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3 min read 6 stepsMarch 24, 2026Verified March 2026

How to Record Your Screen (iPhone, Android, Windows & Mac)

Capture what's happening on your screen to share with family, save a video, or show a tech problem to someone who can help.

At a Glance

Why record your screen?

~25s

Screen recordings are useful when you want to: show a grandchild or tech helper exactly what error you're seeing, save a video call or online event, record step-by-step instructions to refer to later, or capture a scam or suspicious message as evidence. Your phone and computer have this feature built in — no extra apps needed.

Quick Tip

If you need a still image rather than a video, use a screenshot instead (quicker and takes up less space).

Screen recording on iPhone

~27s

First, add Screen Recording to your Control Center: go to SettingsControl Center → tap the green + next to "Screen Recording." To record: swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open Control Center, then tap the circle inside a circle icon. After a 3-second countdown, recording begins and a red bar/dot appears at the top. To stop, tap the red bar at the top and choose "Stop."

Quick Tip

The recording is saved automatically to your Photos app under Recents.

Screen recording on Android

~27s

Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open Quick Settings tiles. Look for "Screen Recorder" (it may be hidden — tap the pencil/edit icon to add it). Tap Screen Recorder; a countdown begins and a toolbar appears at the top. To stop, tap the stop button in the toolbar or the notification bar. The video saves to your Gallery or Photos app.

Warning

Screen Recorder looks slightly different on Samsung, Google Pixel, and other brands — but it's always in the Quick Settings area.

Screen recording on Windows 11/10

~30s

Windows has a built-in tool called Xbox Game Bar (despite the name, it works for any window). Press Windows key + G to open it. Click the record button (circle with a dot) or press Windows + Alt + R to start recording. A small floating bar shows recording time. Press Windows + Alt + R again to stop. Videos are saved to your VideosCaptures folder.

Quick Tip

Xbox Game Bar can only record one window at a time. If you need to record your whole desktop, try the free tool OBS Studio.

Screen recording on Mac

~30s

Press Command + Shift + 5. A toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen with options: take a screenshot, record the entire screen, or record a selected portion. Click "Record Entire Screen" or draw a box for a portion. Click "Record" (the button in the toolbar). To stop, click the stop icon in the menu bar at the top right, or press Command + Control + Esc. The recording saves to your Desktop.

Quick Tip

On older Macs (before 2019) that don't have this toolbar, use QuickTime PlayerFileNew Screen Recording instead.

Sharing your screen recording

~28s

Once recorded, your video is saved as an MP4 (or MOV on Mac). To share it: on your phone, open Photos/Gallery, find the video, tap Share, and choose WhatsApp, email, or Messages. On your computer, attach the file to an email like any other attachment. If the file is large, use Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud to upload it and share a link instead.

Quick Tip

Screen recordings can be large files. If emailing, check the file size first — most email providers limit attachments to 25 MB.

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