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How to record your screen on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android (free)

Free, built-in ways to record your screen on Windows 11, macOS, iPhone and Android, plus how to record from your browser with sound and no watermark.

Audio & video2 min readUpdated

Key takeaways

  • Every major operating system now includes a free screen recorder.
  • Windows 11: Snipping Tool records video; macOS: press Shift-Command-5; phones: use the screen recording control.
  • A browser-based recorder works on any desktop computer without installing anything.
  • Before recording, close private tabs and turn on Do Not Disturb so notifications are not captured.
On this page
  1. Windows 11
  2. Mac
  3. iPhone and iPad
  4. Android
  5. In your browser (any desktop computer)
  6. Tips for a clean recording

Windows 11

Open Snipping Tool, switch to the video camera icon (Record), select New, drag over the area to capture and select Start. Recent versions can include your microphone and system sound. The Xbox Game Bar (Windows key + G) can also record a single app window, but not the desktop or File Explorer.

Mac

Press Shift-Command-5 to open the screenshot toolbar, choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion, then select Record. Stop with the button in the menu bar. Use Options to choose a microphone. QuickTime Player's File › New Screen Recording does the same.

iPhone and iPad

Add Screen Recording to Control Centre (Settings › Control Centre), then open Control Centre and tap the record button. Long-press it to turn on the microphone. Recordings are saved to Photos.

Android

On Android 11 and later, swipe down twice from the top of the screen and tap Screen record in Quick Settings (you may need to edit the tiles to add it). Choose whether to record audio and show touches.

In your browser (any desktop computer)

The online screen recorder uses the browser's built-in screen capture in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Opera. Choose the whole screen, one window or a single tab; tab recordings can include the tab's sound, and you can add your microphone for narration. The video is created on your computer with no watermark and no upload. For audio only, use the voice recorder.

Tips for a clean recording

  • Turn on Do Not Disturb and close chats, email and private tabs: notifications and open tabs appear in recordings.
  • Record a single tab or window rather than the entire screen when you can.
  • Increase text size or zoom the browser so viewers can read the screen on a phone.
  • Use a headset microphone and a quiet room; keep recordings short and split long tutorials into parts.
  • Get permission before recording calls or meetings with other people, as the law requires in many countries, including the UAE.

Sources

  1. Microsoft Support: Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots and recordingssupport.microsoft.com
  2. Apple Support: Take a screenshot or screen recording on Macsupport.apple.com
  3. Apple Support: Record the screen on iPhonesupport.apple.com
  4. Android Help: Record your screensupport.google.com
Written by the Toolkeel team at Sole Digital Media

Fact-checked against the sources above. We test every tool we mention. Editorial policy.