Print Screen has its own dedicated keyboard button on most Windows computers, but what about when a still image doesn’t cut it? After all, it would be really hard to make a tutorial, stream a game, or film a lesson if you couldn’t capture a screen recording.
Using an external camera is clunky and difficult, so instead, we have compiled a list of built-in methods and available third-party software that will do the trick instead. It may not be as simple as pressing “prt sc”, but these tools are more than capable of doing the job.
Are you on a Mac? Also read: How to Record Screen on Mac
Quick Summary
Snagit screen capture for Windows 10 is the best screencasting software where you can capture anything on the screen that can be full desktop or customized part of the screen. The best way to capture anything on the desktop instantly and share it on social media site like Facebook, twitter and more. It also does scrolling screen capture. Screen Recorder Windows 10 free download - Screen Recorder, BSR Screen Recorder, Bandicam Screen Recorder, and many more programs. Apowersoft Free Screen Recorder Screen Video Recorder.
Method 1: Windows Built-In Screen Recorder (through the XBOX app)
Windows 10 has a built-in screen recorder you can use without installing anything extra. However, it’s only available if you have a graphics card with Intel Quick Sync H.260 (2011 models or later), Nvidia NVENC (2012 models or later), or AMD VCE (2012 models or later except Oland), so if you’re having trouble, make sure your computer is up to spec.
For those who do have the proper hardware, here’s how to do it. Now, this feature is meant for gamers, but it can be used with any screen material.
First, press the WINDOWS and G keys. Then, in the pop up choose “Yes, this is a game”.
From there, recording is simple. You can use the red button on the bar to start and stop a recording, or use the settings menu to set an automatic cut off time for your recording.
Once you’re done, the file will be saved as an MP4 in your VideosCaptures folder. For more information on using the Game Bar for screen recording, you can check out this youtube video:
Method 2: Using Microsoft Powerpoint
Happen to have Office PowerPoint on your computer? Then you can use the program to create screencasts, not just presentations.
Normally, this will embed the screen recording on a slide, but you can also choose to save it as a file. Here’s how to do it.
First, open Microsoft PowerPoint. Then choose the Insert tab and ScreenRecording.
Next, choose which part of your screen you want to record with the SelectArea tool. If you’re using Office 2016 or later, you can also use the hotkey WINDOWS + SHIFT + A. Click and drag the cross hairs to select your recording area. If you do not want to record audio, press WINDOWS + SHIFT + U to toggle it.
Once you’re ready, press the Record button.
The small control panel will disappear unless pinned, but you can make it reappear by moving your mouse to the top edge of the screen.
After you’re done, press the Record button again. The video will be automatically embedded in your slide, and you can choose FILE > SAVEAS to save your presentation. If you only want to save the video, choose FILE > SAVEMEDIAAS and then choose the destination folder and video name.
Note: If you are using PowerPoint 2013, you’ll need to follow some special instructions for recording and saving your video. You can find the official tutorial here.
Method 3: OBS Studio
If you’re not a fan of PowerPoint or want a dedicated tool for regular screen recording, OBS Studio is a great video recording software. It’s open source, doesn’t watermark or place time limits on your content, and offers many powerful editing features as well. It also supports live streaming at 60FPS and is a popular choice for this as well.
Before you get started, you’ll need to download OBS Studio from their website here. Since this is a very full-featured program, you’re going to want to run through some basic setup and settings before you get started.
This means you should check out all the settings such as enable/disable automatic recording, streaming setup, bitrate, audio sampling rate, hotkeys, and file naming format among others. What you choose for these will depend on where you plan to show your videos and the capabilities of your computer.
Alternatively, OBS studio does offer an auto-setup wizard that can choose some things for you.
After all the setup, you can get started with a basic screen capture. First, put OBS in “Studio Mode” so that the left side says ‘preview’ and the right side says ‘live’.
To set up a screen capture, choose Sources > + > WindowCapture > CreateNew. In the drop down list that appears, choose the window you want to record.
This should place your window in the ‘preview’ panel. If it looks the way you want it to, click transition in the center of the screen. If it doesn’t, drag the red corners until the preview is adjusted to the size you would like.
Then, click Start Recording and StopRecording to create your video. By default, these are saved as flv files in the user/videos folder, but you can alter this path and save type in the settings.
OBS Studio is a very powerful software, and perhaps one of the best free programs for creating screen recordings or streaming. Its features extend far beyond the simple setup shown here. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a lot of tutorial materials so you’re going to need to find most of your resources from the online community. Streamers may find that a good place to start is this tutorial from Youtube.
Method 4: FlashBack Express / FlashBack Pro
If you’re looking for a dedicated software that can do both the recording and the editing, FlashBack might be a good choice. You can use their free version just for doing basic captures, but the paid option will allow you to make use of editing tools, save in a variety of formats, and add special content to your videos. It’s also one of the best screen recording software we’ve reviewed.
Here’s how to get started with FlashBack. First, download FlashBack from their site (choose “Express” if you want to start for free).
This will download an exe file. If this makes you uncomfortable, consider a different software. Next, click through the installation process.
When you reach this startup screen, choose “Record Your Screen”.
You’ll then have the option to change some settings for your recording, such as the audio source and capture size.
You can also decide whether to capture a window, a region, or the entire screen. If you select region, you’ll see some red cross hairs that you can drag to create a selection.
Then, press “Record” and do everything you need to. While recording, you should see a small bar on the bottom with “pause” and “stop” buttons. This bar can be hidden or shown at will.
Once you’re done, you’ll be asked to either review, discard, or save your recording. In Express, you will see a limited editor that will allow you to trim and crop the video as needed. Pro users will have a more full-featured video editor.
When you’re done editing, you can use the “Save” feature to save your video in a program-specific format. Or, you can use the export feature to save it as a normal file.
There are quite a few options, such as WMV, AVI, and MPEG4. Additionally, you can choose to export directly to YouTube instead by going to File > Share.
FlashBack Express is a simple solution with a lot of potential for screen recording and editing. It’s very easy to get started, and if you want to get more out of it you can buy a pro license just once (there’s no monthly subscription).
Method 5: APowerSoft Online Screen Recorder
If you prefer a web-based solution, APowerSoft offers an online recorder. The name though, appears to be a bit misleading – when attempting to try the software, we found that it does ask you to download a small package. However, the functionality comes completely from the website.
To use this tool, you’ll need to go the APowerSoft Screen Recorder website. Then, just click the “Start Recording” button in the middle of the screen.
Agree to any prompts that appear, such as “Open APowerSoft Online Launcher”. If you choose not to create an account, you’ll also see the following warning before you get started:
Creating an account is simple enough if you want to remove the watermark, but you can get started without one. Just click the “x” in the top right and you’ll see a new recording window appear. From here, you can resize your capture zone, move it around, or adjust special settings such as hide/show the toolbar, hotkeys, and etc.
To start and stop recording, just press the red button. When you’re done, you’ll be shown your video clip.
You can use the save icon to save your screencast as a video file or as a GIF, or use the share icon to upload it to YouTube, Vimeo, Drive, or Dropbox.
APowerSoft is a very lightweight program. It does give you some flexibility – for example, you can capture audio from the system, microphone, both or neither – but it is limited as far as editing capabilities unless you buy the paid version. You’d need to use a separate program on your computer if you plan to do any kind of edits. On the other hand, the tool is very quick to use and could be great in a pinch or if you don’t need to make any fancy changes before sharing them.
Alternative Methods
YouTube Live Streaming
If you have a YouTube channel, you can take advantage of the YouTube Creator Studio to film a screen recording. This requires using the live stream feature, so it’s not a great fit for everyone, but it could work out in some cases. To get started with using YouTube for screencasting, check out this tutorial.
Filmora Scrn
Filmora Scrn is a dedicated screen recording software made by Wondershare. It offers dual camera recording (screen and webcam), plenty of export options, and editing tools. Some people prefer it because the interface is a lot cleaner than some competing applications, but as this isn’t a free software, it’s not quite as accessible as some of the other methods listed here. However, if you’re interested in an easy-to-use and specialized screen recording software, you can check out Filmora here. We’ve also reviewed Filmora with more details.
Camtasia
Unlike many of the more specialized programs, Camtasia is a full-featured video editor first and a screen recording software second. It offers the most editing and production capabilities, which makes it a great choice if you want to do more than just record your screen or plan to produce several kinds of videos. The interface is very clean and easy to use. You can check out our full review of Camtasia here.
Snagit
Snagit is a program made by TechSmith, the same company that makes Camtasia. However, Snagit is not an all-in-one tool, and instead is only meant for screen recording. It offers some interesting features such as a magic selection tool that can automatically detect areas to record as well as an editing panel that will let you annotate your final videos. You can learn more about it here or read our detailed Snagit review here. Note: Snagit is a paid software.
CamStudio
CamStudio is a free software, but it’s an older and less well supported software compared to some alternatives. The program is maintained primarily by one individual and definitely has a few bugs that are still being worked out, but if you’re interested in trying it’s worth giving a shot. CamStudio may not be as “shiny” as some alternatives, but it is free and available here should you be interested in it.
Conclusion
Whether you’re making videos for a small classroom, thousands of subscribers, or for your own enjoyment, learning how to record screen on Windows 10 can make a huge difference. Depending on what features are important to you, there’s a variety of options that can meet your needs and no reason why you shouldn’t succeed in making a great video.
Apowersoft screen recorder is a professional web-based tool to record video and audio content simultaneously. You can perform various activities with the use of this software. You can choose the type of audio input, capture screenshots, annotate, etc.
Moreover, the application can save the recorded videos in the common MP4 files. Furthermore, utilizing its inbuilt converter, you will be able to convert and save those MP4 files into .avi, .flc, .swf, and other formats without losing quality.
With Apowersoft’s advanced and entirely intuitive interface, you are provided with the flexibility, which empowers users to enhance the screencast experience. With this Apowersoft free screen recorder review, I will help and try enlightening you on how to download and get started with this Apowersoft free online screen recorder.
I will further cover the pros and cons, key functionalities, and more. Also, with this Apowersoft Screen Recorder Pro review will help you decide how suitable this software is for you.
Download Apowersoft free screen recorder and Get Started
Here’s how you can download Apowersoft Screen Recorder Pro in Windows:
Step 1: Launch your preferred browser and visit the download page of Apowersoft Screen Recorder Pro
Step 2: The page will show two options: ‘Download’ and ‘Buy 1 Get 1 Free’. Click on the ‘Download’ button, and the download will begin.
Step 3: Open on the .exe file from your browser or find the location of the download in File Explorer and open the file from there.
Step 4: Windows will ask you for permission to let the application make changes in your pc. Once you choose ‘Yes’, Apowersoft will ask you to select the language you prefer.
Step 5: Once you’ve chosen the language, the Apowersoft installer will initiate; click on ‘Next’ to start the installation process. Agree to the license terms and conditions to continue.
Step 6: Once you’ve agreed to the license terms, the installer will ask you to choose a folder to save the program files. You can select the folder location by clicking on ‘Browse’.
Step 7: After deciding upon the location, click on ‘Next’.
Step 8: Keep clicking ‘Next’ while making sure that your preferences are reflected in the options given by the installation wizard.
Apowersoft Free Full Version
Step 9: The installation will be completed in moments with your Apowersoft Screen Recorder Pro ready to go.
To get Apowersoft Screen Recorder Pro in Mac, visit https://www.apowersoft.com/mac-os-screen-recorder or click here. Follow similar steps with the .pkg file instead of the .exe file.
How to get Apowersoft Screen Recorder Pro Activation Code for free?
Generally, Apowersoft Screen Recorder is priced at $39.95 per serial key; however, Apowersoft is allowing you to get the full version of the screen recorder without spending any money. You can enjoy the Pro benefits for free if you participate in the official giveaway offer. You have to complete the following steps to get the Apowersoft Screen Recorder Pro activation code for free.
- Firstly, visit the giveaway page at https://www.apowersoft.com/promotion
- Scroll down to find the ‘Daily Software Giveaway’.
- Share the offer via any social media platform that you prefer.
- Once you’ve shared the offer, enter your details to receive the Apowersoft Screen Recorder Pro activation code for free. The code will be sent to you via email.
- Launch Apowersoft Screen Recorder and log in or sign up with a new account.
- Click again on the account icon, and a message will be displayed that will give you the option to upgrade to VIP or activate VIP. Click on the activate VIP option.
- A new box will be shown where you have to enter the code sent to your email.
- Once you activate the software, you will be privy to all the Pro features for free.
Interface and Key Features
Apowersoft Screen Recording Pro has one of the most accessible interfaces in the market. You can add lines, text, annotate, edit the screencast in real-time. The listing of video files makes locating, editing, sharing, uploading, removing, and playing of video files incredibly easy and accessible.
Starting with the default options, play out very well, so if you are a beginner, then you can try out the default settings first to get yourself used to all the options available to you.
Key Features of Apowersoft online screen recorder
- Multiple Recording Modes: You can choose to record the full screen, any portion of the screen, tracking your mouse to record, or even a particular window that you select.
- Unlimited Recording Time: Record for as long as you want.
- Record Screen with Audio Simultaneously: Makes gameplays and walkthroughs smooth with audio in sync with the video.
- Record via Webcam: Lets you record screen through Skype, MSN, and GTalk.
- Edit in Real Time: Edit your videos in real-time.
- Scheduled Tasks: The program lets you schedule tasks by allowing you to choose the start time and the customized duration that means you can record your screen without staying in front of the computer.
- Save Screencasts and Share: You can record your screencasts, edit them, and share them with your favorite platforms all from within the application.
How to Use it to Record Screen – Step by Step Guide to Set up and Record
1. Configure Settings: Before recording, choose your preferences, and configure the settings as you wish like audio input. You can also configure advanced settings before you start recording; there are presets ready for you to enable the screencasting elements.
2. Select Your Audio Input: You can choose between ‘System sound’, ‘Microphone’, ‘System sound and Microphone’. Choose the one most suitable according to your requirements.
3. Multiple advanced settings can also meet your other needs: Select ‘Settings’ and ‘Options’. The popup box will give you a course of action that will help you produce high-quality screencasts.
4. Set up your Output Directory and Hotkeys: You can control the recording with hotkeys (keyboard shortcuts) from ‘General’ settings. Apowersoft Screen Recorder Pro provides shortcuts that let you start recording, shows you a countdown before recording, shows recording toolbar to make screencasting easier.
5. Mouser Cursor Record: For those who make instructional videos, this option will be beneficial. The application lets you record screen with the movement of the mouse cursor; you can check the ‘Include cursor in capture’ box and click on Mouse Style Settings from ‘Advanced’ in Options setting; you can customize the animation color, hotspot color, and size.
6. Choose the format of the output video and customize bitrate, frame rate: The recording would be saved in the .wmv format by default; if you want to save recordings in other formats, then go to Recording in Options and click on the dropdown menu provided beside ‘Video format’. Under Recording, go to ‘Advanced video settings’ and select the bitrate, frame rate, and audio format.
7. Recording Mode: The application allows you to choose between Region, Full Screen, Around Mouse, Webcam, and Only Audio. Select the dropdown menu from ‘Start’ and select the mode you want.
8. Region Mode: In the Region mode, click and drag your cursor along the region you want to record and the release. You can customize the ratio of the region in the toolbar shown below; click on ‘OK’ to start recording.
9. Moving recording area while screencasting: You can move the screencasting region to any other part of your screen by going to Settings > Options> Recording> Advanced video settings. Check the ‘Allow moving the recording region while capturing’ box before recording; place your mouse at the four corners of your capturing region and successfully move it.
10. Annotate in Real Time: To access the editing options, just click on the pen icon directly; you can also pause and explore the editing options. If you wish to get a picture in picture recording, then click on the camera icon on the toolbar to relay the webcam feed to the recording.
11. Finish: To wrap up your recording, click on the red stop button; the video recorded will appear on the recording list and also be saved in your computer automatically. After a screencast is done, you can play it, rename, edit, delete or upload it.
Pros and Cons of Apowersoft Screen Recorder Pro
PROS | CONS |
Dynamic Screen Capturing Options | Lacks Efficient File Management Tools |
Full image editing | Cannot Capture on a Secondary Monitor |
Real-Time Editing | |
Easy User-friendly interface | |
Lightweight Application | |
Real-Time Screen Monitoring |
Best Apowersoft Screen Recorder Pro Alternative – Wondershare DemoCreator
For those who want to record high paced online gameplays, DemoCreator Screen Recording Software is the best alternative to Apowersoft Screen Recorder Pro. Some of the main features of DemoCreator include recording high paced games at up to one hundred and twenty frames per second, screencasting and webcam simultaneously. Apart from the basics, it also serves as a video editor tool, with which you can do basic editing, add texts, callouts, annotations, and more.
Apowersoft Free Screen Recorder Windows 10
DemoCreator also provides 4K resolution editing support, gif support, video stabilization support, keyframe editing, noise removal, seven different languages supports, and many other features that Apowersoft Screen Recorder Pro doesn’t. DemoCreator provides us with a fully featured video and audio editing suite.
With its powerful features, the interface has been made easy for people of all ages and backgrounds to navigate around the application to make the best use of the options available. With the rise in online education, DemoCreator has made it easy for teachers all around the world to create a fully functioning online course material in video format. With the help of diverse users, DemoCreator has only gotten better, giving us more for less.
Conclusion
Apowersoft Online Screen Recorder offers a wide array of options for free, which is very hard to find in other software in this range. Once you figure out your requirements, you will be able to choose accordingly. However, DemoCreator is also a great computer screen recorder that offers rich recording options to meet your needs better. Choose the software that suits your situation and have a try!