How to Record Gameplay on PC for Free — 4 Best Methods (2026)

Record Without Spending a Cent

You don't need expensive software to record gameplay. Windows and your GPU already include free recording tools.

🎥 4 Free Methods

1. Xbox Game Bar (Windows) — Press Win+G → click Record. Built into Windows 10/11. Zero setup. Files save to Videos/Captures.
2. NVIDIA ShadowPlay (GeForce Experience) — Press Alt+F9 to start/stop. Hardware-encoded, near-zero performance impact. Best option for NVIDIA GPUs.
3. AMD ReLive (Adrenalin Software) — AMD's equivalent. Hardware-encoded recording for AMD GPUs.
4. OBS Studio — Free, open-source, professional-grade. Customizable scenes, streaming support, works on any GPU. Steeper learning curve but most flexible.

📖 More Tutorials

• 📸 Steam Screenshots
• ⚡ Boost FPS
• 🖥️ Check PC Specs