So let’s face it, it’s been a while since PewDiePie hit Youtube with another iconic video like his walkthrough of Slender: The Arrival. Sure, he did make a video on surviving Elden Ring, but it wasn’t as hilarious as his nostalgic Slender man gameplay.
Back when the video came out, most of us didn’t even have enough points in the ‘Bravery’ skill tree. So naturally, we didn’t try out the game; but you know who did? Pewds did. The result was Youtube comedy gold!
So you think to yourself, ‘Wait a minute, what if I was YouTube comedy gold?’. You giggle to yourself and get excited as you start brewing up your own Youtube persona. But hold on; you forgot the most important part! You don’t even know how to screen record on a Lenovo laptop. Sigh…
Is there a Screen recorder in my Lenovo Laptop?
You must be a freshly spawned noob if you have to ask that question. Of course, there is; it’s called Xbox Gamebar!.
Screen recording on your Lenovo laptop is simple when using the default screen recorder app called Xbox game bar. The popular is also called the windows game bar and has a ton of cool features designed specifically for gaming. This is where you go, ‘Oh, so THAT’S what it does!’. Yeah. You’re welcome.
Screen recording in Windows 10 with Xbox Gamebar
You can start the Xbox game bar by holding down the windows key and pressing the Alt and R keys simultaneously. Another way to access the app is by pressing the windows and G keys. This will launch the Xbox Gamebar dialogue box, which will pop up on your screen. The box will ask you if you want to launch Gamebar; click on the checkbox below that says ‘yes, this is a game.’
This is so that the app can understand if you are recording a video game or a different application. Now, all you have to do is find the recording widget on the screen and click on the record button with your mouse.
Most people prefer using the windows, alt and R key combo as they are faster. Also, using the shortcut keys lets you quickly switch the recording on and off while gaming. You can press the combo keys once again when you’re done playing. This will prompt the app to stop all recording functions and quickly store the recorded data as an MP4 video file. Not the most simple on/off toggle, but unless you’re a neanderthal, we’re sure you’ll master it in no time.
Now, all you have to do is simply head over to your videos folder and find the newly created ‘captures’ folder. Your recorded video should be there in all its HD glory. Will it be good enough to make you the next big Youtube sensation? Probably not! But hey, at least you learnt how to screen record on your Lenovo laptop!
Screen recording in Windows 11 with Xbox Gamebar
Similar to how it is for Windows 10, all Windows 11 Lenovo laptops will also come with the Xbox Gamebar. You can open it the same way, by pressing the windows key first and then pressing the G key. After that, you have to click on the record button located in the Gamebar widget to start recording. Alternatively, you can use the combo keys to toggle between on and off. Both methods work without any issue, so you can use whatever is suitable for you.
The recording function will work the same way as in Windows 10, with the recorder widget displaying the timestamp of the current session. You can click on the mic symbol on the widget if you want to record your voice or leave it mute. Once you’re done with the session, simply press the combo keys again to stop recording. The captured session will be saved as an MP4 video on your computer.
Using the right settings for screen recording
The Xbox Gamebar allows you to change and configure the screen recording features according to your needs. To do this, head over to your settings tab from the start menu, find the gaming section and click on captures. This will let you change a few settings, such as video quality, frame rates, maximum recording length etc.
By default, the video frame rate is set to 30 fps; however, you can amp it up to 60 fps to give your videos a smoother feel. The video quality can either be set to standard quality or high quality. Your first thought might be to set it to high quality but keep in mind the amount of storage space HD videos need.
Also, you can choose whether or not you would like to record the cursor during your sessions. If you’re gaming, you definitely want to switch this feature off. Although you might want it on if you’re recording an instructional video. But let’s face it, what are you going to instruct? Do you even know anything?
Moving on, you can also set the maximum recording length for each session. By default, this is set to 2 hours, which seems like a good timeframe for a stream session. However, if you like the idea of making one-hour episodes, you might want to lower this setting down by a notch.
The Xbox Gamebar also has a unique and interesting feature that gamers will appreciate a lot. This feature has different names depending on whether you’re using a Windows 11 Lenovo laptop or one with Windows 10 installed. Either way, the feature does the same thing.
For Windows 11 users, the feature will be named ‘record what happened’, while Windows 10 users will see the name as ‘background recording’. This records a few moments of whatever activity just passed in the game. The gamebar will default record up to 30 seconds of your past activity, but you change this in the settings.
Suppose you just got an epic level kill while on Pubg, but you didn’t have the screen recorder on to capture the glory. If you feel like that moment should have been recorded, you can simply press the Windows and G keys. This will launch the game bar and the last 30 seconds of activity will have been recorded and saved in a clip. This way, you can successfully record any important moments that you let slip through.
OBS studio screen recorder for Windows 10 and 11 laptops.
You might have noticed that the way Xbox Gamebar handles screen recording is slightly limited. It only records one application at a time and doesn’t let you record the desktop or file explorer. One way of fixing this issue is by using OBS studio, a screen recorder designed to provide smooth and limitless recording.
The first time you start up OBS studio, you will be asked to specify what you want to use it for. Here you can optimise the app for streaming or just for recording, so choose according to what you need. Now, you will need to add a new source by clicking on the plus icon and selecting the display capture. Once you have saved the new source, you will have to choose a display monitor and click ok.
Finally, you will see a ‘start recording’ option in the lower right corner of your screen. Simply click on it, and the software will start capturing your laptop’s on-screen activities.
Screen recording in Windows 11 with Microsoft Powerpoint
Most of you don’t know this, but there is actually a feature in the latest version of Microsoft PowerPoint that lets you capture your screen. All you have to do is open PowerPoint and then click on the insert tab. Once you have done that, simply find the screen recording option from the media group, and click on it.
This will prompt powerpoint to vanish from the screen and show you a new bar which has a couple of recording features. The first thing you will notice is the red coloured recording button. Next to it will be the timer, an option to select area, along with options for audio and record pointer. Now, click on the select area option and create a box on the screen where you want to record. Once you’ve set the parameters, simply click on record, and it should start capturing the activities on your laptop screen.
You can confirm this by the timer, which will start to count down the recording duration. You can use the mouse to pause the recording at any time or stop the recording by pressing the stop button.
Once the session has been completed, the recording will show up on the PowerPoint slide which you have open. Right-click on the recording and click on ‘save media as’. Now, all you have to do is select a location, format and type in a name for the video file.
Choosing the right screen recording software
Living in 2022, we can witness first-hand the magnanimous extent of online entertainment. Popular online platforms like Youtube have put a massive demand for a certain kind of content on the internet. A significant chunk of this demand falls under the category of instructional videos or ‘How to’ videos and gaming.
The sheer number of instructional videos on Youtube has reached an all-time high. These videos are a quick source of information and even pull in viewerships in the millions. So if you want to hop on the bandwagon, now is the perfect time to make that jump. That being said, you’ll need to get your hands on a reliable screen recorder whose features match your needs.
Recording the screen on your laptop is easy if you know the right software to use. These days, laptops come with their very own in-built screen recorders that can do the job for you. However, although some of these in-built softwares are completely fine for what you need, they do have some limitations. That’s why it’s always a good idea to check out some other options on the internet.
Softwares such as EaseUs, have become quite popular for their easy-to-use screen recording features. Another decent software is Apowersoft Unlimited, which is compatible with both Mac and Windows. What’s more, it even lets you wirelessly connect your phone device to your computer screen.
Meanwhile, there are also apps like Screencast-O-Matic, which serves as a screen recorder and a video editor. Although it doesn’t let you record on HD quality, it does have some cool editing features. For example, the app can let you zoom in or out of the video and add overlays onto it.
Final words
With this how to Screen record on a Lenovo laptop guide, you would have now learnt to record for any purpose you may have. Whether it’s for a tutorial or gaming, these methods provide a myriad of options.
Overall, each method is designed differently and caters to a wide range of users. It depends on what works for you best. Just remember to use it responsibly.