JSystems

How to record part of your screen on Windows

By JSystems2 min read

Short answer

In Simple Recorder, choose Area on the recorder bar and drag a box around what you want, or click one corner and then the other. Press Record. On Windows 11, Snipping Tool can also record a dragged area.

A full-screen recording of a 27 inch monitor is hard to read on a laptop and nearly impossible on a phone. Recording only the part of the screen that matters makes text bigger in the final video and keeps the taskbar, bookmarks, and other windows out of it.

Record an area with Simple Recorder

Simple Recorder works on Windows 10 and 11.

  1. Open Simple Recorder. In the studio, click Draw crop, or click Start Recorder Bar and choose Area on the bar.
  2. Drag a box around the part of the screen you want. You can also click one corner and then the opposite corner.
  3. The bar shows the size of the area, for example 1280 × 720, so you know what you are getting.
  4. Press Record. Pause between steps if you want a tight video with no dead time.
  5. Press Stop. The MP4 is saved in Videos\Simple recorder, in a folder for today.

Tips for a clean area recording

  • Leave a margin. Give your cursor a little room around the thing you are showing so it does not run off the edge.
  • Use a 16:9 box when you can. Video players and chat apps show 16:9 without black bars.
  • Use a start delay. A 3 or 5 second delay gives you time to put the cursor where you want it before the take starts.
  • Zoom the app first. Pressing Ctrl + + in a browser or editor before recording makes the text larger in the video.

Record an area with Snipping Tool (Windows 11)

  1. Open Snipping Tool and switch to the video mode.
  2. Click New and drag the area you want.
  3. Press Start, and Stop when you are done.

Snipping Tool is quick for a short clip and can record computer sound. It has no start delay, frame rate choice, or auto stop. It is not available on Windows 10.

Common questions

How do I record a specific area of my screen on Windows 10?

Windows 10 has no built-in area recorder. Install a free tool such as Simple Recorder, choose Area on the recorder bar, and drag a box.

Can I record part of the screen with sound?

Yes. In Simple Recorder, turn Sound on to record your microphone. Snipping Tool on Windows 11 can also record computer sound.

Can I change the area during a recording?

No. Stop the take, pick a new area, and record again. Use Pause instead if you only want to skip a part.

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