How do I screen record a certain area on windows 10 pc?

To screen record a specific area on Windows computer. If you’re a Chrome user, extensions like Loom or Screencastify are super handy!

1. Install the extension: Search for Loom or Screencastify in the Chrome Web Store and add it to your browser.
2. Setup: Create an account (if needed) and turn on the extension.
3. Select your area: There is usually an option to record only a portion of the screen. Click to select that area.
4. Click to record and start: Once you click record, it will start capturing whatever is happening in that box.
5. Save or share: You can usually save it locally or upload it to their cloud for easy sharing.

At first, I thought Windows 10 Game Bar was only for games, and I didn't consider using it to record the screen. As a result, I was in a hurry to record a software operation, and I didn't have any screen recording software installed. I searched it temporarily and found that Game Bar can actually record windows! I tried it and it was actually quite useful, saving the trouble of installing software.

• Press Win + G to open Windows 10 Game Bar (if it doesn't respond, you may need to turn it on in "Settings" → "Games").
• Select the window to be recorded (such as a browser, software interface, etc.), and then click the **"Record" button** (or directly press Win + Alt + R).
• During the recording process, a small floating window will display the recording time, which can be minimized without affecting the operation.
• After recording, the video will be automatically saved in the "Video" → "Capture" folder in MP4 format.
  
  

1. You can't select a specific area to record, you can only record the entire window, and you can't freely select part of the content.
2. You can't record the desktop and file manager. If you want to record these scenes, you have to find another way.
3. The setting of recording system sound + microphone at the same time is relatively hidden and needs to be adjusted manually.

If you only need to record the software window and don't pursue fine-tuning, Windows 10 Game Bar is completely sufficient, easy and stable. Although it can't screen record a certain area on Windows like professional software, it is still good for recording games, software demonstrations, and meeting content!

To screen record a specific area on Windows 10, you can use built-in tools like the Xbox Game Bar or third-party software like OBS Studio.

Method 1: Screen Record a certain Area on Windows 10 with Xbox Game Bar

1. Open the area you want to record on your screen.
2. Press Win + G to open the Xbox Game Bar.
3. If it’s your first time, you may need to confirm that this is a game by checking the box.
4. Click the "Capture" widget (or press Win + Alt + R) to start recording.
5. By default, it records the entire screen, but you can crop the recording later.
6. To stop recording, press Win + Alt + R again or click the stop button in the Game Bar.
7. Your recording will be saved in the Captures folder (located in Videos > Captures).

Note: Xbox Game Bar doesn’t natively support recording a specific area, so you’ll need to crop the video afterward using a video editor.

Method 2: Screen Record a Specific Area on Windows 10 via OBS

OBS Studio is a free, powerful tool for screen recording and streaming. Here's how to record a specific area:

1. Download and install OBS Studio from obsproject.com.
2. Open OBS Studio and set up your scene:
3. Under Sources, click the + button and select Display Capture to capture your entire screen.
4. Crop the recording area:
5. Right-click the display capture source and select Transform > Edit Transform.
6. Use the handles to crop the area you want to record.
7. Start recording: Click Start Recording in the lower-right corner.
8. Stop recording: Click Stop Recording when done. The video will be saved in the default location (you can check or change this in Settings > Output > Recording Path).

Before, I wanted to screen record a certain area on Windows. I tried a lot of methods, but they either restricted the area or required software installation, which was super troublesome. Later, I accidentally discovered that PowerPoint can record the screen, and you can select the area by yourself. It feels like digging up treasure!

How to use it?

1. Open PowerPoint and create a new blank slide.
2. Click "Insert" → "Screen Recording", and a small toolbar will appear at the top of the screen.
3. Click "Select Area", then drag the mouse to select the part you want to record (finally you can freely select the area!).
4. Press "Record", then start demonstrating what you want to record.
5. After recording, right-click the recording and select "Save As", you can directly export it to MP4!

✅ Advantages:

• It has built-in functions, is completely free, and does not require software installation.
• You can select the recording area, unlike Game Bar, which can only record windows.
• After recording, save it directly to MP4, which is convenient to export and has a universal format.

❌ Disadvantages:

• Cannot record system sounds, only microphone sounds.
• Cannot pause, can only stop and re-record.

It cannot be used independently. You have to open PowerPoint every time, which is a bit troublesome. If you occasionally need to screen record a certain area on Windows 10, such as making tutorials, recording web content, and demonstrating operations, PowerPoint is definitely a hidden artifact. You don't need to install a lot of software, and you don't have to worry about pop-up ads. It's simple and convenient!

Screen recording a specific area can be super useful, but there are definitely some things you want to keep in mind:

• First things first, make sure you're not recording anything sensitive or personal. I've accidentally recorded my notifications like texts or emails before. Super awkward when someone sees that! So, just turn off all those pop-ups and make sure no sensitive info is on display.
• Get familiar with whatever screen recording tool you’re using. I’ve found myself fumbling around, trying to find the record button, only to realize I was in the wrong menu. Like, just know where everything is before you start recording!

Pay attention to the resolution of your recording! If you pick a tiny recording area, sometimes it gets all pixelated and blurry on playback. I had to redo a few recordings after realizing they looked terrible because of that. Keeping it clear and crisp is key!

Snip & Sketch is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that allows you to quickly capture screenshots or snip specific areas of your screen. While it doesn’t natively support screen recording, you can use it in combination with a screen recorder (like OBS Studio or Xbox Game Bar) to record a specific area. This method is ideal for short clips or when you need precise control over the recording area.

How to screen record a certain area on Windows 10 PC:

1. Press Win + Shift + S on your keyboard. This will open the Snip & Sketch tool and dim your screen, allowing you to select an area.

2. Once Snip & Sketch is open, your screen will dim, and a toolbar will appear at the top.

3. Choose the type of snip you want: 

• Rectangular Snip: Drag to select a rectangular area.
• Freeform Snip: Draw a freehand shape to select an irregular area.
• Window Snip: Select an entire window.
• Fullscreen Snip: Capture the entire screen.
• For recording a specific area, use the Rectangular Snip option. Click and drag your mouse to select the area you want to record.

4. After selecting the area, the snip will be copied to your clipboard. Open an image editor (like Paint or Photoshop) and paste the snip (Ctrl + V) to save it if needed. This step is optional and helps you confirm the area you want to record. After this, you can screen record a specific area on Windows 10.

5. Once you’ve recorded the desired clip, stop the recording using the screen recorder’s controls. Save the recording to your preferred location.