How to Record on Steam: 5 Stepwise Guide

Part 1. Introduction

Have you ever conquered the game’s final round and wished to share it with your friends or colleagues? Or do you stream gameplay videos and want to record your Steam sessions to share them with your audience on social media? In all these scenarios, recording Steam games requires you to find a reliable screen recorder where you can record, trim, add annotations, or edit the clips. 

Choosing the screen recorder for Steam games can be confusing as there are various factors to consider, such as recording abilities, resolution, frame rate per second, and more. Win the battles and share them with your audience, friends, or colleagues. This article will help you explore multiple methods on how to record on Steam. Let’s delve into further details:你

Part 2. How to record a Steam Video: 5 Ways

Now that you’re aware of the benefits of recording Steam games, it’s time to explore how to record a Steam video. There are several ways to do so – from built-in Steam recorders to third-party tools. We have reviewed the top 5 ways to record a Steam video: 

Method 1. Using the Video Recording Feature of Steam

Steam offers a built-in game recorder option to capture highlights, record campaigns, or even record the entire tournament session without any worries. It offers a background recording mode that lets players capture their surprise moments without worrying about duration and storage limits. You can replay your winning and losing moments with the Quick Replay option on the Steam recorder. 

Apart from recording, you can clip your favorite gameplay moment and keep that preserved. The Steam recorder also offers a timeline and event markers that help you actively record and generate event markers at special events. 

Key Features

• Steam recorder uses few resources, making it a lightweight and easy-to-use application. 
• It offers quick replays where you can go back and record your win or loss. 
• Steam time and event markers automatically generate and add a marker at special events. 
• The background recording option allows users to record unexpected events automatically.  
• Record at a resolution of 1920×1080 at different Mbps ranging from 1.5 Mbps to 24 Mbps. 

Steps to Record Steam Games with Steam Recorder

Step 1. Open Steam Client on your PC and navigate to “Settings.” 

Step 2. Click on “Game Recording” from the left pane and choose from the three modes, i.e., Off/Don’t Record, Record in Background, and Record on Demand.

Step 3. Choose the required audio mode, such as “Game Audio Only” or “All System Audio.” 

Step 4. You can automatically record the last 120 minutes of footage with “Record in Background” and press the Ctrl + F11 to begin Steam recording in the “Record on Demand” feature. 

Step 5. Alternatively, you can press the “Shift button + Tab” on your PC to open the Steam Overlay and then click the “Clip” button. You can adjust the start and stop points on the timeline at the top of the screen. 

Method 2. Using Best Free Recorder-Screenify [No-lag]

Want to explore more features and better experiences when capturing Steam games in 4K resolution without any lags? There is no better option than Screenify! Screenify— a 100% free 4K steam recorder that lets you capture the gameplay without any time limit. There is no need to worry about losing any moment due to the restricted time limit now! Tired of low-quality screen recordings? Screenify will fill the gap with its premium quality 4K recording alongside 60 frames per second. High FPS will ensure you don’t lose any frames or experience lags in your screen recordings. 

You can lock the recording window so that no other content can be recorded except the opened Steam application or game — even the camera recording will not work in this mode to ensure privacy. You can also choose to have a watermark or not in this free Steam games recorder!

Key Features

• Screenify offers multiple recording modes when recording Steam games, including the Full Screen (whole display) and Region (a specific portion of the screen).
• While recording a Steam game, you can also record both the system and microphone sounds and adjust the volume easily.    
• You can also adjust the volume and playback speed of the recorded clip. 
• There is no screen recording time limit; you can export the recording in various formats. 

To Record Stream game with Screenify, download and install it on your computer, then select the option you need. Follow the on-screen prompts to finish your recording at ease.

Method 3. Using OBS Studio 

Wondering how to screen record on Steam with real-time audio/video mixing and perfect synchronization? OBS Studio can be the right choice! Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) Studio is an open-source Steam recorder. OBS Studio has all the characteristics for a perfect Steam game recorder, such as brilliant 4K quality at 60 FPS and flexible recording modes resulting in lag-free videos. This screen recorder lets you record audio with pre-set filters such as noise suppression, noise gate, and more.

With real-time audio and video mixing and perfect synchronization, you can record and refine your game screen recording with crisp and clear audio. With customized audio and video settings such as audio bitrate, encoder, video resolution, and more, you can enhance the overall video quality for your Steam games. 

Key Features

• This free, open-source Steam game recorder offers multi-platform Windows, Mac, and Linux support. 
• Customizable controls, transitions, hotkeys, and pre-set filters add convenience while recording Steam games.
• The scene selection allows for easy switching between scenes to eliminate lags.
• OBS has an intuitive interface and multiple advanced-level functionalities to improve gameplay recording quality. 

Steps to Record Steam Games with OBS Studio

Step 1. Launch OBS Studio on your PC. Create a “Scene” and then click on “+” in the Sources box and add a “Display Capture”. 

Step 2. Once done, click the “Start Recording” button from the right pane. 

Method 4. Using Xbox Game Bar

A built-in Windows tool to record Steam games is available via the Xbox Game Bar. The tool was designed specifically for gamers to record gameplay videos via shortcuts or an intuitive toolbar easily. You can adjust the settings for frame rate, resolution, and more. The only drawback of Xbox Game Bar is that it can record only up to 4 hours. 

Additionally, you may use the Game Bar to examine the performance of your PC, including the CPU, GPU, RAM, and other components.

Key Features

• Xbox Game Bar allows you to customize the settings, such as frame rate and resolution.
• This screen recording tool enables users to record a Steam video clip for up to 4 hours.
• The tool can be used with shortcut keys to enable quick screen recording in Steam.
• Xbox Game Bar lets you record Steam videos with or without system audio and microphone.

Steps to Record Steam Games with Xbox Game Bar

Step 1. Search for the Xbox Game Bar in the Windows Search Bar simply. Another way is to use the shortcut keys, i.e., Windows key + G. You can enable the Xbox Game Bar by navigating to “Settings > Gaming.” Then click on “Xbox Game Bar” and toggle to turn ON. 

Step 2. Once launched, you’ll see the toolbar at the top of the screen. Click on “Settings” to adjust the recording parameters. 

Step 3. Click on the “Capture” button and then start recording. You can use the shortcut keys, i.e., Windows key + Alt + G, from the keyboard to start the recording process directly. 

Step 4. Once recording has been stopped, click “Show all captures” to view your screen recordings. That’s how to record a Steam video! 

Method 5. Using Fraps

Fraps is a lightweight screen recorder application that is famous for its prowess in recording computer gameplays especially the ones using DirectX or OpenGL technology. Though the tool can also be used for recording live streaming videos, Chrome, and any other videos without any lags. Therefore, you can easily record a Steam video or gameplay directly on your computer with virtually no distortions or delays. 

However, you might face difficulty in recording your screen using Fraps on Windows 10/11, as the tool was released in 2013 and haven’t been updated since. 

Key Features

• Record or capture Steam games up to 7680×4800 resolution. 
• You can record Steam video clips at 120 frames per second (FPS) and customize the settings accordingly. 
• Fraps use fewer resources and don’t affect gaming performance. 

Steps to Record Steam Games with Fraps 

Step 1. Launch the Fraps on your PC. Navigate to the “Movies” tab.

Step 2. You can assign a new recording hotkey, such as “F9“. 

Step 3. Adjust the parameters, such as frame rate or resolution, and press the hotkey to start recording. 

Part 3. Why Record Gameplay on Steam?

Recording Steam gameplay videos on a PC or desktop offers a convenient way to share gaming progress, entertain winning moments, or preserve memories. Never miss your favorite gameplay moments from Baldur’s Gate 3, Elden Ring, Destiny 2, Apex Legends, or more! Here’s why you need to record gameplay videos on Steam: 

Importance Of Capturing and Sharing Gameplay Moments

You can record gameplay sessions and share them over the internet for various purposes, such as content creation, learning, and entertainment. 

• Creating Content— The first and foremost reason to record Steam games is to create content for your social media handles or streaming platforms. 
• Entertainment— You can record epic gameplays, glitches, or impressive wins to share with your loved ones. 
• Learning— Another purpose is to improve your gaming experience and learn from your mistakes. You can analyze strategies and polish your skills later. 

Enhance Gaming Experience & Community Engagement

Recording Steam games serves various benefits— from showcasing your skills to creating an engaging community. Here’s how Steam game recording helps improve the overall gaming experience of streamers and PC gamers:

• Showcasing Skills— Record your gameplays and share them with your loved ones to showcase your skills and attract a wider audience on your social media or streaming platforms. 
• Building Community— You can connect with like-minded streamers or PC gamers to improve the gaming experience and foster community. 

Benefits of Recording Steam Gameplays 

The following are the benefits of recording Steam gameplay: 

• Content Creation

You may use Steam game recorders to record or capture your fantastic games and demonstrate your remarkable talents to the audience. TikTok, YouTube, Twitch, and other platforms also allow you to film and share gaming. 

• Preserving Memories 

With the Steam game recorders, you can record your unforgettable moments and preserve them for later viewing. 

• Earning Money

You can earn through ads, sponsorships, and more through monetization of social media platforms. Record your gameplay and upload it to monetized platforms like YouTube or Twitch. 

Part 3. FAQs

Q1. Does Windows 10 have a screen recorder?

Yes, Windows 10 has a built-in screen recorder named Xbox Game Bar. This tool allows users to record games, tutorials, and presentations of anything on the screen easily. 

Q2. How do you screen record on a laptop?

You can use the Windows built-in tool i.e., Xbox Game Bar or third-party software such as Screenify. Screenify allows users to capture a laptop’s screen in 4K quality at 60 FPS. 

Q3. What’s the free screen recorder on both Windows & Mac?

There are other free screen recorders available, but Screenify is a free 4K screen recorder for Windows and Mac. It allows professionals, content makers, PC broadcasters, and gamers to record displays at 60 FPS with no time restriction.

Part 4: Conclusion

Wondering how to record on Steam? There are various ways to record or capture gameplay sessions in brilliant quality and FPS on a laptop or desktop PC. You can utilize Xbox Game Bar— a built-in Steam game recorder. On the other hand, various third-party tools are available to record Steam clips. We recommend recording gameplay with Screenify, a third-party 4K screen recorder at 60 FPS.