How to record your screen on Windows 11

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-record-your-screen-on-windows-11/ · Checked October 2026 · Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 (build 26200.9457), Microsoft Cloud PC

7 of 7 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device

Windows

Shown on

Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 (build 26200.9457), Microsoft Cloud PC

Real screenshots

7 of 7 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open Snipping Tool in record mode

   Open Start and type Snipping Tool. In its toolbar, click the video camera button next to the camera. The window then says Press Windows + Shift + R to start a recording.

   Done

2. 

   Click New

   Click New, or press Windows + Shift + R from anywhere. The screen darkens.

   Done

3. 

   Select the area

   Drag a box around the part you want. Here we selected the Notepad window; the dashed line shows the area. Drag from corner to corner of the screen to record everything.

   Done

4. 

   Click Start

   The bar at the top has Start, a timer, a microphone button and a button for system sound. Turn on the microphone first if you want to talk over the video.

   Done

5. 

   Pause or stop

   While recording, a red border marks the area and the bar shows pause, the red stop button, the time and a bin to throw the clip away. Click the red button when you are done.

   Done

6. 

   Find the recording

   The video opens in Snipping Tool to play back. Ours said: Screen recordings are automatically saved to your Screen Recordings folder. That folder is in Videos.

   Done

7. 

   Trim or save a copy

   Trim cuts the start or end. The disk button saves a copy somewhere else, and the share button sends it.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• There is no video camera (Record) button. Microsoft calls it the Record button. If Snipping Tool shows only the camera, update it in the Microsoft Store: older versions only take pictures. Source: Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots

If this does not work

• The recording is not in the Screen Recordings folder. Microsoft says snips are saved automatically and that you change the automatic save behaviour or the folder under See More, Settings. Check that setting, or use the disk button in step 7 to save a copy where you want it. Source: Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots
• The video has no sound. Turn on the microphone or the system sound button in the bar before you click Start (step 4). Microsoft says you can also add audio afterwards: choose Edit in Clipchamp and open the Audio tab. Source: Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots

About this guide

Windows 11 has a screen recorder built into Snipping Tool, so you do not need to install anything to show someone a problem or record a short how-to.

Good to know

If Windows + Shift + R does nothing, update Snipping Tool in the Microsoft Store. Older versions only take pictures.

For a still picture instead: how to take a screenshot on Windows 11.

Close anything private before you record, including notifications. Do not disturb stops them popping up.

In short: Windows + Shift + R, select the area, Start, Stop.