What you need
A browser (Chrome or Edge) and the Opivv extension. Windows does have a built-in recorder, the Xbox Game Bar, which you open with the Windows key plus G and start with Windows plus Alt plus R. It is fine for a single app or a game, but it will not record the desktop or File Explorer, it is awkward for switching between windows, and it saves a local video file with no easy way to share it.
Step by step
- Add Opivv to Chrome or Edge. Install the Opivv extension in your browser on Windows. It sits in the toolbar, with nothing else to install.
- Open the recorder. Click the Opivv icon or press Alt+Shift+R. The setup overlay appears on the page you are viewing.
- Pick window, screen, or tab. Choose Entire screen for anything on your display, a Window for a single app, or This tab for one browser tab. Unlike Game Bar, this works for File Explorer and the desktop too.
- Turn on audio and camera. Enable your microphone to narrate, and system audio if you want the sound your apps play. Add the camera bubble for a talking-head in the corner.
- Record, stop, and share. Hit Start recording, then click stop when you are done. The clip uploads and a share link is copied to your clipboard, ready to paste anywhere.
Why not just use the Game Bar
The Xbox Game Bar was built for capturing games, and it shows. It refuses to record the Windows desktop or File Explorer, it only captures the one app that had focus when you started, and it drops an MP4 in your Videos folder that you then have to upload somewhere before anyone can watch it.
A browser recorder skips all of that. Opivv records any window or your whole screen, including the desktop, and the moment you stop you have a link, not a file to wrangle. That is the difference between recording something and actually sending it to someone.
Record with audio the right way
There are two separate sound sources and both are optional. Your microphone records your voice for narration. System audio records the sound your apps and tabs are playing. For a narrated walkthrough over a quiet app, mic on and system audio off is the cleanest mix. Windows will ask for microphone permission the first time, which you only grant once.
Common questions
How do I record my screen on Windows 10 or 11?
Install the Opivv extension in Chrome or Edge, click the icon or press Alt+Shift+R, choose a window or your whole screen, turn on your mic, and record. When you stop, you get a shareable link automatically. It works on both Windows 10 and 11.
Does Windows have a built-in screen recorder?
Yes, the Xbox Game Bar (Windows key plus G, then Windows plus Alt plus R). It works for a single app or a game but cannot record the desktop or File Explorer, and it saves a local file with no share link.
Why can’t the Game Bar record my desktop?
The Game Bar is designed for capturing individual apps and games, so Microsoft deliberately blocks it from recording the Windows desktop and File Explorer. A browser recorder like Opivv has no such restriction and can capture any window or your entire screen.
Is it free, and how do I record with sound?
Yes, Opivv is free for clips up to 5 minutes with unlimited share links. To record sound, turn on your microphone and, if you want app audio too, system audio in the setup overlay before you start.
Related: Record your screen with audio · How to record your screen in Chrome · Try Opivv free