Screen Recorder for Computer:
The Ultimate Guide

If you have ever felt the frustration of explaining how to do something on the computer to someone who isn't there, you know the benefit of screen recording. Recording your screen means you are taking a video of what you are doing on your computer. So, for instance, if you need to go through step-by-step directions on how to do something on the computer, you could record your screen while doing it. Then, the person you are helping would have the video for reference.

How to screen record

Depending on the device you are using, the process for recording your screen looks a little different. Here is how to record your screen on Windows 10 and Mac.

Windows

To record your screen on Windows, follow these directions.

  1. In Microsoft Stream, select Create and then Record Stream.
  2. Allow Stream to access your camera and microphone.
  3. Click the Record button.
  4. Pick what you want to record. Your options are full screen, a window, or a browser tab. Once you have decided, click share. Select Share audio if you need to include audio. 
  5. Once the timer hits zero, click on the part of the screen you are recording.
  6. You can pause the recording at any time and then press Play to resume the recording.
  7. Click Stop when you are done.

Mac

There are two main methods to record your screen on Mac. You can use the Screenshot toolbar or QuickTime Player.

Screenshot Toolbar

To record your screen via the Screenshot toolbar, follow these steps.

  1. Press the following three keys together: Shift, Command, 5. 
  2. If you want to record the full screen, click the solid rectangular button on the toolbar. If you're going to only record part of the screen, click on the dotted box. Then, drag to select the area you wish to record.
  3. Click Record.
  4. To stop your recording, hit the stop button or press Command-Control-Escape.

QuickTime Player

To record your screen via QuickTime Player, follow these steps.

  1. Open your Applications folder and select QuickTime Player.
  2. Once it is open, go to File and then click New Screen Recording.
  3. This will bring up the Screen Recording toolbar. Next to the record buttons is a drop-down arrow with options for your video. You can decide whether or not to use a microphone and if you want mouse clicks to show in the recording. 
  4. If you want to include audio, you need to make sure the microphone is on. Also, enabling mouse clicks to be shown will make it so a black circle appears around your pointer when you click.
  5. To begin, click the record button. You can record the entire screen or drag to select an area to record. If you choose to select a specific area, you will need to click Start Recording after selecting the area.
  6. To stop the recording, click the stop button or press Command-Control-Escape.

How to screen record using Parallels Toolbox

Follow these steps to screen record using Parallels Toolbox.

  1. Open Parallels Toolbox via your applications.
  2. Under Library, select Screen Capture.
  3. Click on Record Screen.
  4. Click on the window you want to record to start the recording.
  5. To stop the recording, click the icon on your Dock or taskbar.

Conclusion

Recording your screen can be extremely beneficial in showing someone how to complete a task on a computer. Both Mac and Windows have different ways to record your screen and then edit your recording.

Consider using Parallels Toolbox instead. It is a program that has any computer tool you could possibly need. For example, it has Convert Video, Record Area, and Timer, among many others. These tools are all neatly combined into one program to make them easy to find.