How to Screen Record with Sound (Every Device)

To screen record with sound, turn on the audio source before you start — your microphone, system audio (what the device plays), or both. Almost every built-in recorder can capture at least one of these; the catch is that the audio toggles are usually off by default, so a recording made in a hurry comes out silent. This guide shows exactly where that switch is on Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android, plus how to fix a clip that already recorded without sound.

Which device can capture which audio?

Windows 11 — Snipping Tool

The Snipping Tool is the simplest option because it can mix your voice and the computer’s sound in one clip.

1. Press Win + Shift + R to open the screen recorder.
2. Click the audio icon (speaker/microphone) in the toolbar.
3. Turn on Microphone for your voice. It’s muted by default — this is the most common reason a Windows recording is silent.
4. Turn on System audio for app and video sound.
5. Click New, drag to select the area, then click Start. Click Stop when finished.

The file is saved to Videos → Screen Recordings. For more detail, see how to record your screen on Windows.

Windows 10 & 11 — Xbox Game Bar

Game Bar is better for full-screen apps and games because it records system audio automatically.

1. Press Win + G to open the overlay.
2. In the Capture widget, click the microphone icon to add your voice.
3. System audio is captured by default — nothing to enable.
4. Click Record (●) or press Win + Alt + R, and press it again to stop.

Clips are capped by Max recording length — 30 minutes, 1, 2, or 4 hours. Game Bar is best for shorter sessions; for long recordings use Snipping Tool or a dedicated app.

Mac — Screenshot toolbar and QuickTime

macOS records your microphone easily but ignores system audio unless you add a free driver.

1. Press Shift + Cmd + 5 to open the capture toolbar.
2. Click Options.
3. Under Microphone, choose your input device (or None for silence).
4. Click Record to start, then the stop button in the menu bar.

The Screenshot app does not capture the sound your Mac is playing. To record system audio, install the free BlackHole virtual audio device and route your output through it — see how to record internal audio on Mac for the full setup. For a complete walkthrough of Mac capture options, see how to screen record on Mac.

iPhone and iPad

1. Add Screen Recording to Control Centre if it isn’t there: Settings → Control Centre.
2. Swipe down from the top-right to open Control Centre.
3. Long-press the Screen Recording button (a quick tap starts recording silently).
4. Tap the Microphone icon so it turns on.
5. Tap Start Recording, and tap the red status bar to stop.

iPhone screen recordings capture the device’s own audio automatically, so you get the mic and system sound together. Apps that use DRM (some streaming services) will show a black frame in the recording — that’s a copyright restriction, not a bug. More: how to screen record on iPhone.

Android

1. Swipe down twice to open Quick Settings.
2. Tap Screen Record (called Screen recorder on many Samsung phones).
3. Choose the audio source: Media (system sound), Microphone (your voice), or both.
4. Tap Start.

The exact menu wording varies by manufacturer. On Samsung, tap the Settings gear in the recorder to pick Sound: Media / Media and mic / Mic. On Pixel, the toggles appear as Media sounds and Microphone before you start. Full steps: how to screen record on Android.

Troubleshooting silent or bad audio

If a clip is silent, don’t panic — the video is fine. Re-record with the audio switch on, because volume cannot be added to a finished MP4 in the built-in tools.

FAQ

Why is my screen recording silent?

Almost always because the audio source was off when recording started. Microphone capture is disabled by default in Windows Snipping Tool, in the iPhone long-press menu, and in the Mac capture toolbar — check the toggle before every recording.

Can I record my microphone and system audio at the same time?

Yes on Windows, Android, and iPhone, where both sources mix into one track. On Mac you need BlackHole (free) or a paid router like Loopback to capture system sound alongside your mic.

Does Xbox Game Bar record system audio automatically?

Yes — Game Bar captures app and system sound by default, and you only need to enable the microphone manually. Clips are capped at 4 hours via the Max recording length setting.

How do I add sound to a screen recording that already has none?

You usually can’t retrofit audio into a finished file with the OS tools. The practical fix is to import the video into an editor, lay a separate audio track from a fresh voice recording over it, and re-export. Faster to simply re-record with the audio toggle enabled.

Can I record system audio on Windows without extra software?

Yes. Windows 11’s Snipping Tool and Xbox Game Bar both capture system sound natively. A legacy “stereo mix” device is not required.