How to Record Screen Videos: 5 Best Free Software

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-15 16:39

These applications will help you record the screen of your computer, smartphone or tablet.

1. OBS Studio

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

Cross-platform open source software. Very fast and functional. With its help, it is easy to record video of the entire screen or individual windows, as well as the gameplay of running games.

Simultaneously with the video display, you can record the sound of the microphone and overlay the image from the webcam. OBS Studio allows you to choose the resolution and recording format (FLV, MP4, MKV, MOV and others).

OBS Studio can also stream videos to Twitch and YouTube, which is why it is very popular among gamers. If you want to use the full potential of the program for recording games or other advanced tasks, then on the web it is easy to find detailed instructions for manual configuration. They will help you strike the perfect balance between speed and image quality.

The only drawback that I want to note is the lack of a built-in editor. But if you need to trim or somehow change the finished recordings, you can use special video editing software.

How to record video from your computer screen using OBS Studio

• Run the program and follow the prompts of the automatic configuration wizard.
• In the Sources section at the bottom of the OBS Studio interface, click +, select Screen Capture, and click OK.
• In the lower right corner, click Start Recording.
• When done, click on "Pause Recording" in the lower right corner.
• To open the folder with the recorded videos, click File → Show Recordings.

Try OBS Studio →

2. AZ Screen Recorder

Platforms: Android.

This is arguably the most popular screen recording app on Google Play. The program is very easy to use, but at the same time it contains many settings. For example, you can choose frame rate, resolution and video quality.

AZ Screen Recorder also allows you to draw on the screen while recording. In addition, the application has a built-in editor with which you can trim videos, extract frames from them and create gifs.

The program shows ads, but ads can be turned off by purchasing the premium version for 169 rubles.

How to Record Android Screen Video with AZ Screen Recorder

• Run the program and grant it all requested permissions.
• Pull down the notification panel and click on the gear.
• Choose the appropriate video settings and return to the desktop.
• Use the floating camera icon to start recording.

3. "Screen Recorder" function

Platforms: iOS 11 and above, iPadOS.

A native feature is available on Apple mobile devices that allows you to record screen content without a computer or third-party software. Finished recordings are saved in the standard "Photos" application, where they can be edited.

How to Record iPhone or iPad Screen Video with Built-in Feature

• Swipe from the edge of the display to open the control center.
• If an icon in the form of a circle enclosed in a ring appears on the screen, go to the next step. If it is not there, close Control Center and go to Settings → Control Center → Customize Controls. Click the plus next to the "Screen Recorder" button and reopen the Control Center.
• To start recording without external sound, click on the icon in the form of a circle, enclosed in a ring.
• To start recording with external audio, hold down the touch on the aforementioned icon, click on the microphone button that appears, and select “Start Recording”.

4. QuickTime Player

Platforms: macOS, iOS and iPadOS (using a Mac).

QuickTime Player, which can be found on any Mac, not only plays media files, but can also record video from the screen.

If you have macOS Mojave installed on your computer, you can do without QuickTime. All you have to do is press Shift + Command + 5. This combination launches the built-in recording tool. But QuickTime Player has its advantages: the program runs on earlier versions of macOS and records video from both the Mac screen and the displays of connected iOS gadgets.

How to Record Mac Screen Video with QuickTime Player

• Open QuickTime Player and click File → New Screen Recording.
• Click on the arrow next to the red button that appears and select the appropriate sound settings.
• Click on the red button to start recording.

How to Record iPhone or iPad Screen Video with QuickTime Player

• Connect your gadget to your Mac using a cable.
• Open QuickTime Player and click File → New Video.
• Click on the arrow next to the red button that appears and select the required device.
• Click on the red button to start recording.

5. LonelyScreen

Platforms: iOS (using a Windows PC).

If you have an old iPhone or iPad that can't record a display on its own and don't have a Mac at hand, the easiest way to record a screen is with a Windows PC and the LonelyScreen desktop utility.

The official website has free and paid versions of the program, the differences between which are not indicated. But during the testing of the first of them, we did not find any limitations. Unless the free LonelyScreen periodically suggests switching to the paid option.

There are no settings in the program, everything is simplified to the limit. In addition, LonelyScreen does not pick up the microphone, but writes the sound of video and audio files. It should be added that the utility does not work with some mobile applications. For example, if you try to play YouTube videos on your smartphone, LonelyScreen stops recording.

How to Record iPhone or iPad Screen Video with LonelyScreen

• Launch LonelyScreen on your PC and connect your mobile device to your PC via a cable.
• Swipe from the edge of the screen on your iPhone or iPad to bring up the control center.
• Click Screen Repeat in Control Center and select LonelyScreen.
• When the mobile device screen appears in the LonelyScreen window, press the red button to start recording.

Try LonelyScreen →