How to Record Your Computer Screen

On Windows

1. 
   Download screen recording software. Open Broadcast Software (OBS) Studio and Bandicam are popular options. Since there isn't a built-in screen-recording utility in Windows, you'll need to install screen recording software if you want to record your desktop or multiple running programs at once.

   1. If you only want to record gameplay or a specific app, you can instead use the Game Bar app in Windows 10 Creator's Update.
2. 
   Install OBS Studio. Double-click the OBS Studio installer file (you'll find it in your browser's default downloads location), click Yes when prompted, click Next, click I Agree, click Next, uncheck the plugin box if you don't want OBS in your browser, and click Install.
3. 
   Click Finish when prompted. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. Doing so will complete the installation and open OBS Studio.

   1. You can also open OBS Studio by click Start
      
      , typing in obs studio, and clicking OBS Studio at the top of the Start window.
4. 
   Click OK when prompted. This accepts the OBS Studio terms of use and opens the OBS Studio window.
5. 
   Click Yes on the "Auto-Configuration Wizard" window. This will bring up a window. To complete the setup wizard:

   1. Check the "Optimize just for recording" box.
   2. Click Next
   3. Click Next
   4. Click Apply Settings
   5. If you prefer to set your own settings, click No instead.
6. 
   Add your computer's desktop as a source. Click the + icon below the "Sources" heading, click Display Capture or Game Capture, click OK at the bottom of the "New Capture" window, and click OK at the bottom of the subsequent window.
7. 
   Click Start Recording. It's in the bottom-right corner of the OBS Studio window. Doing so will prompt OBS Studio to begin recording your screen's contents.

   1. You can stop the recording by clicking Stop Recording in the bottom-right corner of OBS Studio.
8. 
   Fix the OBS Studio "Failed to start recording" error if needed. In some cases, you'll see an error that says "Starting the output failed. Please check the log for details" in a pop-up window. To fix this error:

   1. Click OK on the error message.
   2. Click Settings on the lower-right side of the OBS Studio window.
   3. Click Output in the upper-left side of the Settings window.
   4. Click the "Encoder" drop-down box.
   5. Click Software (x264) in the drop-down menu.
   6. Click Apply, then click OK