How to record your computer screen in Windows 10
If you would rather not download any additional software, there’s a good chance that some of the apps you have laying around can already record your screen, even if that’s not their primary purpose. Here are several apps that you probably have access to right now, and how they can record for you.
PowerPoint
Didn’t know you could record your screen with PowerPoint? It’s true the latest versions of PowerPoint include that feature. Here’s how to do it, step-by-step:
Step 1: Head to the Insert tab, and select Screen Recording.
Step 2: Click Select Area to choose the specific area of your screen you want to record. If you want to record the entire screen, press the Windows Key + Shift + F.
Step 3: Click the Record button, or press the Windows key + Shift + R.
Step 4: You can select Pause to pause the video when you want, and Stop to end it and save when you are ready.
When you’re done you can save the video as a separate file to access or embed as you see fit. Editing and control options are very limited after that, but it’s a great option for quick-and-dirty recording especially if you’re doing it for a looming presentation. And don’t ignore the video enhancement tools that PowerPoint offers, such as changing the video’s shape, adding a border, and adding effects like shadows, glow, and more.
YouTube Live Streaming
If you don’t want to spend a ton of time recording but still want a video for your YouTube channel, or any other compatible social media platform, then YouTube can help out.
Step 1: Sign into your account as you would normally, using Google’s Chrome browser. Click on your account icon and select YouTube Studio (beta).
Step 2: Choose Live Events under Other Features, and choose Enable live streaming if necessary (if you haven’t created your YouTube Channel yet, this will start the process for you). Then select New live event.
Step 3: Fill out the required information, and choose either Quick or Custom for the type of video you want. Custom allows you to choose more coding options for your recording, while Quick immediately opens a streaming window. Note that Quick currently uses Google Hangouts On Air to launch, but since Google is phasing out Hangouts, this option may change in the future. When you are ready to begin, click Go Live Now, and select the green Screenshare button in the top left.
Step 4: Select Stop Streaming when finished, and save your Event as you wish.
For a more detailed guide to YouTube streaming for gaming Let’s Plays, check out our full guide. Alternatively, if you want to record yourself, Chrome has some quick-recording features now.