Free Screen Recorders for Windows and Mac (Some Are Already Installed)
Record your screen for tutorials, bug reports or presentations without buying anything. Built-in shortcuts first, then OBS, ShareX and Loom.
Before you download anything, check what's already on your computer. Both Windows and macOS can record your screen out of the box, and for quick recordings that's all you need.
On a Mac: press Cmd + Shift + 5
That shortcut opens a small toolbar at the bottom of the screen. From there you can:
- Record the entire screen or a selected area
- Turn on your microphone under Options
- Choose where the file is saved
- Set a timer so you have a few seconds to get ready
Click Record, and stop it with the button in the menu bar. The video lands on your desktop as a .mov file. It's free, clean and has no watermark.
QuickTime Player can do the same (File, then New Screen Recording) and also trims clips afterwards.
On Windows: Snipping Tool or Xbox Game Bar
Snipping Tool on Windows 11 isn't just for screenshots anymore. Open it, switch to the video camera icon, pick an area and hit Start. It's the simplest option for short clips like "here's how to find this setting".
Xbox Game Bar (press Win + G) records the window you're using, with audio. It's designed for games but works for most apps. The catch: it records one app window, not your whole desktop, and it doesn't capture File Explorer.
OBS Studio: free and does everything
When you outgrow the built-in tools, OBS Studio is the answer. It's free, open source, runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, and is what most YouTubers and streamers use.
With OBS you can:
- Record your screen and webcam at the same time, with your face in a corner
- Mix several audio sources (mic, system sound, music)
- Switch between "scenes" while recording
- Stream live to YouTube or Twitch
The first setup takes 15 minutes and a YouTube tutorial. After that, it's rock solid.
ShareX (Windows): the power user's favourite
ShareX is free and open source, and it's a screenshot tool that also records video and GIFs. Its party trick is automation: take a capture, and it can automatically add arrows, blur private info, upload it and copy the link.
If you write bug reports or support documentation, it'll change your life. If you just want a quick video, it's more than you need.
Loom: when you want to share a link, not a file
Loom records your screen and webcam and gives you a link instantly. No export, no upload, no "the file is too big for email". Great for explaining something to a colleague or client.
The free plan is limited: 25 videos per person, and each one can be up to 5 minutes long. Fine for occasional use. Daily users will hit those limits fast and need a paid plan.
Which should you use?
| Situation | Best free option |
|---|---|
| Quick clip on a Mac | Cmd + Shift + 5 |
| Quick clip on Windows | Snipping Tool |
| Recording gameplay | Xbox Game Bar |
| YouTube tutorials with webcam | OBS Studio |
| Bug reports and docs | ShareX |
| Explaining something to a coworker | Loom |
Tips for better recordings
- Close everything you don't need. Notifications popping up mid-recording are how private messages end up on YouTube.
- Turn on Do Not Disturb (Focus on Mac and Windows).
- Make text bigger. Zoom your browser to 125% or more. Viewers on phones will thank you.
- Use a cheap microphone or headset. Audio quality matters more than video quality. People will watch a slightly blurry video, but they'll click away from echoey sound.
Need to edit the recording afterwards? See Free Video Editors That Don't Slap a Watermark on Your Work.
