Free Video Screen Recorders to Capture Video Clips for PC

It is very simple to take a screenshot in Windows using the Print Screen key, but capturing screen video is more challenging.

Microsoft has made it easier through a built-in video screen recorder called Game Bar. It is designed to record games either installed on your PC or streamed from an Xbox console, but it also can be used to record non-gaming applications, browsers, or windows.

As a screen video recorder for PC, Game Bar has a lot of limitations (we will explain this later). To get around these limitations, there is 3 other screen video recorder free software that can help you capture video of your screen activities easily.

Best Video Screen Recorders:

1. iTop Screen Recorder
2. Game Bar
3. OBS Studio
4. Camtasia

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Part 1: iTop Screen Recorder - Capture Videos of Your Screen Activity Easily

iTop Screen Recorder is one of the best recording tools that can capture any area of a computer screen into a video. It allows users to record high-quality video clips with facecam and audio. No matter whether you need to record a video tutorial, online training course, web conference, or gameplay, iTop Screen Recorder can meet your needs as a professional and all-featured video screen recorder.

Features:

• 100% free. iTop screen video recorder is completely free to use for capturing video of your screen activity with unlimited recordings. No commitment. No sign-up.
• Gaming Mode. This screen video recorder employs advanced GPU rendering & encoding technology, allowing you to record games in 4K Ultra HD videos for various 2D/3D games with no lag. This professional game recording mode helps make game videos at up to 60 FPS without frame dropping.
• Screenshot while recording. iTop video screen recorder allows you to take screenshots while recording the screen activity with hotkeys. It is very convenient as you don't have to exit the recording for capturing a picture.
• Video editing. What makes this video screen recorder for PC stand out of its kind is that iTop Screen Recorder is also a simple video editor. It comes with basic video editing tools to cut, trim, split, or add annotations to the captured video clips.
• Recording schedule. iTop video screen recorder enables you to automatically start and end recording at a scheduled time, which makes it as easy as possible for recording online meetings, webinars, or lectures, especially when you are absent.
• Online screen recorder. It is also a free online screen video recorder that supports recording video clips on Chrome, Firefox, and Opera without app installation and login.

How to Use the Video Screen Recorder to Capture Video Clips:

Follow the tutorial below to record a video on Windows:

Step 1: Download and open iTop video screen recorder for PC.

Step 2: Set up recording mode and preferences quickly.

Step 3: Click the "REC" button to start recording what's happening on your screen.

Step 4: Stop recording and find the recorded video in "My Creations" folder to edit it if needed.

How to Use the Online Video Screen Recorder:

If you want to install any app and are looking for a video screen recorder free tool for one time, an online video screen recorder is exactly what you need.

Step 1: Click the Start Recording Now button on the webpage.

Step 2: Set up an audio source if you want to record your screen actions with audio.

Step 3: Select a recording mode from the Full-screen recorder, software window recorder, or browser tab recorder.

Step 4: Click the "Recording " button to start recording immediately.

Step 5: Click the "Stop" button to stop recording and the recording will be saved to your computer in WebM format automatically.

If you prefer to capture video clips of your screen activity with a native tool, Xbox Game Bar can help you.

You may like: The Tested Ways about How to Record Zoom Meeting without Permission

Part 2: Game Bar - Windows Built-in Recording Tool

Like screen video recorder iPhone software and screen video recorder Android software, Windows has a built-in screen recorder as well called Xbox Game Bar. It is a customizable gaming overlay in Windows 8,10 and 11. In the Xbox Game Bar, you can add different widgets for easier control and added functions while gaming such as music apps, social features, and screen capture.

For people who don't want to record gameplay but to make a video of screen activity, Game Bar is also an ideal option.

How to record screen on Windows:

Game Bar is an easy-to-use video screen recorder free tool. Follow the steps below to record the screen on Windows 10:

Step 1: Go to Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar and turn on the switch to enable Xbox Game Bar.

Step 2: Open the app or page on the browser you want to record.

Step 3: Press Windows (Win) and G keys together to open the Game Bar.

Step 4: Hit the Start Recording button to capture your screen actions after the Game Bar widgets pop up. Or you can press Win + Alt + R to immediately start your recording.

Step 5: To stop recording, click the Recording button on the floating bar and a window will pop up showing your recorded clip.

Game Bar, as a screen video recorder Windows 10, has a few drawbacks that can't be ignored. First, it can't record the full screen of your desktop, File Explorer or certain Windows apps but record one active window. then, you might have a noticeable impact on the performance of your game or app while enabling Game Bar. At last, Game Bar sets up high hardware requirements for recording clips. That's to say, it may not work on lower-end Windows computers.

Find 2 more video screen recorder PC software alternatives to shooting videos of your screen.

Part 3: OBS Studio - Free Video Screen Recorder Alternative

OBS Studio is a top screen video recorder for PC, Mac, and Linux. It is open-source software for video recording and live streaming. It works with multiple sources and allows you to create scenes with images, texts, window captures, browser windows, webcam, and more.

Features:

• 100% free. OBS Studio is video screen recorder free software. You can use it to record videos on your screen without any commitment.
• Multiple scenes setup. The recorder allows users to set up multiple scenes and use various sources for recording, editing, and streaming.
• High performance. This video screen recording software can capture high-quality and real-time video and audio and make it into video with zero lag.
• Audio mixer. It is equipped with an expert-level audio mixer with per-source filters such as noise gate and noise suppression,
• Optimized for games. OBS Studio can capture fast-paced scenes while you are playing games and stream your gameplay as this video screen recorder supports most popular streaming platforms.
• Video editing. The video casting software by OBS Studio has many advanced video editing options that can add a professional polish to your recorded clips.

How to use OSB Studio to record your screen activity on Windows 10:

Note: This is a simplified tutorial. You will find the interface of OBS Studio is clunky and overwhelming. The following steps will focus on the most important sections to configure, helping you have a quick start.

Step 1: Download and install OBS Studio on your computer.

Step 2: Launch the software and you will see a window displaying your desktop or whatever screen you selected by default. At the same time, you will receive an Auto-configuration Wizard asking you if you want the software to set up recording configurations for you automatically. Click Yes.

Step 3: Then a series of windows will come up and you just follow the wizard to set up what you would like to record your screen including the recording mode, resolution, and FPS. Then click "Apply settings".

Step 4: Find the "Source" section, right-click on it, select "Display Capture" and click OK.

Step 5: Click "Start Recording" in the Control section to begin.

Step 6: Bring back OBS Studio and click "Stop Recording" to finish.

OBS Studio is not an ideal choice for quick screen recording as the learning curve of OBS Studio for new users is very steep. So, you might want to get used to how things work by recording a few test videos. In addition, software crashes are frequent. If you need a video screen recorder for a quick video shooting, find Camtasia in the next section.

Part 4: Camtasia - Paid Video Screen Recorder Alternative

Camtasia is another professional video screen recorder for PC and Mac. It helps users to record video clips and create video tutorials, video lessons, and meeting recordings easily with its video template and editing tools. It has a free trial option and the premium editions start at $299.99 with a lifetime license for an individual user.

Features:

• Record anything. This video screen recording software allows you to capture any activities and windows on your computer - presentations, video calls, gameplay, websites, etc.
• Audio recording. Camtasia video screen recorder can record and edit your audio clips while recording your desktop, application, browser, or game.
• Web camera capture. Camtasia can enable a webcam and allows you to record picture-in-picture videos, which records your desktop and your webcam at the same time.
• Video templates. If you need to create videos of your screen activity and share them, this screen video recorder can help you make a professional-looking video with dozens of video templates. It gives you a quick and easy start.
• Video editing. Camtasia comes with a wide variety of video editing features and pre-built assets in the Camtasia library including royalty-free icons, music, and pre-made animations. It also allows you to import media from your computer, mobile device, or cloud into your recordings for editing.

How to use Camtasia video screen recorder, follow the recording process below (for PC):

Step 1: Download the Camtasia screen video recorder free trial on your Windows device.

Step 2: Open the application and click the Record button at the top of the tools panel.

Step 3: Customize recording settings including Recording Area and Recorded inputs. By default, the recorder will capture the full screen and the camera, system audio, and Microphone are off.

Step 4: Click the rec button to begin.

Step 5: Click the Camtasia recorder icon in the taskbar and click the Stop button or press the F10 key to stop a recording. Then you can drag and drop the recorded clip to trim and edit in Camtasia.

In The End

There is no denying that videos have become the trend on most streaming platforms and social media. As a result, the need for screencasting software that can record a computer screen's output is increasing.

Windows has a built-in screen video recorder called Game Bar that can help you capture your gameplay, an app, or a browser window quickly and easily. However, this free utility has several limited functionalities. iTop Screen Recorder, as the best free video screen recorder for PC alternatives, supports recording videos on your computer with unlimited recordings.

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