How do I capture and save a video on Windows ?

Windows offers numerous options for capturing and recording videos of your computer screen. Whether you want to create tutorials, share your gameplay, or record any on-screen activity, it's easy to achieve a complete video capture in Windows.

There are several software programs that allow you to capture video on Windows , but in this article, we will show you how to use the built-in Game Bar .

Here are the steps to follow to capture video on Windows and save it:

Step 1: Activate the game bar

The Game Bar is a tool included in Windows 10 and Windows 11 that gives you access to gaming-related features, such as screenshots, video recording, streaming, and Game Mode. To activate the Game Bar, press the Windows + G. A bar with several icons will then appear at the bottom of your screen.

Step 2: Start video capture

To start video capture, click the camera icon in the game bar. A small panel will then appear in the top right corner of your screen with a " Start Recording" . Click this button to begin recording what's happening on your screen. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Windows + Alt + R to start or stop recording.

Step 3: Stop and save the video capture

To stop video capture, click the Stop Recording in the top right panel of your screen. You will then see a notification indicating that your video has been saved to the Captures in your Videos . You can also access your recorded videos by clicking the gallery icon in the game bar.

Choose the backup folder

You can customize the Windows Game Bar settings by going to Settings > Games > Captures.

From this tab, you can choose the default save folder, enable background recording to capture your past actions, add audio to videos, and adjust the frame rate between 30 and 60 fps.

By default, videos are saved in MP4 format in the folder C:\\Users\\[username]\\Videos\\Captures.

You can easily access it from File Explorer to view or transfer your screen clips captured with the capture bar. This is a handy way to centralize and organize all your video captures made in Windows.

How do I view and edit the video capture?

Once you've stopped recording, you can view, edit, or share your video as needed. To view your video, you can double-click it in the Captures folder or use a media player like VLC or Windows Media Player.

To edit your video, you can use software like Windows Movie Maker or Adobe Premiere Pro .

If you use VLC, this article might interest you : How to use the frame-by-frame function in VLC?

Learn more about video capture on Windows 10 and 11 in this tutorial video:

What are the alternatives to the game bar for capturing video?

If you are not satisfied with the game bar for making a video capture, there are other possibilities you can use to capture videos of your screen.

• Movavi Screen Recorder

Easily capture your on-screen actions with Movavi Screen Recorder. This versatile screen recording for Windows lets you add webcam, audio, and effects during recording. Quickly produce engaging tutorials and training materials directly from your PC.

• OBS Studio 

OBS Studio is a free and open-source video capture software that allows you to record and live stream your screen, webcam, microphone, and other sources. It is compatible with Windows , Mac, and Linux and offers numerous customization and quality options.

• Screen Capture

You can use a free online screen recorder like Screen Capture , which allows you to capture your screen, webcam, and audio without time limits or watermarks. Simply click the "Record" button and choose the video source and quality. You can then easily download or share your video.

• Loom

You can use Google Chrome, the world's most popular web browser, which has many free extensions for recording your screen. For example, you can use Loom , an extension that lets you record your screen, webcam, and voice with a single click. You can then edit, annotate, and share your video online. Loom also offers unlimited storage and integration with tools like Gmail, Slack, and Google Drive.