What is the best screen recording software for Windows PC now?

Before you start, verify your chosen tool explicitly supports "system audio" or "computer sound" capture.

OpenScreen is a free recording software with audio for Windows PC that's specifically designed to help you create polished demos and tutorials.

How to Install and Use It if as screen recording software with audio:

Steps 1 Installation: On Windows, the recommended method is to get it from the Microsoft Store. Alternatively, you can download the .exe installer from the GitHub Releases page—note that this installer is not signed, so Windows SmartScreen may show a warning; just click "More info" and then "Run anyway".

Steps 2 Recording: Launch the app and click the "Screen" button in the overlay toolbar. Select your screen or a specific window, then enable the speaker icon for system audio and the microphone icon if you want narration, and click the record button.

Steps 3 Editing: Once you stop recording, the editing screen opens automatically. You can trim clips, add text and arrows, and use the auto-zoom feature to smoothly follow your cursor.

Steps 4 Export: Export your final video as MP4 or GIF in various aspect ratios and resolutions.

This makes it a highly flexible and powerful screen recording software with audio for Windows PC. The project was originally created by Siddharth Vaddem and archived after v1.5.0, but development has continued under the same name and MIT license with his approval.

Finding the right screen recording software for Windows PC can feel overwhelming given the many options available. Whether you need to capture a tutorial, a game, or an online meeting, Windows offers both built-in tools and free third-party applications to get the job done. Understanding the key features and limitations of different screen recording software with audio will help you choose the best fit for your needs. Here are some common questions to guide you.

Common Questions

1. Does Windows come with a built-in screen recorder that captures audio?
- Yes, Windows 11 includes Xbox Game Bar, which can record your screen and system audio, and the Snipping Tool, which now supports screen recording with both system sound and microphone input .

2. Are there good free screen recorders besides the built-in tools?
- Absolutely. Open-source options like 0BS Studio offer advanced customization, while others like VSDC Free Screen Recorder and Recordly provide user-friendly interfaces with no watermarks or time limits .

3. Can I record both system audio and my voice at the same time?
- Yes, most screen recording software for Windows PC, including Xbox Game Bar, Snipping Tool, and 0BS Studio, allow you to capture both internal system sounds and microphone input simultaneously .

4. Why does my screen recording sometimes have no audio?
- This is often due to incorrect audio settings. For example, older versions of Snipping Tool may only capture microphone audio and not system sounds . Ensure your recording app is updated and audio sources are properly selected .

@getexcited/chompers is a high-performance, open-source screen recording software with audio, but it's not a typical app with a graphical interface. It's a Node.js library built in Rust, designed for developers who want to programmatically control screen recording.

How to Use It

To use it as a screen recording software with audio, you need to have Node. js installed, then run:

bash
npm install @getexcited/chompers

You then write a short script. Here's a basic example:

javascript
import {
  Recorder,
  RecorderConfig,
  AudioSource,
  VideoEncoderType,
} from "@getexcited/chompers";

const config: RecorderConfig = {
  fpsNumerator: 30,
  fpsDenominator: 1,
  outputWidth: 1920,
  outputHeight: 1080,
  captureAudio: true,
  captureMicrophone: false,
  audioSource: AudioSource.Desktop,
  videoEncoderType: VideoEncoderType.H264,
  captureCursor: true,
  outputPath: "recording.mp4",
};

const recorder = new Recorder(config).withProcessName("notepad");
recorder.startRecording();

This is an excellent choice if you want to build a custom recording solution or need to integrate screen capture into another application. It is a powerful and performant screen recording software with audio, but it requires some familiarity with the command line and JavaScript or TypeScript to use.

Here are the 3 main things to consider when choosing the bests screen recording software for Windows 11 and Windows 10:

1. What you're recording and why

Gaming needs low overhead and high frame rates; tutorials/webinars need clear audio, cursor highlighting, and annotation tools; meetings need reliable system + mic audio capture together. Match the software's strengths to your actual use case rather than picking the "most popular" option.

2. Performance impact on your system

Screen recording competes for CPU/GPU resources, especially if you're also running a game or other demanding software at the same time. Look for hardware-accelerated encoding (like NVENC or Quick Sync) if your PC supports it, and check if the software offers a lightweight recording mode for lower-end hardware.

3. Output quality, format, and editing needs

Consider what resolution/frame rate you actually need (1080p/30fps is often enough; 4K/60fps files get huge fast), what file format works for your sharing platform, and whether you need built-in editing or just raw footage you'll edit elsewhere. Also check file size — some tools compress on the fly, others leave you with massive raw files to deal with afterward.

For users looking into Windows 10 screen recording software, VokoscreenNG is open-source recorder that supports desktop capture, audio input, and webcam recording. It is available across multiple desktop platforms and provides separate controls for choosing the capture area, audio source, camera, and recording format.

How to Use Windows 10 Screen Recording Software

1. Download the program: Download the appropriate version from the official website and complete the installation.
2. Select what to record: Launch the screen recording software and choose to record the entire screen, a specific window, or a designated area of the desktop.
3. Set up audio: Open the audio control panel and select the microphone or available desktop audio source you want to record.
4. Configure the webcam: If you want to display the webcam feed alongside the screen recording, enable the webcam option.
5. Check the output settings: Before starting the recording, select the video format, frame rate, and destination folder.
6. Start recording: Click Start, then perform the desktop actions you want to record.
7. Stop recording: When finished, click Stop and locate the generated file in the selected output folder.
8. Review the file: Play back the recording to verify that the screen, microphone, and any other required audio and video sources were recorded correctly.

As a screen recording tool for Windows 10, this software is primarily designed for simple desktop recording, tutorials, presentations, and webcam-based demonstrations. The interface focuses on practical recording controls rather than the more complex scene management and production features commonly found in large-scale live streaming applications.

When comparing options for best screen recording software for PC, ScreenRec is mainly aimed at people who want a relatively simple way to capture their desktop without dealing with a large number of recording controls. It can record a selected screen area together with audio and provides options for saving or sharing captured content.

From Setup to Recording

1. Get started → Download the Windows version from the official website, complete the installation, and launch the recorder.
2. Choose your area → Select the part of the desktop you want to capture. Before continuing, check the microphone and system-audio settings according to what you want included in the recording.
3. Record → Press the recording button and perform the activity you want to capture. A short test recording is useful for checking audio levels before recording a longer session.
4. Finish → Stop the capture when you're done, then review the result and save the recording locally when that option fits your workflow.

Where It Fits

For someone researching best screen recording software for PC, this is more relevant to quick tutorials, demonstrations, meetings, and everyday desktop capture than complicated recording setups. The interface is relatively straightforward, but users who need extensive source mixing, advanced encoding controls, or a fully open-source solution should consider other tools

For users looking for screen recording software for Windows 10, Captura is a free and open-source tool designed to record the desktop, application windows, webcam video, mouse activity, and audio. You can download a Windows release from the project’s GitHub Releases page. The project is archived and no longer actively maintained, so compatibility with newer system components can vary.

How to use screen recording software for Windows 10

Step 1: Open the project’s GitHub Releases page and choose a Windows release. Download the installer or portable package according to your preference.

Captura GitHub Releases

Step 2: Install the program if you downloaded the installer. For the portable version, extract the archive to a folder and launch the executable directly.

Step 3: Open the program and select what you want to record. Depending on the capture mode, you can record the entire screen, a particular window, or a selected region of the desktop.

Step 4: Configure the video settings before recording. Choose the frame rate, output format, and video encoder appropriate for your recording. Also select the folder where the finished video should be saved.

Step 5: Open the audio settings and enable the sources you need. Select a microphone when you want to record your voice and configure system audio when you also need sounds produced by the computer.

Step 6: Enable webcam capture or mouse-pointer effects only when you need them. Check the preview and perform a short test recording to make sure the picture and audio are being captured correctly.

Step 7: Click the Record button to begin. Perform the activity you want to capture, then use the Stop control when the recording is complete.

Step 8: Open the output folder and play the resulting video. Check the image, microphone, and system audio before deleting any source material or using the recording elsewhere.

For normal recording, no command-line commands are necessary. The project does provide command-line functionality, but using the graphical interface is generally simpler for screen recording and avoids unnecessary configuration.

Kap is an open-source screen recording tool with a simple interface for capturing desktop activity. It includes screen recording and GIF export features and is primarily designed for macOS. For users researching best screen recording software for PC, it can serve as a reference for understanding how lightweight screen-recording tools handle basic capture tasks.

How to Use the Best Screen Recording Software for PC

1. Download the software from its official project page.
2. Install and launch the application on a supported system.
3. Select the area of the screen you want to capture. Depending on the available options, you can capture a specific area or screen.
4. Configure the available recording settings before starting.
5. Start recording and perform the actions you want to capture.
6. Stop the recording when you have finished.
7. Open the recorded file and check the video for unwanted sections.
8. Use the available export options to save the recording in a supported format.
9. Choose a destination folder and keep the original recording if you plan to edit or convert it later.

This software is mainly intended for straightforward screen-capture tasks rather than advanced video production. The interface keeps the recording workflow relatively simple, but users who need extensive audio routing, multiple video sources, or detailed recording controls may need additional tools.

P.S.

• Check the project's current system requirements before installing it, particularly because its primary platform is macOS.
• GIF files are generally more suitable for short demonstrations than long screen recordings.
• Make a short test recording first to confirm that the screen and required audio sources are being captured correctly.

Screen recording has a wide range of uses. Kdenlive is a reliable screen recording program for Windows 10; although it is primarily known as a video editor, it also offers basic screen recording capabilities. The software natively supports the Windows operating system, so you can complete both screen recording and video editing within the same tool without having to switch between different applications.

To use Kdenlive for screen recording, download the Windows version from the official Kdenlive website. Once installed, open the software and go to the “Record” menu, or access the screen recording feature directly. You can set the recording area, frame rate, and audio source (such as system audio or a microphone). Start recording, then stop when finished; the recorded video will automatically appear on the timeline, ready for editing or exporting at any time.

Kdenlive is a screen recording software for Windows 10 and video editing into a single application, allowing you to cut, trim, add transitions, or export directly—all within the same interface.

Pros:

• Combines screen recording and video editing in one tool.
• Supports multiple audio sources and customizable recording settings.

Cons:

• Heavier than dedicated screen recorders.
• Not the most intuitive option for quick recording tasks.
• May require some setup time to get recording settings right.