JSystems

Free screen recorders for Windows with no watermark

By JSystems4 min read

Short answer

Windows 11 has Snipping Tool, which records the screen with sound. Xbox Game Bar records one app at a time. OBS Studio and ShareX are free and powerful but take setup. Simple Recorder is a free, open source recorder for Windows 10 and 11 that records the full screen, one window, or an area you draw to MP4, with no account, watermark, or time limit.

Plenty of "free" screen recorders put a logo on your video, stop after a few minutes, or ask you to make an account before you can save. You do not need any of that to record your screen on Windows. Here are the free options that leave your video alone, and what each one is good at.

The short list

ToolWindows versionWhat it recordsSoundCost
Snipping ToolWindows 11Full screen or an areaMicrophone and computer soundFree, built in
Xbox Game BarWindows 10 and 11The app in focus, one at a timeMicrophone and computer soundFree, built in
OBS StudioWindows, macOS, LinuxAnything you set up as a sourceAny audio sourceFree, open source
ShareXWindowsFull screen, a window, or an areaConfigurableFree, open source
Simple RecorderWindows 10 and 11Full screen, one window, or an area you drawMicrophoneFree, open source

None of these add a watermark or cap how long you can record.

Snipping Tool (Windows 11)

The Snipping Tool that ships with Windows 11 can record video, not only screenshots. Open it, switch to the video mode, drag the area you want, and press Start. Recent versions can record your microphone and your computer's sound, and save the take as an MP4 in Videos\Screen Recordings.

It is the fastest option if you are on Windows 11 and only need a quick clip. It is not available on Windows 10, and it has few settings beyond the area and sound.

Xbox Game Bar (Windows 10 and 11)

Press Win + G to open Game Bar, then use the Capture widget to record. It was built for games, so it records only the app that has focus. It cannot record the desktop or File Explorer, and you cannot switch apps in the middle of a take. For recording a single program on Windows 10, it works with nothing to install.

OBS Studio

OBS Studio is the standard free tool for streaming and serious recording. You build scenes out of sources (screens, windows, webcams, images, audio inputs) and mix them however you like. If you want a webcam overlay, several audio tracks, or live streaming, OBS is the one to learn.

The cost is setup time. For a two minute clip of a bug, building a scene is more work than the clip.

ShareX

ShareX is a free, open source capture tool for Windows with a very long list of features: screenshots, screen recording, GIFs, uploads, and automation. It suits people who like to configure every step. Like OBS, it rewards time spent in its settings.

Simple Recorder

Simple Recorder is the screen recorder we make. It sits between the built-in tools and OBS: more control than Snipping Tool, much less setup than OBS.

  • Record the full screen, one window, or an area you draw.
  • A floating recorder bar stays on top of your other windows with Record, Pause, Stop, start delay, frame rate, and sound in one strip.
  • Pick 720p, 1080p, or 1440p at 24, 30, or 60 fps.
  • Microphone with a level meter and a Test button.
  • Start delay of 3, 5, or 10 seconds, and auto stop after 5, 15, or 30 minutes.
  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Alt + S to stop from any app.
  • Every take is an MP4, filed by day in Videos\Simple recorder.
  • Works on Windows 10 and 11, installs without admin rights, and has no account, no telemetry, and no watermark.

One limit to know: Simple Recorder records your microphone, not your computer's sound. If you need game or video audio in the recording, use Snipping Tool, Game Bar, or OBS.

Which one should you use?

  • Quick clip on Windows 11, with computer sound: Snipping Tool.
  • One app on Windows 10, nothing to install: Xbox Game Bar.
  • Streaming, webcam overlays, or several audio tracks: OBS Studio.
  • Screenshots, GIFs, and uploads in one tool: ShareX.
  • Bug reports, tutorials, code walkthroughs, and team updates with your voice: Simple Recorder.

Common questions

Is there a free screen recorder for Windows with no watermark?

Yes. Snipping Tool, Xbox Game Bar, OBS Studio, ShareX, and Simple Recorder are all free and none of them add a watermark.

Does Windows 10 have a built-in screen recorder?

Windows 10 has Xbox Game Bar, which records one app at a time but not the desktop or File Explorer. To record the full screen or an area on Windows 10, install a free tool such as Simple Recorder, OBS Studio, or ShareX.

What is the easiest free screen recorder for Windows?

On Windows 11, Snipping Tool is the quickest for a short clip. If you want to pick a window, set a start delay, pause, or auto stop, Simple Recorder keeps all of that in one bar without the setup OBS needs.

Can Simple Recorder record computer sound?

No. It records your microphone. For computer sound, use Snipping Tool on Windows 11, Xbox Game Bar, or OBS Studio.

4 min readJAgents How JAgents keeps AI coding agents running through an app restart What changed in the JAgents beta since launch. Terminal agents now keep working while JAgents restarts or updates, agents can restart the app themselves, switching agents in a thread hands off the context on its own, and the interface lost its status dots. Built with Claude Code running inside JAgents. 3 min readJAgents How to run several AI coding agents at once on Windows Run Claude Code, Codex, Devin, Cursor, and other AI coding agents side by side on Windows 10 and 11 in one window, and let them message each other and hand off work, with JAgents, a free and open source agent manager. 6 min readJAgents How Claude Opus 5.5 one-shotted most of JAgents, an AI agent manager How JAgents, the next JSystems app, was built with Claude Opus 5.5, which produced a working app with about 90% of the core features in one shot. It is an agent manager where Claude Code, Codex, Devin, Cursor and others run in threads or terminals and talk to each other through a built-in MCP server.