How to Capture Your Screen on Windows for Free: Tips for Tutorial Videos

In this article, I’ll introduce how to capture your screen (video recording and screenshots) using Windows’ built-in features for free.

There’s no need to install any paid software as everything can be done with standard apps.

How to Capture Video on Windows Using the “Game Bar”

Windows makes it easy to capture your screen with the Game Bar. Since it’s a built-in tool, it’s completely free to use.

Steps for Video Capture:

1. Press the shortcut keys Win + G to display the Game Bar.
2. Click the Record button to start recording the active window. (*)

(*) You can also start and stop recording directly without opening the Game Bar by using the shortcut Win + Alt + R.

If you need more advanced video capture features, you can use dedicated software like Bandicam. I used to use it often, but nowadays I rely on the standard screen capture functions in both Mac and Windows.

How to Capture Screenshots on Windows Using the “Screenshot Bar”

When taking screenshots, I prefer selecting a specific area to reduce the hassle of cropping later. This can also be done easily using Windows’ built-in features.

Steps for Taking a Screenshot of a Selected Area:

1. Press the shortcut keys Win + Shift + S to open the Screenshot Bar.
2. From the toolbar, select Rectangular Snip.
3. Drag around the area you want to capture.
4. In the notification window, click the screenshot image.
5. Snipping Tool will start and load the screenshot.
6. Edit and save as needed.

The captured image is copied to the clipboard, so you can edit it with other image editing software like Paint if desired.

Two Ways to Use Windows Screen Capture

Here are two ways I frequently use video and image capture in my daily work:

1. Creating Tutorial Videos and Client Presentations

I capture my workflow in software like Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Illustrator, then use these recordings as video assets for tutorial videos.

These captures are also helpful for client presentations, allowing me to clearly show the workflow and final results.

2. Capturing Useful Information

I use screenshots to save useful information I find on YouTube or other online sources. This helps me store valuable content that I can easily refer back to later, making knowledge retention more efficient.

Conclusion

Using Windows’ built-in features, you can easily record your screen and take screenshots.

These tools are especially useful for creating client presentations and tutorial videos, so be sure to give them a try.