Moni Rose

Windows and macOS allow you to capture your screen with their built-in tools. However, you can also make use of a variety of third-party screen-capture apps. Here's how to get started.

Built into Windows, the Xbox Game Bar is designed to record games that you play directly on your PC or those you stream from an Xbox console. However, it can just as easily capture screen activity from other, non-gaming, applications.

The Game Bar lets you record activity from most locations, except the desktop, File Explorer, and certain Windows apps, such as Weather.

To set up Game Bar in Windows 10, go to Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar and turn on the switch for Enable Xbox Game Bar. From here, you can also check the box for Open Xbox Game Bar using this button on a controller to trigger the Game Bar through the Xbox button on an Xbox controller.

From this screen, you can also view the default shortcuts associated with different Game Bar actions, or customize them with your own key combinations.

To set up Game Bar in Windows 11, go to Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar and turn on the switch for Open Xbox Game Bar using this button as a controller to use an Xbox gamepad to activate the Game Bar. The feature's keyboard shortcuts can be viewed and customizes in the settings menu of the Xbox Game Bar app.

Now you can navigate to the screen you wish to record and press Win+G to open Game Bar. Several widgets will appear on the screen with controls for capturing screenshots, recording video and audio, and broadcasting your screen activity. Click the Start Recording button or use the Win + Alt + R keyboard shortcut to capture your screen activity.

Now you are free to perform whatever screen actions you want to capture. After you click the screen, the Game Bar widgets vanish, replaced by a small floating bar in the upper-right corner of the screen through which you can control the recording. To stop the recording, click the Recording button on the floating bar.

Once the recording ends, a notification tells you that the game clip was recorded. Click the notification to view your video in the Game Bar. Click the Play button to play the video. You can also access your video from its default location in File Explorer: C:\Users\\Videos\Captures. Your videos will be stored here as MP4 files, which you can then upload or move elsewhere.

In Windows 10, you can open Settings > Gaming > Captures to tweak the Game Bar. From here, you can change the default file location for your videos, turn on background recording to capture activity after the fact, opt to record video along with your audio, and switch the frame rate between 30 and 60 frames per second.

You can also customize these settings from within Game Bar app—your only option in Windows 11. On the Game Bar toolbar, click the Settings icon at the right. Browse the different categories under Settings to modify the shortcuts, change the theme, tweak the widgets, set up background recording, and record the audio with the video.

Those of you running Windows 11 build number 22621.1344 or higher have another option now that the Snipping Tool can also record your screen. To see if you have the right version, go to Settings > System > About and check the Windows Specifications section for the OS version.

If you are running an older version of the OS, head to Settings > Windows Update and install the latest update. You must then open the Microsoft Store app, go to your library, and download the available update for the Snipping Tool.

Set up the window that you want to record, then open the Snipping Tool by selecting the app’s shortcut from the Start menu or by using the Win + Shift + S shortcut. Click the video camera icon on the toolbar, then click the New button.

A small recording toolbar pops up at the top of the screen. Select the portion of the screen that you want to capture, then click the Start button on the toolbar. While the recording is running, you can click the Pause button to stop the recording, then click Play to resume. Click the Stop button to finish recording.

A video of the activity you captured appears on the screen, which you can then watch. Click the Share icon to share the recording with a person, app, or service. Click the Save icon to save the recording as an MP4 file.

Your Mac comes with its own screen-recording feature on macOS Mojave and higher. Open the app or window you want to record and press Shift + Command + 5 to open the system’s Screenshot tool. From the bottom toolbar, you can opt to capture the entire screen, a selected window, or a custom portion.

The tool also allows you to take video of your screen, with options that include the entire screen or just a custom portion of the screen.

Click the Options button and you can choose where to save your recording and initiate a countdown timer before capturing your screen. Check Show Mouse Pointer if you want your curser to be captured on video. There is also an option to use your Mac's microphone if you are planning to record your voice or external audio.

Click Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion to begin recording. A Recording button appears at the top of the screen on the menu bar. Click this button to stop recording, and a thumbnail of your recording will be added to your computer. Double-click the screen recording file to play it in your default video player.

You can also trigger the screen recording tool from QuickTime if you go to File > New Screen Recording with QuickTime Player open. The first time you do this, you will be asked to open System Preferences to grant QuickTime Player permission to record your screen.

The free OBS Studio(Opens in a new window) works with Windows, macOS, and Linux, and packs a lot of features into one program. Use the program’s floating control panel to start and stop your recording. Along the way, OBS Studio can record screen activity, your microphone, and computer audio. The program then saves the output as an MP4 file.

You can also live stream your video live or turn to Studio Mode for adding cuts, fades, and other transitions to the video. The program offers an array of settings where you can change the format and other criteria for both the video and audio portions of the recording.

OBS may look intimidating at first, but you should be able to catch on and learn how to use it effectively. Check out our guide for beginners if you need help getting started.

Free Cam(Opens in a new window) is an extremely basic screen recorder for Windows users, but it remains capable for most needs. This program captures your screen activity and audio, then saves your recording as a WMV file. Simply click the New Recording button, then select which area of the screen you want to capture—anything from a single window or application to the entire screen.

Click the Record button to begin the capture, then press Esc when finished. Your recording appears in a preview window where you can edit and save it as a video file or upload it directly to YouTube.

If you need to record the screen on your smartphone, we have a guide for using the built-in recorder on iPhone and iPad. We can also help you choose the right app for Android devices.

For the most part, Hollywood stars are notorious for jumping through hoops to protect their privacy. However, there are certain neighborhoods that regularly attract celebrities due to their upscale dining, exclusive nightclubs, and overall private settings. Here’s a list of LA’s most star-studded neighborhoods for homebuyers looking to live next door to a celeb, or at least catch a glimpse of them.

Out of all the places to possibly run into a celebrity, West Hollywood should be one of your first destinations to consider. This highly desirable urban neighborhood is situated within a prime location in the city because it's adjacent to popular neighborhoods like Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills West, Fairfax, and Hollywood.

There are several reasons why movie stars and socialites seem to flock toward the endlessly trendy WeHo, as locals call it. Not only is the area low-key, it’s also near a number of local amenities such as Runyon Canyon, The Ivy on Robertson, and many top-notch entertainment studios. Known for having the latest lively nightclubs, award-winning dining establishments, high-end boutiques, and luxury homes, West Hollywood is simply a magnet for the rich and famous.

Star-studded community staples include the shopping and dining scene along Santa Monica Boulevard as well as hotspots like Chateau Marmont on the Sunset Strip, Nobu on La Cienega, and the colorful Pacific Design Center on Melrose.

Another hotspot for celebrity sightings is in the swanky residential neighborhood of Bel Air, which is a lavish, gated community lined with impressive mansions, often hosting photo shoots and film sets. This community was brought to the spotlight thanks to the popular television shows, “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” which were also filmed here.

Even if you don’t end up seeing anyone famous, you may still catch a glimpse of their lavish estates while driving through this ritzy neighborhood. There is also long list of notable residents who have either owned a home or still live in Bel Air, including Jennifer Aniston, Beyoncé, Elon Musk, and Michael Bay.

Celebrities also frequent several attractions inside the gated community as well, such as Hotel Bel-Air on Stone Canyon Road and the Bel-Air Country Club on Bellagio Road.

Many stars prefer to spend time farther away from the hectic city of Los Angeles, opting to live in beachfront properties near the ocean in Malibu. This oceanside community is known for its beautiful beaches, scenic views, and impressive estates.

Celebs flock to the beaches of Malibu because they offer more privacy. The closer you are to Venice, the more crowded the beaches get, so it makes sense that celebrities gravitate towards more secluded beaches such as Carbon Beach (aka Billionaires’ Beach) on Carbon Canyon Road. This beach is located a mile away from Malibu Pier, and it has several extravagant houses overlooking the waves.

Another popular destination that is often visited by celebrities is the famous Malibu Country Mart, which is known as a casual shopping outlet that features over 65 boutique shops, art galleries, and eateries.

With so many high-quality restaurants, thrift stores, and hip cafes scattered throughout the neighborhood, celebrities are naturally drawn to Silver Lake. A large number of famous folks live in the neighborhood, including Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Chris Pine, and Fred Armisen, according to Ranker. While many attention-seeking socialites head toward West Hollywood for a night out, many attention-avoiding celebrities head toward the low-key Silver Lake.

While Silver Lake doesn’t offer much when it comes to a thriving nightlife, it offers more when it comes to great food. Some popular options in the neighborhood include locally sourced coffee and brunch at Sqirl or produce shopping at the local farmers market.

Surprisingly, not many stars live in Hollywood, but the chances of running into someone famous near a studio or theater is high if your timing is right. Hollywood is where all the major award shows take place, and it’s also where actors, musicians, and models go to either film, record, or shoot for their work.

Many actors attend screening events for their latest movie premiere at the popular TCL Chinese Theatre. Another celebrity gathering spot is The Hollywood Roosevelt, a luxury boutique hotel and bar.

Every year, Hollywood’s Chamber of Commerce announces its list of celebrities to get a star on the historic Walk of Fame. The ceremony is not only free but it’s also open to the public, so remember to pay attention to the latest announcements.