Desktop Screen Recorders with Audio for Windows 10

Recording your screen with sound on Windows 10 takes two decisions: which recorder fits the job, and which audio sources it should capture. Windows 10 includes the Xbox Game Bar, which records a single app window with sound. For the full desktop, several windows, or separate control over system sound and microphone, a dedicated recorder such as the free, open-source OBS Studio is the usual choice. This guide covers both and explains how to confirm that your recording actually contains the audio you expect.

Before you start

Decide what you need to capture. If one application window is enough, the built-in Game Bar may do. It cannot record the Windows desktop itself or File Explorer, so for tutorials that move between windows, use a full desktop recorder.

Check where the recording is processed. Game Bar and OBS Studio record and save files locally on your PC. Browser-based or cloud recorders may upload your video to the vendor's servers. If your recording could show private documents, messages or customer data, read that product's privacy and storage terms before you rely on it, and do not assume a file is deleted or kept private unless the vendor states so.

• Confirm these prerequisites:
• The output device you want to record (speakers or headphones) is selected under Settings > System > Sound.
• The input device (your microphone) is selected on the same page, and its level meter moves when you speak.
• Microphone access is allowed under Settings > Privacy > Microphone, including the option for desktop apps.
• You have enough free disk space, because video files grow quickly during long sessions.
• Notifications and private windows you do not want captured are closed.

Step-by-step instructions

Option 1: Xbox Game Bar (one app window)

• Open the app you want to record and click inside it so it has focus.
• Press Windows + G to open Game Bar. If it does not open, check that it is turned on under Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar.
• In the Capture widget, start recording, or press Windows + Alt + R.
• To include your voice, turn on the microphone in the Capture widget or press Windows + Alt + M.
• Press Windows + Alt + R again to stop. By default, clips are saved to the Captures folder inside your Videos folder.

Audio options for captures, such as whether sound is recorded and the balance between microphone and system volume, are under Settings > Gaming > Captures. The exact options differ between Windows 10 versions, so check what your build offers before an important recording.

Option 2: OBS Studio (full desktop with separate audio control)

• Install OBS Studio from its official project site and open it. You can skip or cancel the auto-configuration wizard if you only plan to record.
• In the Sources panel, click the plus button and add Display Capture to record the whole screen, or Window Capture for a single window.
• Open Settings > Audio. Set Desktop Audio to the output device you listen through, and Mic/Auxiliary Audio to your microphone. Leave unused devices disabled to avoid capturing extra sound.
• In the same Audio settings, note the sample rate. Using the same rate as your Windows playback device, commonly 48 kHz, helps avoid audio drift.
• In Settings > Output, choose the recording path and recording format.
• Watch the Audio Mixer while you play a sound and speak. Adjust each fader so the input level stays mostly in the middle of the meter and does not reach the red area.
• Click Start Recording, perform your task, then click Stop Recording.

These steps only add sources and change settings, so they are reversible: remove a source or switch a device back at any time. If you record in MKV, which protects the file if OBS or the PC crashes, you can convert it afterwards with File > Remux Recordings to get an MP4 for editors and players that do not accept MKV.

Choosing a paid recorder instead

Commercial screen recorders often add built-in editing, annotations or easier sharing. When comparing them, check whether they record system audio and microphone on separate tracks, whether recording is fully local, which export formats they support, whether the free tier adds a watermark or time limit, and whether Windows 10 is still listed as supported. Confirm these points in the vendor's current documentation or a trial rather than relying on feature lists alone.

Check the output

Make a short test recording of 20 to 30 seconds before the real one. Play a video or system sound and speak during the test, then open the file in a media player and listen with headphones.

• Both sources are present: you hear system sound and your voice, not just one of them.
• Neither source is clipped or distorted, and your voice is not buried under system sound.
• Audio stays in sync with the picture from start to end; check the end of longer tests, where drift becomes noticeable.
• The captured area is correct and text is readable at the size you plan to share.
• The file opens in the editor or platform where you will use it.

Quality depends on your settings and hardware. Higher resolution and frame rate produce larger files and need more processing power, and some protected video playback may appear black or silent in recordings by design. If the test file is too large, lower the resolution or frame rate before changing audio settings.

Common problems and next steps

No system sound in the recording: the recorder is probably listening to a different output device than the one you hear. In OBS, set Desktop Audio to the device that is actually playing sound instead of a device you are not using. After plugging in headphones or a USB headset, recheck this setting, because Windows may switch the default device.

Microphone is silent: check the Windows microphone privacy settings described earlier, confirm the correct input device is selected in both Windows and the recorder, and make sure the microphone is not muted in the recorder's mixer or with Windows + Alt + M in Game Bar.

Echo or doubled sound: when you use speakers, the microphone picks up system audio a second time. Wear headphones, or lower the speaker volume and move the microphone away from them.

Poor quality with a Bluetooth headset: when a Bluetooth headset's microphone is in use, many headsets switch to a hands-free mode with noticeably lower playback quality. For better results, use a wired or USB microphone and keep the Bluetooth headset for listening only.

Background noise or hum: move away from fans and other noise sources and lower microphone gain if the meter is constantly high. OBS also lets you add a Noise Suppression filter to the microphone source; test it, because strong settings can make speech sound unnatural.

Black screen in OBS Display Capture: this is common on laptops with two graphics processors. Try Window Capture instead, or assign OBS to the graphics processor that drives the display in Windows graphics settings, then restart OBS.

Game Bar will not record the desktop: this is a limitation of Game Bar, not a fault. Switch to a full desktop recorder such as OBS Studio for that task.