How to Screen Record on Any Device in 2026

Need to capture a tutorial, bug report, class demo, or game clip? Your phone, computer, tablet, or console already has a screen recorder in the places you use most. Start with the built-in option for your device, then move to OBS only when you need a more advanced desktop setup.

1. Start on iPhone or iPad

Apple puts screen recording inside Control Center, so the whole thing takes a few taps.

1. 1.Open Control Center.
2. 2.Tap the gray Record button.
3. 3.Wait for the 3-second countdown.
4. 4.Exit Control Center.
5. 5.To stop, tap the Screen Recording button or the red circle, then tap Stop.

If the button is missing, open Control Center, touch and hold the background, tap Add a Control, then choose Screen Recording.

On iPad, add microphone audio before you start: open Control Center, touch and hold Screen Recording, tap Microphone, then tap Start Recording. Apple also has a separate iPad capture mode for videoconferencing apps: open the app, open Control Center, touch and hold Local Capture, then tap Start Recording. Local Capture saves to Files > Downloads unless you change it in Settings > General > Local Capture > Save Location.

Certain apps block recording, and screen recording does not work at the same time as screen mirroring.

2. Capture your Android screen

On Android, the recorder lives in Quick Settings.

1. 1.Swipe down twice from the top of the screen.
2. 2.Tap Screen record.
3. 3.Choose what to record.
4. 4.Select audio and touch-display options before starting.
5. 5.Tap Start.

If Screen record is missing, tap Edit, then drag Screen record into Quick Settings.

Pixel phones and Pixel Tablet add one more choice before recording starts: tap Screen record, then choose whether to capture Audio, a Single app, or the Entire screen. Samsung Galaxy devices use Quick settings > Screen recorder > Sound settings > Start recording. During a Samsung recording, the available controls include Front camera, Pencil, and Stop on supported models.

3. Record a Windows screen

Use Snipping Tool first on Windows 11 when you want a quick video snip.

1. 1.Open Snipping Tool.
2. 2.Click the Record button.
3. 3.Click New, or press Windows + Shift + R.
4. 4.Select the area to record.
5. 5.Click Start.
6. 6.Click Stop.
7. 7.Save the recording, or choose Edit in Clipchamp.

For games and apps, use Xbox Game Bar. Go to the game or app, press Windows + Alt + R to start, then press Windows + Alt + R again to stop. Toggle the mic with Windows + Alt + M, open controls with Windows + G, and find recordings in Videos > Captures.

Do not use Steps Recorder or psr.exe for current screen recording. Microsoft marks Steps Recorder as deprecated and points users to Snipping Tool, Xbox Game Bar, or Clipchamp.

4. Grab a Mac recording

The fastest Mac shortcut is built into the Screenshot app.

1. 1.Press Shift + Command + 5.
2. 2.Choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion. On macOS Tahoe 26 or later, you can also choose Record Selected Window.
3. 3.Open Options and set your recording choices.
4. 4.Click Record.
5. 5.Stop with the Stop button in the menu bar, or press Command + Control + Esc.

QuickTime uses the same modern recording surface. Open QuickTime Player, choose File > New Screen Recording, or press Control + Command + N, then use the Screenshot controls.

When a third-party recorder needs permission, open Apple menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording, then turn recording access on for the app. To add one manually, click the Add button below the list and choose the app.

5. Make a Chromebook recording

1. 1.Press Shift + Ctrl + Show windows.
2. 2.Select Screen record.
3. 3.Choose Record the full screen, Record a partial screen, or Record a window.
4. 4.Open Settings.
5. 5.Choose options such as Front Camera, Device audio, Microphone, Device audio and microphone, or Show clicks and keys.
6. 6.Click to start recording.

Recordings save to Downloads. Change that location from Settings > Select folder. The same recorder is also in the shelf menu: select the time at the bottom of the screen, choose Screen capture, then choose Screen record.

Skip old ChromeOS flag instructions. The supported consumer path is Shift + Ctrl + Show windows or Screen capture from the system tray.

6. Build recordings in PowerPoint or Clipchamp

PowerPoint for Windows works well when the clip belongs inside a presentation.

1. 1.Open the slide.
2. 2.Choose Insert > Screen Recording.
3. 3.Click Select Area, or press Windows + Shift + E.
4. 4.For the entire screen, press Windows + Shift + B.
5. 5.Turn off Audio or Record Pointer when needed.
6. 6.Select Record.
7. 7.Use Pause or Stop as needed.
8. 8.To export the clip, right-click the video frame and choose Save Media as.

Clipchamp is the better fit when you want to record and edit in one place. Open Clipchamp, go to record & create, choose screen or screen & camera, allow camera and microphone access, choose the microphone source, click the red Record button, then pick a Browser tab, Window, or Entire screen. For browser-tab recording, use the audio-sharing toggle before selecting Share. When finished, choose Stop sharing, then save and edit or Export.

PowerPoint also records presentations as MP4 videos with slides, narration, ink gestures, and camera presence. That records the presentation experience, not arbitrary full-device activity.

7. Save gameplay on consoles and Steam

Game capture tools record gameplay clips. They are not full-system screen recorders.

• PS5 Press the create button, then choose Save Recent Gameplay or Start New Recording. Change capture options in Settings > Captures and Broadcasts > Captures.
• Xbox Series X|S Press and hold the Share button to record a game clip. You can also press the Xbox button, open Capture & share, then choose Start recording. Capture permission lives in Profile & system > Settings > Preferences > Capture & share > Allow game captures.
• Nintendo Switch 2 Press and hold the Capture Button on Joy-Con 2 (L) to capture up to 30 seconds before the press. View clips from HOME Menu > Album. Some software and scenes prohibit capture.
• Steam Open Steam > Settings > Game Recording, or open the in-game Overlay and choose the Game Recording tab, then use Steam Game Recording to record, rewind, bookmark, clip, save, and share gameplay.

8. Switch to OBS for advanced desktop recording

OBS Studio is the cross-platform choice for advanced desktop recording on Windows 10 and 11, macOS 12.0 and later, and Linux.

1. 1.Download OBS Studio from the official OBS download page for Windows, Mac, or Linux.
2. 2.Open OBS.
3. 3.Run Tools > Auto-Configuration Wizard.
4. 4.In the Sources dock, click +.
5. 5.Choose Display Capture or Window Capture on Windows or Linux.
6. 6.Choose macOS Screen Capture on Mac.
7. 7.Choose Game Capture on Windows for game recording.
8. 8.Adjust audio in Settings.
9. 9.Click Start Recording in Controls.

Ubuntu’s GNOME desktop also includes a screencast tool. Press Print, switch to screencast mode, choose the pointer option if you want it shown, select Selection or Screen, then click the big round red button. Stop from the red indicator in the top bar, and find recordings in Videos > Screencasts. The shortcut Shift + Ctrl + Alt + R starts a screencast.

9. Fix blocked screen recording

Some blocks are built into the app, device, or account. Apple says certain apps block recording, Nintendo blocks capture in some software and scenes, and managed work or school devices can disable screen capture through Apple device management, Android Enterprise, Windows policy, ChromeOS policy, Chrome policy, or Microsoft Edge policy.

When a managed device blocks recording, use the admin route instead of another shortcut. Ask the device or account administrator whether screen capture is allowed for your device or profile.

Apple Vision Pro uses a separate capture tool. Open Control Center, choose Record My View, and choose Record My View again to stop. The recording saves to Photos, and password or passcode entry is obscured.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way to screen record on most devices?

Use the built-in recorder first: Control Center on iPhone and iPad, Quick Settings on Android, Snipping Tool on Windows 11, Shift + Command + 5 on Mac, and Shift + Ctrl + Show windows on Chromebook.

Can I record microphone audio with a screen recording?

Yes. iPad adds microphone audio from the Screen Recording control, Android offers audio options before starting, Chromebook supports device audio, microphone, or both, and Xbox Game Bar toggles the mic with Windows + Alt + M.

Where do screen recordings save?

Xbox Game Bar saves clips in Videos > Captures. Chromebook saves to Downloads unless you choose another folder. Ubuntu GNOME saves to Videos > Screencasts. Apple Vision Pro saves Record My View videos to Photos.

Why is my screen recording black or blocked?

The app, software scene, browser context, or device administrator is blocking capture. Use the approved built-in recorder for normal screens, and contact the administrator for managed work or school devices.