audio buttons in the recording toolbar. You can set the defaults in Snipping Tool \> Settings \> Screen recording. If you do not see these options, update the app from the Microsoft Store. - **Xbox Game Bar:** It records the sound of the app you are recording. Press Windows + Alt + M to add your microphone. You can change the audio settings in Settings \> Gaming \> Captures. - **NeetoRecord:** Your microphone is recorded on the free plan. To record system audio as well, turn on **Record system audio** in Settings \> Recording. System audio is a Pro feature. **Tip:** Wear headphones when you record system audio. Otherwise, your microphone can pick up the sound from your speakers and cause an echo. ## How to screen record on Windows 10 The Snipping Tool cannot record video on Windows 10. That feature is only on Windows 11. On Windows 10, you have two choices: - Use the **Xbox Game Bar** (Windows + Alt + R) to record one app. - Use **NeetoRecord** to record your full screen, the desktop or several windows, with your webcam. ## Keyboard shortcuts for screen recording on Windows - **Windows + Shift + R:** Start a Snipping Tool screen recording (Windows 11). - **Windows + G:** Open the Xbox Game Bar. - **Windows + Alt + R:** Start or stop a Game Bar recording. - **Windows + Alt + M:** Turn the microphone on or off in a Game Bar recording. - **Alt + Shift + E:** Start or stop a recording in the NeetoRecord desktop app. - **Alt + Shift + K:** Pause or resume a NeetoRecord recording. - **Alt + Shift + D:** Discard a NeetoRecord recording. You can change NeetoRecord's shortcuts in Settings \> Keyboard shortcuts. ## Why is Windows + Alt + R not working? This is the most common problem people have with screen recording on Windows. Try these fixes in order: 1. **Click inside an app first.** The Game Bar cannot record the desktop or File Explorer. If nothing is open, the shortcut does nothing. 2. **Check that the Game Bar is on.** Go to Settings \> Gaming \> Xbox Game Bar and turn it on. 3. **Check the shortcut.** Press Windows + G, open Settings (the gear icon) \> Shortcuts, and make sure Start/Stop recording has a shortcut. 4. **Repair or reset the Game Bar.** Go to Settings \> Apps \> Installed apps \> Xbox Game Bar \> Advanced options. Click Repair. If that does not help, click Reset. 5. **Update Windows and your graphics driver,** then restart your computer. If it still does not work, use the Snipping Tool (Windows 11) or NeetoRecord instead. Neither depends on the Game Bar. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does Windows have a built-in screen recorder? Yes. Windows 11 has the Snipping Tool and the Xbox Game Bar. Windows 10 has only the Xbox Game Bar. ### How do I record my whole screen on Windows? On Windows 11, press Windows + Shift + R and drag across the whole screen. On Windows 10, the Game Bar records only one app, so use a free tool like [NeetoRecord](https://www.neeto.com/neetorecord)and choose Full screen. ### Is there a time limit on screen recordings in Windows? The Game Bar has a maximum recording length that you can set in Settings \> Gaming \> Captures. NeetoRecord's free plan allows up to 15 minutes per video, and Pro allows up to 2 hours. ### Can I record my screen and webcam at the same time? The Snipping Tool and Game Bar do not add your webcam to the recording. NeetoRecord does. Your camera appears in a bubble you can move and resize, and you can blur your background. ### How do I share a screen recording from Windows? Files from the Snipping Tool and Game Bar are often too large for email. You will need to upload them to a drive first. NeetoRecord uploads the video for you and copies a link, so the other person can watch it in their browser without downloading anything. ## Start recording in a minute For a quick clip, the Snipping Tool and Game Bar are already on your PC. For videos you share with other people, [try NeetoRecord for free](https://www.neeto.com/neetorecord). You get 200 videos a month, 4K quality and AI summaries, without paying anything.