Desktop Screen Recording Keyboard Shortcuts

Most desktop operating systems include a screen recorder you can start from the keyboard. The exact key combination depends on your system and its version. This guide lists the built-in shortcuts, explains what each one actually captures, and shows how to confirm the recording worked.

Before you start

• Know your operating system and version. Shortcuts and recording features have changed between releases, especially on Windows 11 and GNOME-based Linux desktops.
• The built-in recorders described here run locally and save files to your computer. Third-party recorders may upload or sync recordings, so check each tool's own documentation for where files go.
• If you want to record your voice, connect and select the microphone first. On macOS, third-party recording apps also need screen recording permission in System Settings.
• Close or hide anything private. Notifications, open tabs and messages that appear on screen will be recorded.

Step-by-step instructions

Windows 10 and 11: Xbox Game Bar

• Open the app or game window you want to record and click inside it so it has focus.
• Press Windows + Alt + R to start recording. A small capture timer appears.
• Press Windows + Alt + M to turn the microphone on or off during the recording.
• Press Windows + Alt + R again to stop.
• Press Windows + G to open the full Game Bar overlay if you prefer on-screen controls or want to change capture settings.

Game Bar records a single app window, not the whole desktop. It does not record the desktop itself or File Explorer. If the record button is unavailable, Game Bar may be turned off in Windows Settings under the Gaming section.

Windows 11: Snipping Tool

Recent versions of the Snipping Tool on Windows 11 can record a selected area of the screen, including the desktop. Open the Snipping Tool, switch to the video recording mode, select the area and start recording. Newer builds also accept Windows + Shift + R to begin a screen recording directly. If that shortcut does nothing, update the Snipping Tool from the Microsoft Store or start recording from the app window instead.

macOS: Screenshot toolbar

• Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the Screenshot toolbar.
• Choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion.
• Open Options in the toolbar to pick a microphone, a save location and a timer.
• Click Record to start.
• To stop, click the stop button in the menu bar or press Command + Control + Esc.

The built-in macOS recorder captures microphone audio but has historically not captured system sound. Confirm on your macOS version before relying on it for audio from apps or calls.

Linux: GNOME and KDE

On GNOME, Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R starts and stops a quick screencast on many versions. Newer GNOME releases also include a screenshot interface opened with Print Screen, which has a toggle for screen recording. Older versions limited the quick screencast to a short default length. On KDE Plasma, the Spectacle app handles screen recording in recent versions; its shortcuts can be viewed and changed in the system keyboard shortcut settings.

ChromeOS

Press Ctrl + Shift + Show windows to open the screen capture toolbar, switch to video mode, choose full screen, a window or a partial area, and start recording. Stop it from the button on the shelf.

Third-party recorders

Apps such as OBS Studio often have no recording hotkeys set by default. Assign start and stop keys in the app's hotkey settings, and choose a combination that is not already used by your system or by the app you are recording. You can remove or change these assignments at any time.

Check the output

• Find the file. Game Bar typically saves to the Captures folder inside Videos, macOS saves to the location chosen in Options, and GNOME commonly uses a Screencasts folder inside Videos. Confirm the location on your own system.
• Play the whole recording, not just the first seconds, to make sure it did not stop early.
• Listen for microphone and system audio separately. A missing track usually means a setting, not a broken file.
• Check that text is readable at full size. Recording a large or high-resolution screen can produce big files, and some recorders capture at a lower frame rate than the display.
• Note the format before sharing. Built-in recorders produce different formats, such as MP4 on Windows, MOV on macOS and WebM on GNOME, and not every editor or upload form accepts all of them.
• If the save folder is synced to a cloud service, the recording may upload automatically. Check your sync settings if the content is sensitive.

Common problems and next steps

• The desktop screen recorder shortcut does nothing: make sure the window you want to capture is focused, and check whether another app has taken the same key combination.
• Game Bar says recording is unavailable: you are probably on the desktop or in File Explorer. Use the Snipping Tool or a third-party recorder for full-screen desktop capture.
• No voice in the recording: select the correct microphone in the recorder and check that the operating system allows microphone access for that app.
• No app or call sound on macOS: the built-in recorder may not capture system audio. Use a recorder that explicitly supports it.
• Black screen in the recording: some protected video content and certain hardware-accelerated apps cannot be captured. Try windowed mode or test with a different window.
• You want different keys: Windows Game Bar, Linux desktop environments and most third-party recorders let you change shortcuts, so pick one that is easy to reach and does not conflict with your other tools.