How to Record PC Screen Video and Audio on Windows & Mac (Updated Guide)
Last Updated on October 27, 2025 by John Paul
Want to record PC screen video and audio to make tutorials, presentations, or save online content? Whether you’re using Windows or Mac, there are built-in ways to capture what’s happening on your screen along with your voice. Plus, if you want more flexibility—like recording your webcam at the same time—we’ll show you how to use your computer’s built-in screen recorder that can capture audio and video, including the better alternative you can go for if default tools don’t work for you. Let’s dive in!
Part 1: How to Record Screen Video and Audio on Windows Using Xbox Game Bar
Windows 11 and 10 computers come with a built-in screen recorder audio video tool called Xbox Game Bar, originally designed for gamers, but it works great for recording most third-party apps.
1. Open Xbox Game Bar. Just press Win + G on your keyboard to launch the tool.
2. To enable audio before recording, click on the Capture widget. There, toggle on the microphone icon. System sounds (like app audio) are recorded automatically.
Note: Xbox Game Bar currently doesn’t support webcam overlay while recording.
3. When you’re ready, click the Record button (the icon with the dot) or press Win + Alt + R. A small recording bar should appear at the corner. To stop, just hit the Stop button on the overlay or use the keyboard shortcut again.
You can find the screen video recording with audio in This PC > Videos > Captures. Just open File Explorer or type in “Captures” in the Search Bar on the Start Menu.
Part 2: How to Record Screen Video and Audio on Mac with QuickTime Player
If you’re on a Mac (at least macOS X 10.6.8), you can use QuickTime Player as a screen video audio recorder without installing anything. However, the said player has enabled screen recordings via the Screenshot app on macOS Mojave 10.14 and later.
1. Launch QuickTime Player. You can use Spotlight ( or the shortcut: Cmd + Space) and type in “QuickTime Player.” Once the app is open, just click File and hit New Screen Recording. A small toolbar should appear at the bottom of the screen.
2. If you need to enable the Microphone and Webcam, click the Options button. There, select your microphone for audio input. To include a webcam feed, open QuickTime again and go to File > New Movie Recording. Then, place your webcam window overlay on the screen you want to capture.
3. After that, you can start recording. Hit the Record button. You can choose: the entire screen or a selected portion. When done, click Stop in the menu bar.
By default, the video recording automatically opens after the session. From there, you can choose where to save it by clicking File > Save > folder of your choice. Typically, you get to save it in the Desktop or Movies folder.
Part 3: Screen Recording Limitations of Xbox Game Bar (Windows) & QuickTime (Mac)
While these built-in tools are handy, they come with some serious limitations that you might need to consider before using them:
Xbox Game Bar
- No webcam support during screen recording
- Limited recording options (can’t select specific windows, can’t record File Explorer/desktop)
- Basic editing tools only
QuickTime Player
- Can’t capture system audio natively (only mic) unless you install extra plugins, which can be quite a hassle
- Clunky if you want to record webcam and screen together, because you will need to reopen QuickTime
- Limited output formats and no real-time annotations and post-recording editing features
If you want more control—like recording your webcam, system sound, microphone, and screen simultaneously— you’ll need something more powerful, like WidsMob Capture.
Best Alternative: Record Screen Video with Audio Using Widsmob Capture
WidsMob Capture is a reliable, powerful, all-in-one screen recorder audio video tool for both Windows and Mac. It goes beyond the limitations of Xbox Game Bar as it can record any screen and window, and QuickTime as it can record webcam easily with wider format support. With that, Widsmob Capture becomes a more perfect tool for tutorials, streaming, meetings, and content creation than the built-in ones on your computer.
Yes! Widsmob is packed with various incredibly useful quality-of-life features as it can effortlessly:
- Record screen, system audio, microphone, and webcam at the same time
- Add real-time annotations (arrows, text, highlights) while recording
- Choose full screen, specific windows, or custom areas
- Capture internal system audio on Mac without extra plugins
- Export in multiple formats (MP4, MOV, WMV, etc.)
- Built-in trimmer and basic editor to clean up videos instantly
That’s just a glimpse of the wonders Widsmob Capture can do. If you want to try it, here are the steps to follow:
1. Download and install the program on your computer. You can get it by clicking the button that corresponds to your computer’s OS below:
2. Once installed, launch the Widsmob Capture and choose your Recording Mode. Hit Video Recorder (video/audio). Then, enable Webcam, Microphone, and System Sound. You may also select your capture area: Full Screen, Select a window, or Custom.
3. When ready, hit the REC button to start recording the screen. You can use the floating toolbar to add annotations and customize your recording experience.
4. Finally, hit the Stop button when you’re done. Then, you can preview and save/export the file as you like. You may also edit the video before exporting it.
Conclusion
Both Windows and Mac give you free, built-in ways to record computer screen video and audio. Xbox Game Bar and QuickTime are good for quick recordings, but they have clear limitations when it comes to webcam integration, system audio capture, and editing, which can be a dealbreaker in certain situations. In that case, a more flexible and capable solution can be found in Widsmob Capture.
FAQs
On Windows, you can use the Xbox Game Bar with your mic turned on. On Mac, you can use QuickTime with microphone input enabled. For full control (including system sound), using third-party screen recorders like WidsMob Capture gives you more versatility.
The Xbox Game Bar on Windows doesn’t support webcam recording yet. However, QuickTime Player on Mac does, but it’s a bit complicated for starters, as it involves reopening the app and setting the webcam feed manually. Fortunately, there are other screen recorders like Widsmob Capture that can record the screen and webcam at the same time, including customizable layouts.