Desktop recorders are software programs that you download to your computer and run natively as you would any other application. These screen recorders for Windows 7 tend to be fast and reliable because they are not limited to a network connection. However, they do not work well in situations where you cannot install software on the computer, such as a work computer or other machine that doesn’t belong to you.
Best Screen Recording Software for Windows 7 Free
Windows 7’s built-in Game Bar
Best for: Capturing videos of PC games
You may have heard friends or acquaintances talk about recording their screen with the Game Bar – a built-in Windows software. If you’ve tried to find it on Windows 7, you may be under the impression that it’s hidden somewhere impossible to find. Unfortunately, this recording tool is not available for Windows 7. It was initially a part of the Xbox app designed specifically for Windows 10, as more recent Xbox models also use that operating system. It is useful for recording games and other apps built for Windows 10 and designed to be Xbox compatible. It includes every app available from the Windows Marketplace and some that aren’t.
If your computer meets the specifications and requirements for Windows 10, you can upgrade and get access to the Windows 10 Game Bar. With Windows 10, recording a video from the screen is as simple as pressing the Windows + G key combination to bring up the Windows 10 Game Bar and then pressing the record button on the overlay that pops up. Windows will then record the video until you tell it to stop and save the results in the folder that you set in the program’s settings menus.
Suppose you don’t want to upgrade to Windows 10. In that case, Movavi Screen Recorder makes an excellent alternative that is nearly as quick to use as the native Windows 10 solution and gives greater control over the output.
Pros
- Free tool, built into Windows
- Records videos of gaming sessions
- Live-streams (no third-party software needed)
- Share content from Windows and Xbox games
Cons
- Not all games work while using Game Mode
- Games compatible with Game Mode may not run in full screen
OBS Studio
Best for: Screencasts and broadcasting game streams to platforms like YouTube and Twitch
TechRadar rating: 4 out of 5
OBS is a desktop recorder for Windows 7. It’s a compelling solution for broadcasting streaming video, with many great features for mixing and combining sources to create a very professional look. This power comes at a cost, though. The software was designed for hardcore streamers who need strict control over every second of their stream. For a simple push-and-record scenario, it isn’t effortless to use and not as intuitive as other solutions on the market. The software is free and worth a try if you don’t mind a bit of a learning curve and look for something with a lot of flexibility.
Recording with OBS is more complicated than recording with most Windows 7 video recorder software. After you’ve downloaded and installed the software, you’ll need to do some setup that other programs don’t require. Before you can record, you have to create a scene. To do so, click the + icon in the section of the OBS window marked Scenes. Give the scene a name and then move over to the section marked Sources. Click the + icon there to add a source. Select Display Capture to capture your display. Now you can press the alt key and drag the mouse to crop the capture area. Once everything is ready, press the Start Recording button to begin the capture process.
Pros
- Powerful high-quality video recording tool
- Computer screen recording
- Open-source code
- Easily connects with popular streaming service providers
- Plugins available to add custom functionality
Cons
- Layout a tad overwhelming for novice users
- Can be taxing on CPU usage
How to do screen video capture on Windows 7 with an online recorder
While one option on this list requires you to download a tiny help utility, most only recorders allow you to capture your screen without downloading any additional software. With these tools, you can record videos on a PC using nothing but a browser and an internet connection. Of course, the downside is that any internet connectivity problems will prevent you from using the software.
Screencapture.com
Best for: Teachers, students studying at home, presentations, creating tutorials
Trustpilot rating: 4.6 out of 5, 190 reviews
The need for a download puts many people off of using Apowersoft. Screencapture.com is a new service that is still growing, but it already has an advantage over Apowersoft in that it doesn’t require any downloads to work. There is a free version of the tool that will place a small watermark on the recorded video. The web-based tool functions are a webcam recorder and a screen recorder for Windows 7 and other platforms. Users will likely find the site easy to use and convenient.
Here’s how to record a video on Windows 7 with screencapture.com. You only need to go to the website, select your options, and press Start Recording. A dialog will pop up asking for permission to access the required functionality to record the screen from your browser. You can choose to record your entire screen, a specific open window, or an open tab in the browser you are visiting the site from. Once you confirm the permissions and the recording area, the capture process will begin.
Pros
- Free online screen recorder
- No need to download/install an app to use
- Fast HD video saves
- Records audio, voice, and internal system sounds
- Can include user’s face via webcam
Cons
- Cannot upload files directly to video-sharing sites like YouTube
Apowersoft Online Recorder
Best for Recording video and audio at the same time, including narration and voiceover
TechRadar rating: 4.5 out of 5
Apowersoft is a website that allows for screen video capture on Windows 7 straight from a browser. The website does require that you download a small helper application that will enable it to better communicate with your computer. But the actual recording process will be started from the website. This little download gives it some of the features that its fully native counterparts have, such as selecting which parts of the screen to record. When you are done recording, the software lets you save the file to disk or upload it to popular video and cloud storage services.
After you’ve downloaded and installed the helper application, recording with Apowersoft’s free online screen recorder is easy. Browse to the website and press the Start Recording button in the middle of the screen. The application will open up, and you can choose between a screenshot and video capture. After choosing video capture, you’ll hit the Record button to start recording and the Stop button to finish. To save the file, click the share icon in the bottom right corner of the window and choose to save it to a file rather than upload it to a cloud service.
Pros
- Easy to use, flexible one-click screen recording
- Wide range of useful features
- No limits on what you can record or for how long
- Export recorded videos to multiple formats
- Make annotation while recording
Cons
- Needs an internet connection to work
- Must download/install the app, despite being an online recorder
How to use Google Chrome extensions as Windows 7 video recorders
The Google Chrome extensions below are like a cross between the previous two options. You’ll be using your Chrome web browser as the host for a screen recording program, but the two extensions listed work when the machine is offline. So you have the benefit of a locally installed screen recorder and the convenience of not having to open an extra app to use it.
Screencastify
Best for: Quickly create troubleshooting and how-to videos, record product demos, etc.
Google Web Store rating: 4 out of 5 stars, 11,646 reviews
Users: 10 000 000+
For a browser-based screen capture tool, Screencastify comes with a pretty hefty feature set. You can record your desktop, browser tab, or webcam in full HD and get audio from your microphone to add narration to the video. Videos can be saved locally but are also automatically saved to Google Drive. Essential editing tools allow you to trim the start and end of your videos and draw on the video with a pen tool. For an upgrade fee, it can merge, crop, and add text to the video that you’ve captured.
You must be using Chrome to use this software. From your Chrome browser, visit the Chrome web store and search for Screencastify. When you find it, click on Add to Chrome and confirm the addition. It will be added to the top right of the toolbar. When you click on that, it’ll take you to a sign-in page. Create an account and sign in. You’ll then be asked to give the required permissions. When you click the button in the toolbar, you can choose a recording method and start recording.
Pros
- Free version available
- User-friendly interface
- Screen and audio capture/recording
- Annotations
Cons
- Free version limits video recordings to 5 minutes
- No free trial for the PRO version
Free screen recorder windows 10
5 Best Screen Recorders for Windows 10
1. ActivePresenter
ActivePresenter by Atomi Systems is an all-in-one screen recorder and video editor. It is most loved by YouTubers, video producers, educators, and trainers who look for video demos, how-to videos, and step-by-step tutorials. ActivePresenter has virtually all the features and effects one may need to record screen and edit videos.
The free version of ActivePresenter is free of charge with no watermark when using free features. You can test all features of ActivePresenter without any functionality or time restrictions. After the capture phase, you’re allowed to trim, cut, split your recording, change the speed and volume, add closed captions, annotations, animations, and more. When you upgrade to the paid versions, more advanced audio and video editing features are available to create impressive videos and software simulations.
2. Windows 10’s built-in Game bar
You might be surprised that Windows 10 has a pre-installed Game bar for anyone who wants to capture their game clips and screenshots. Of course, this Game bar can be used to record apps only – it cannot record full screen or a specific region. This makes sense as it is designed for gaming capture. Although the Game bar is available on all Windows 10 PCs, to record game clips and screen, your computer’s video cards must meet the hardware requirements.
Recording your screen with the Game bar is easy by following these steps:
- Press WINDOWS+G to open the Game bar. If required, select the “Yes, this is a game.” check box.
- Press the Start/Stop Recording button to start and stop a recording. Use the Turn Microphone On/Off button to toggle microphone if you wish.
- After recording, trim your video or rename it in the Xbox app. Your video will be saved in the Captures folder, which by default is in your Videos folder.
3. OBS Studio
OBS Studio is a free application for video recording and live streaming without watermark or time limit. It is much preferred by hardcore gamers for broadcasting their live gameplay footage. Using OBS Studio, you can capture not only the entire display or a window but also from webcam and microphone. When it comes to streaming, the program lets you select which desktop applications and audio sources to be shared, as well as create layered videos for webcam.
While OBS Studio is a versatile app for capturing screen, it integrates no video editor. You need to employ another tool if you want to edit your recorded video. As a side note, as OBS Studio is an open-source program, you should be careful not to download the program from any website but the official site.
4. Flashback Express
Flashback Express is a at no cost app that can record screen, webcam, and sounds. It neither sets time limit on recording nor stamps watermark on the output videos. If you are running this software on a multi-monitor system, you can either record screens across multiple monitors or limit capturing to a single monitor. You can also make use of scheduled recordings to start and stop recording at scheduled times or when a specified application is launched.
Flashback Express is a free version of a paid application, Flashback Pro. While the two versions share the same recording features, the free version doesn’t include any video editing features, annotations, or effects. Regarding sharing, users can save videos as MP4, AVI, or WMV and directly upload videos to YouTube. Only paid users are entitled to save videos as Flash, QuickTime, GIF, or standalone EXE and set password protection for videos.
5. Camtasia
Developed by TechSmith, Camtasia is one of the highest-priced screen capture applications at present. It has over 14 million users worldwide and might never be absent in top screen recorder rankings. As an all-in-one screen recorder and video editor, Camtasia claims to “make it easy to record your screen and create polished, professional-looking videos.”
The newest version of Camtasia, Camtasia 2018, comes with a collection of brand-new video assets such as customizable intros, outros, and lower thirds. It also includes a number of themes to maintain a consistent look and feel across a series of videos. A 30-day free trial is available with watermark added.
free screen recorder for PC
Camtasia
Best screen recording software overall
Compatibility: Mac, Windows
Camtasia is a user-friendly screen recording software that includes a ton of video editing tools. It works with several formats, recording video calls, websites, and software with a drag-and-drop editor that allows you to easily perfect your recording. To give your video that extra touch, there are royalty-free assets available. When you are finished, your exported video easily works with YouTube, offering additional compatibility to simplify your life. It is easy to use for beginners with video tutorials to help you make how-to videos and demos that can help convert your customers. There are templates provided to help you get started, plus there is the option of adding special effects to your recording. It is a program that is super easy to navigate, thanks to provided themes and libraries, in addition to shortcuts and favorites for all of the tools and settings that you use the most.
Loom
Best screen recording software for online sharing
Compatibility: Android, iOS, Mac, Windows
Founded in 2015, today Loom is a screen recording software used by such giants like HubSpot, Netflix, and Lacoste, boasting a total number of 14 million users and 200 companies that use its services. Loom’s shining feature is that it includes several methods of recording, whether it is your screen, camera, microphone, or internal audio. Videos are automatically saved to the cloud for easy access when you need to view them later. This is a type of software that is designed for easy collaboration, offering viewers the option to interact with you through time-stamped comments and fun emoji reactions. You will also receive a notification every time there is viewer activity on your account, so you do not ever miss a comment. You can also access a mobile-friendly library on the go so you can access your videos even when you are not at your computer. Security controls keep you in control, too, giving you detailed viewer information so you can improve your videos over time. There is a free plan for the occasional user, or you can upgrade to a paid plan if you plan on staying busy.
Movavi
Best screen recording software for Mac users
Movavi
Compatibility: Mac, Windows
Movavi is a screen recording software that offers far more tools than the typical video editing app with movie and music editing, special effects, titles, and even slideshows. Still, it manages to remain user-friendly and easy enough for even young users to enjoy. It has an intuitive interface that is simple to navigate but does not compromise the powerful editing tools needed to create several different types of media.
Conclusion
Taking and keeping screenshots for large documents can be time-consuming, but it’s important to take advantage of the technology in order to capture important information. By using screencapture to capture documents that are in a hurry or about to happen, you can save time and keep your recordings. Additionally, by using screenshots to capture information for later use, you can save valuable moments during your work. Overall, taking and keeping screenshots for larger documents is a helpful way torecord important moments and keep records of your work.