How to Record Your Screen with Sound in Windows 11: A Straightforward Guide

Recording your screen with audio on Windows 11 isn’t all that hard — it should be pretty easy, right? But sometimes, you run into odd issues. Maybe your microphone isn’t picking up anything, or the recording’s silent even though the timer’s ticking away. Or perhaps you’re just not sure if Windows is actually catching your mic or system sounds properly. The good news is, the built-in Xbox Game Bar makes it fairly simple, but there are some sneaky settings that can trip you up. Fixes don’t always work first go, but with a few tweaks, you’ll usually get it sorted without a big headache.

How to Record Screen with Audio in Windows 11

Here’s how to get your screen plus audio recorded properly, and hopefully avoid common issues like no sound or dodgy quality. Double-check your settings and know where everything lives, and you’ll be capturing good clips in no time.

Method 1: Make sure your mic and system sounds are enabled in Xbox Game Bar

This might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how often folks forget to check the audio input in the Game Bar. If your mic isn’t coming through, maybe Windows or the app itself is muted or set wrong.

Press Windows key + G to open the Xbox Game Bar.
Look for the “Capture” widget — if it’s missing, click the “Overlay Menu” (the little square icon with a pencil) and select “Capture” to turn it on.
In the Capture widget, check the microphone icon. Click it to turn it on if it’s off. Also, make sure the “Sound” icon (which controls system sounds) is enabled.
Head into Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and ensure apps are allowed to access your mic. Sometimes Windows blocks them by default.

By doing this, you’re telling Windows and the Game Bar to actually pick up audio from your mic and system sounds. If your mic volume’s low, bump it up in Settings > Sound > Input. If system sounds aren’t recording, check the volume mixer and make sure they’re not muted or turned way down.

Method 2: Pick the right audio sources before hitting record

This is a bit of an optional step but can make a big difference, especially if you’ve got multiple mics or speakers. Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and go to Sound Settings.

Under Input, choose the microphone you want to use.
Under Output, ensure your preferred speakers or headphones are set as default.
In the Xbox Game Bar’s Capture widget, check that the right mic is selected (some versions let you pick which mic to record from).

Picking the correct input here means Windows’s got less chance to grab the wrong mic or nothing at all.

Method 3: Confirm where recordings save and your file settings

This might sound basic, but a lot of folks forget where their recordings end up, which can be frustrating. Check the default save folder: Settings > Gaming > Captures. Make sure it’s somewhere you can find easily.

If you’re using other tools or Windows updates have changed default folders, consider setting a custom folder for your recordings. That way, they don’t get lost in some random Windows directory.

Method 4: Test it out and restart if needed

Sometimes, after changing settings or updating Windows, your mic or system sounds might not get picked up straight away. Try restarting the Xbox Game Bar, or better yet, reboot your PC. Occasionally, disconnecting and reconnecting your mic or resetting your audio devices can fix it too — it’s a little trick that often does the job.

If it still doesn’t work, disable then re-enable your mic in Device Manager. Find it under Audio Inputs and Outputs, right-click and select Disable device, then enable it again.

Tips for Better Screen + Audio Recording in Windows 11

Check your mic levels beforehand — too low, and no one will hear you. Too high, and it’ll clip or distort.
Use headphones when recording game or system audio — it helps ensure you capture exactly what you hear, not just what your mic picks up.
Watch out for background noise — mute apps you don’t need, and consider a dedicated condenser mic for clear narration if you’re doing longer videos.
Keep an eye on your system’s audio mixer (right-click the speaker icon and select Open Volume Mixer) in case anything gets muted or lowered during recording.
Do a quick test recording for a minute — listen back to make sure the audio sounds clear and syncs properly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record my screen without using the Xbox Game Bar?

Absolutely. You can go for third-party tools like OBS Studio, which give you more control over audio sources and overlays. They’re a bit trickier to set up, but worth it if you want more options. Windows’ built-in tools are fine for quick grabs, but OBS lets you fine-tune everything for better audio and quality.

What if my microphone isn’t showing up?

Check your mic in Device Manager. If it’s greyed out, update your drivers or try unplugging and plugging it back in. Sometimes Windows just needs a nudge — turning the mic off and on in the sound settings can do the trick. And don’t forget to check app permissions for microphone access.

Why does the audio sound out of sync or choppy?

This often happens if your PC is under heavy load or if your recording settings are too high. Try lowering the frame rate or resolution in the Xbox Game Bar’s options, and close other programs that might be hogging CPU or GPU time during your recording.

Where are my recordings saved?

By default, in your Videos > Captures folder. You can change the save location in Settings under Gaming > Captures if you prefer somewhere else.

Wrap-up

Getting your Windows 11 screen recordings to include audio isn’t rocket science, but it’s easy to overlook those small settings. Checking your mic permissions, ensuring the right input device, and tweaking capture options usually does the trick. It can be a bit of trial and error — because Windows sometimes makes things more complicated than they need to be — but with a bit of patience, you’ll get there. Once sorted, you’ll be able to share tutorials, gameplay, or meetings with decent audio. Just keep an eye on those settings and don’t be afraid to reboot or fiddle around a bit — sometimes, that’s all it takes to get it working smoothly.