How to Screen Record on Any Device

In this article, we’ll see how to screen record using different methods: an online free screen recorder, Windows and Mac desktop programs, browser extensions, and iOS/Android apps.

Best for: screen recording from a browser

Rating: 4.7/5 stars, 436 reviews

OS: online

1. Open the Screen Capture webpage in your browser.

2. Set the capture parameters.

3. Take a video of your screen.

Pros:

• Very easy to use

• No cost

• Compatible with any device

Cons:

• Audio quality is lacking on some recordings

• Some users encounter glitches

If you’re looking for the best way to screen capture on Windows, here are some programs to record a computer screen and instructions on how to do it.

Best for: recording gaming

Rating: unknown

OS: Windows

1. Open the program you want to videotape.

2. Press Win icon + G to bring up the Game Bar controller.

3. Set the screen recording parameters from Settings or on the control panel.

4. Start the recording with the Record button on the controller.

5. When you are finished recording, press the Stop button on the controller.

Pros:

• Convenient

• Flexible options on fps, audio bit rate, and video quality

• No download necessary

Cons:

• Will only capture one app, not the entire monitor

• 4-hour recording limit

Download Windows Game Bar

Best for: high-quality video

Rating: 4.5/5 stars, 49 reviews

OS: macOS, Windows

1. Download Movavi Screen Recorder.
2. Launch the screen recorder for a PC.
3. Click the Video Camera icon on the control panel.
4. Select the area of your monitor that you want to record.
5. Choose the audio input you want to use in the lower part of the control panel.
6. Click the red circle to start recording.
7. When you are finished recording, click the Stop button.

Pros:

• Multiple file formats available for recordings
• Easily edit recordings
• The streamlined control panel is not distracting

Cons:

• Some features unavailable on the free version

Here are some programs to record your screen on a Mac and instructions on registering your screen actions with them.

Best for: experienced Mac shortcut users

Rating: unknown

OS: macOS

1. Press Shift + Command + 5.

2. Choose the portion of your screen you want to capture.

3. Customize your settings on the recording menu.

4. Click the Record button.

5. When you are finished recording, hit the Stop button.

Pros:

• No download necessary

• Customized settings include time, microphone options, and saving location

Cons:

• You have to remember the shortcuts

• Only time settings are none, 5 or 10 seconds

Best for: beginner Mac users

Rating: unknown

OS: macOS, Windows

1. Open Finder, then Applications, and click on QuickTime.

2. Select File in the menu bar.

3. Click New Screen Recording.

4. Choose the portion of your screen you want to capture.

5. Customize your settings on the recording menu.

6. Click the Record button.

7. When you are finished recording, click the Stop button.

Pros:

• Recording and editing capabilities

• Automatically reconnects if the connection is lost

• Very user-friendly

Cons:

• Can interfere with other programs

• It does not support some common file types

• Sometimes crashes after OS X update

Download QuickTime

Here are some programs to screen record on a laptop or Chromebook with a browser extension and instructions for using them.

Best for: experienced video editors

Rating: 4.6/5 stars, 24 000 reviews, 2M users

Browser: Chrome, Safari, Firefox

1. Open Google Chrome.

2. Click Settings.

3. Go to Extensions.

4. Choose Get More Extensions.

5. Search for Awesome Screenshot & Screen Recorder.

6. Hit Add to Chrome.

7. Click Add App when it pops up.

8. Click the Lens icon that appears in the toolbar.

9. Select Record Screen.

10. Choose the portion of the screen you want to be recorded.

11. Hit Start Recording.

12. When you are finished recording, click the Stop button.

Pros:

• The recording function is easy to use

• Offers a free version

• Easy sharing

Cons:

• The recording feature does not capture anything on some webpages

• The video editing function is not user-friendly

• The free version only records 30 seconds at a time

Download Awesome Screenshot & Screen Recorder

Best for: beginner screen recorders

Rating: 4.3/5 stars, 1 200 reviews, 500 000 users

Browser: Chrome

1. Open Google Chrome.

2. Open the Settings menu.

3. Go to Extensions.

4. Choose Get More Extensions.

5. Search for Vidyard Screen Recorder.

6. Hit Add to Chrome.

7. Click Add App when it pops up.

8. Choose the Vidyard extension in the upper-right corner.

9. Select the recording type you want to use: Screen.

10. Click Start Recording.

11. When you are finished recording, hit the Stop button in the control panel.

Pros:

• Easy to use

• High-quality sound and video

• Automatically generates a link for sharing video

Cons:

• Videos take longer to load and play than on other programs

• Very few editing options

Add Vidyard

iOS has a built-in feature to record your iPhone or iPad screen. Here are instructions on how to register your screen using the built-in iOS feature.

Best for: iPhone users

Rating: unknown

OS: iOS

1. Open Settings.

2. Click Control Center.

3. Choose More Controls.

4. Click the Add button next to Screen Recording.

5. Open the Control Center.

6. Touch and hold the gray Record button.

7. Select Microphone.

8. Hit Start Recording.

9. Wait for the three-second countdown.

10. When you are finished recording, click the red status bar at the top of your screen.

11. Click Stop.

Pros:

• No download necessary

• User-friendly

• Free

Cons:

• Only available on iOS devices

• Limited editing capabilities

Here are two programs to record what is on your Android screen and instructions on how to use them.

Best for: Android users

Rating: unknown

OS: Android

1. Go to the device’s start screen.

2. Swipe down twice.

3. Click Edit.

4. Scroll down to the Screen Record icon.

5. Tap and hold the tile, then drag it to the top of the menu.

6. Screen Record will now show up in the quick toggle menu.

7. When you are ready to record, swipe down and tap the Screen Record icon.

8. Select the audio source.

9. Choose whether to show screen touches or not.

10. Click Start.

11. Wait for the three-second delay.

12. When you are finished recording, swipe down and click the recording notification.

Pros:

• Easy to use

• No cost

• No download necessary

• Options to record with or without audio

Cons:

• Only records as an MP4 file

Best for: editing screen recordings on Android

Rating: 4/5 stars, 3.2M reviews, 100M installs

OS: Android

1. Download the Mobizen app from the Google Play store.

2. Launch the app.

3. An AirCircle icon will appear on your screen.

4. Tap the AirCircle icon.

5. Click the Record symbol.

6. Wait for the 3-second countdown.

7. When you are finished recording, tap the AirCircle icon again.

8. Click the Stop symbol.

Pros:

• Free with no watermark

• Includes video editing

• Saves work in the app

• Recording videos in HD

Cons:

• Glitches sometimes occur when the recording function is paused

• Some users complain about the audio quality

• Includes ads

Download Mobizen

We hope this article has helped you choose a screen recorder. Sometimes it’s difficult to pick just one option among many others, so here are a few suggestions you should consider when looking for a screen recorder:

OS: the software of your choice must be compatible with the operating system you’re using.

Features: pay attention to the features the app provides. Many screen recorders offer basic editing options, but if you need something more, you should search for more advanced solutions.

Support: make sure to choose a program with accessible customer support. It will help you out in case of trouble.

Reviews: check out user reviews before trying out a product – other people may have shared their experiences or problems with the software.