The Snipping Tool has been around forever mainly as a screenshot utility, but it’s kinda weird—recent updates now let it do more. Apparently, in the latest Windows 11 versions, it can also handle screen recording. Not sure why it works, but it’s a pretty straightforward way if you don’t want to mess around with third-party apps. Of course, because Windows has to make everything more complicated than it needs to be, this feature isn’t super obvious, so here’s how to actually get it going.
How to Screen Record Using Snipping Tool on Windows 11
Find and Launch the Snipping Tool
- Search for Snipping Tool in the Windows Search bar (Press Windows + S) and open it. Sometimes, it’s pre-installed, but if not, you might need an update or look for the latest version in the Microsoft Store.
Start a Screen Recording
- Once the Snipping Tool window pops up, look at the top toolbar. You should see a Record icon—kind of new, right? Click on it.
- Another way: press Win + Shift + S to bring up the snipping menu, then switch to the Record option if it appears. If it doesn’t, your Windows version might not support it yet, or maybe it’s hidden behind settings.
Set Up Your Recording Area
- Click the New button or select the recording frame. You can select the area you want—whether it’s a small window, a particular corner, or the full screen. This is kinda helpful if you only need part of your desktop.
- Tip: The recording overlay appears, letting you see what you’re about to capture. It’s super simple, but don’t expect advanced features like annotations or overlays—this is pretty basic.
Start and Control the Recording
- Hit the Start button. You’ll notice a little timer counting how long you’ve been recording—on some setups, it’s a bit buggy, but it generally works.
- You can pause the recording if needed. Usually, a pause button appears once recording starts. If you mess up, just pause and restart—you can delete just that clip later.
Stop and Save the Recording
- When you’re done, click the Stop button. The file still lives in the Snipping Tool interface for a moment—you can preview it there.
- Click Save (disk icon) to keep the recording somewhere handy—like your Videos folder or Desktop. The default save path is usually
C:\Users\YourName\Videos.
Other Ways to Record Screen on Windows 11
While this integrated snippet of screen recording is cool, it’s kinda basic. If you need features like editing, annotations, or higher quality, you’ll probably need a dedicated app. The good news is, Windows 11 comes with its own built-in alternative: Xbox Game Bar.
Just hit Windows + G to open the Xbox Game Bar. There’s a Capture widget that lets you record your screen easily. Plus, it’s pretty reliable on most machines. Not perfect on some older hardware, but it’s worth trying before installing anything else.
For more advanced features, third-party tools like OBS Studio or ShareX are popular picks. But if simplicity is what’s needed, the Snipping Tool’s new recording feature might save the day—kind of weird that it’s hidden, but whatever.
On one machine, it recorded perfectly. On another, it crashed midway or refused to start, so results vary. Maybe a fresh Windows update will improve stability, who knows?