Open Snipping Tool, select video recording, choose New, and drag a rectangle around the part of the screen you want to capture. Start recording, complete the demonstration, and stop. Save and play back the clip before sending it. A short rehearsal can catch missing audio or a crop that cuts off the controls you need.
Choose what the viewer needs to see
Write down the outcome of the demonstration before opening the recorder. A clip showing how to change one application setting is easier to follow if it begins in the relevant window and ends with the change visible. Close unrelated windows and pause notifications when appropriate. Use a sample account or dummy file if your normal screen contains customer names or other details you do not want in the video. Check both the main window and any side panels that might expose data.
Plan the capture rectangle around the actions, rather than the window’s current size alone. A menu or dialog can extend past the edge of the application. Open it once during rehearsal and see where it appears. If the dialog opens on another monitor or outside the planned rectangle, move the application and try again. Readers who have trouble with a second screen can use our external monitor troubleshooting guide before arranging the capture.
Start a recording in Snipping Tool
Search for Snipping Tool from Start. In the app, choose the video recording mode rather than the still-image mode, then choose New. Drag a rectangle around the intended recording area. Review its boundaries before starting, particularly when display scaling makes a window appear larger than expected. Microsoft explains the recording and editing options in its Snipping Tool instructions. If the controls differ from the guide, check the installed app version and whether your organization manages updates.
Select Start and wait for the countdown to finish before performing the first action. Give the viewer a moment to see where you begin. If you make a mistake and the clip is short, start a fresh recording rather than trying to explain every false start. For a longer capture, a quiet pause before repeating a step makes the unwanted section easier to find during editing. Keep the important confirmation visible long enough to read it at normal playback speed.
Check the audio controls before recording
Decide whether the viewer needs your microphone, the computer’s audio, both, or neither. Review the capture controls available in your Snipping Tool version. Make a short clip with a spoken sentence and a sample sound from the application. Play it back using headphones and check that the tracks you need are audible. A microphone meter elsewhere in Windows does not prove the recorder used the intended microphone during that clip.
If the microphone is silent, check the selected input device, its mute switch and Windows microphone permissions. Our USB microphone guide shows how to compare a system input test with a recording from one application. For a screen demonstration, position the microphone so speech stays clear when you turn toward another display. If you need to hear app audio while speaking, headphones can reduce the chance that the microphone picks up the same sound a second time.
Save and review the recording
Stop the recording using the capture controls. In the preview, save the clip to a folder you can find. Give it a name that describes the task and identifies the version. Play the saved file from that folder. Watch the start, the final confirmation and any part where a dialog appeared. Check that text remains readable at the size the viewer is likely to use. If the clip will be embedded on a page or viewed on a phone, test it at a smaller playback size before distributing it.
Review for private details that may have appeared unexpectedly, such as a system notification, an email address in a menu, or file paths shown when browsing. If you need to remove a section or add captions, use an editor such as the Clipchamp option Microsoft documents for video snips. Export a new copy and review that file too. Save the original only where it is appropriate to retain it. Editing and sharing tools can keep separate copies, so check which file you are actually attaching.
Troubleshoot an incomplete or missing clip
If part of the action is missing, reproduce the demo without recording and look for a window moving outside the capture region. Try a slightly wider rectangle or reposition the application. If the saved clip is silent, repeat the short audio test before attempting the whole recording again. If the video cannot save, check that the destination is writable and has room. Our Storage Sense guide covers how to review free space on the Windows drive.
When the screen appears blank only inside a particular app, check the app’s documentation and your organization’s policies. Some content or display surfaces have capture restrictions. Choose an approved demonstration environment or use a mock example when needed. If the recorder cannot capture the workflow as one continuous rectangle, record separate short clips with each important window positioned inside its own region and combine them during editing.
Build a repeatable recording setup
Keep a clean sample file and write a short script when you expect to record the same workflow more than once. Put the application in a familiar position, set the zoom before recording, and check that the pointer is easy to follow. Use a few seconds of sample playback to confirm the settings before starting. That test is especially useful after changing monitors or audio devices.
For a troubleshooting clip, state the expected behavior and show what happens instead. Record the exact step that causes the issue. A clip with a visible error and enough context for someone to reproduce it is more useful than several minutes of unrelated activity. Keep the exported copy in a predictable folder and verify that it opens using the player your intended viewer is likely to use.
For a support request, start the recording before clicking the control that triggers the problem, but keep the capture focused on that app. Show which option you selected and leave the error visible for a few seconds. If the support team needs the text, also transcribe it in the message so they can search for the exact wording. Keep account names and file contents out of the recording by reproducing the issue with a blank document whenever possible. A simple clip with a clear beginning and end is easier for someone else to compare with their own setup.
Frequently asked questions
Can I record only one part of the screen?
Yes. Draw a capture rectangle around that area. Check where menus and dialogs open before recording.
How do I confirm audio was captured?
Record a short sample with both the intended speech and system sound, then play the saved clip back.
What if the app opens on the wrong display?
Move the app before selecting the rectangle. Rehearse the steps and check whether any dialog opens on a different monitor.
