How to Record Yourself on a Laptop (2025 Guide)

Recording a video of yourself on your laptop is a great way to create tutorials, presentations, or video messages. Both Windows and macOS have free, built-in tools that make it easy to get started without installing any extra software.

This guide will show you how to record yourself using the tools that are already on your computer.

How to Record Yourself on a Windows Laptop

Windows provides two simple, pre-installed applications for recording: the Camera app for webcam video and the Xbox Game Bar for screen recording.

Using the Camera App (Webcam Only)

1. Open the Camera App: Click the Start button and search for “Camera.”
2. Switch to Video Mode: On the right side of the app, click the video camera icon to switch from photo to video mode.
3. Start Recording: Click the video button again to begin recording.
4. Stop Recording: Click the red stop button to finish. The video will be automatically saved to the “Camera Roll” folder inside your “Pictures” folder.

Using the Xbox Game Bar (Screen and Webcam)

1. Open the Game Bar: Press the Windows key + G on your keyboard.
2. Show Capture Menu: If you don’t see the “Capture” window, go to the main Game Bar menu at the top of the screen and click the widget icon, then select “Capture.”
3. Start Recording: In the “Capture” window, click the round “Start recording” button. Your screen will now be recorded.
4. Stop Recording: Click the “Stop recording” button on the floating bar to end the recording. Your videos are saved in the “Captures” folder inside your “Videos” folder.

How to Record Yourself on a Mac Laptop

On a Mac, you can use the Photo Booth app for simple webcam videos or QuickTime Player for more advanced screen and webcam recording.

Using Photo Booth (Webcam Only)

1. Open Photo Booth: You can find it in your “Applications” folder or search for it with Spotlight.
2. Switch to Video Mode: In the bottom-left corner, click the film strip icon to switch to video mode.
3. Start Recording: Click the red video camera icon to start recording.
4. Stop Recording: Click the stop button to finish. The video will appear in the thumbnail tray at the bottom of the window.

Using QuickTime Player (Screen and Webcam)

1. Open QuickTime Player: Find it in your “Applications” folder.
2. Start a New Recording: In the menu bar, go to File > New Movie Recording (for webcam) or File > New Screen Recording (for your screen).
3. Select Options: For screen recording, you can click and drag to record a selected portion of the screen, or click to record the entire screen. For movie recording, you can select your camera and microphone quality.
4. Start Recording: Click the red record button.
5. Stop Recording: Click the stop button in the menu bar or press Command-Control-Esc. You will then be prompted to save the file.

For More Advanced Recording: ScreenApp

While the built-in tools are great for basic recording, you might need more features like editing, annotations, or easy sharing. For that, a dedicated tool like ScreenApp’s Online Screen Recorder is a great next step.

With ScreenApp, you can:

• Record your screen and webcam at the same time.
• Easily trim and edit your videos.
• Add text and annotations.
• Instantly share your video with a link.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I record my screen and myself at the same time?

On Windows, the Xbox Game Bar can show your webcam while you record the screen (you may need to enable this in settings). On Mac, you can do this with QuickTime by starting a screen recording and setting your webcam to float on top. For the easiest experience, a tool like ScreenApp handles this automatically.

Why is there no sound in my recording?

Check that you have selected the correct microphone in the recording tool’s settings. In both the Xbox Game Bar and QuickTime Player, there is an option to choose your audio input source before you start recording.

How can I improve my video quality?

Good lighting is the most important factor. Make sure your face is well-lit from the front. Also, try to have a clean, uncluttered background behind you.

Conclusion

You don’t need expensive software to record a video of yourself on your laptop. By using the free tools already included with Windows and macOS, you can easily create high-quality recordings for any project.

When you’re ready for more advanced features like editing and sharing, a tool like ScreenApp is ready to help.