How to Record Your Screen on Windows (Free, No App)

To record your screen on Windows without installing anything, open the Screen Recorder in Chrome or Edge, choose the quality and sound, click Start recording, and pick the screen, window or tab to capture. Pause and resume as you go, stop when you're done, and download the video. There's no watermark and no time limit, and the recording is saved straight to your PC.

Record your screen step by step

1. Open the Screen Recorder in Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
2. Choose the quality: 720p, 1080p or Full resolution.
3. Choose the Sound: tick System / tab audio to capture sound from your computer, and turn on the microphone for a voice-over — or both.
4. Click Start recording. Windows shows a sharing dialog: choose Entire screen, a Window, or a Chrome/Edge tab.
5. If you want the computer's sound, tick Share system audio (for a screen) or Share tab audio (for a tab) in that dialog.
6. Record. Pause and resume as needed.
7. Stop with the recorder's button or the browser's Stop sharing bar, then download the video.

Recent versions of Chrome and Edge save the recording as MP4. Some browsers record WebM; if you need MP4, convert it with Convert to MP4.

Which surface should you share?

• Entire screen — everything, including switching between apps. Best for tutorials that use several programs. On Windows, this is the option that can include all system sound.
• A window — just one app; other windows and notifications stay private.
• A browser tab — just one website, with that tab's sound. Ideal for recording a web app, a video or an online meeting in the browser.

Getting good audio

• Voice-overs: use a headset or an external microphone if you can; laptop microphones pick up keyboard noise and room echo.
• Computer sound: remember to tick the "share audio" option in the sharing dialog — it's easy to miss.
• Both at once: turn on the microphone and system audio together to narrate over a video or a game.
• Clean up later: if your voice recording has hum or hiss, run the video's sound through the Audio Noise Reducer.

Windows' built-in options, compared

Windows has its own recorders:

• Xbox Game Bar (Win + G) records a single app or game, but not the desktop or File Explorer.
• Snipping Tool on Windows 11 can record the screen; newer versions also include sound.

The browser recorder is handy when those aren't available — on a work PC with features locked down, on Windows 10, or when you want to capture a browser tab with its sound and nothing else.

After recording

• Trim the start and end — the bit where you click "Start" and "Stop" — with the Video Cutter.
• Make it small enough to send: Compress Video to Size gets it under 10 MB for Discord or 25 MB for email.
• Only need the voice? Use the Voice Recorder instead.

Tips for clear tutorial recordings

• Close notifications and private tabs before you start, or record a single window.
• Increase the zoom in apps and browsers (Ctrl and +) so text is readable in the video.
• Move the mouse slowly and pause on important clicks.
• Plan what you'll say in a few bullet points.
• Record in short sections and join them later with the Video Merger.

Recording meetings: ask first

Recording calls and meetings may require everyone's consent, depending on where you and they are. Tell participants before you record.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a time limit?

No. Long recordings take more memory and disk space, though, so very long sessions are best recorded in parts.

Is the recording uploaded?

No. It's made by your browser and saved directly to your device.

Can I record my screen on a phone with this?

No — phones and tablets don't let websites record the screen. Use the phone's built-in screen recorder instead.