1. Prepare a useful recording

Decide what you want to show: a particular action, a fault or a setting. Launch the game and reach that point before recording. A short, focused clip will be easier to review or send than an entire session.

Close conversations and personal documents that could appear, and check free disk space. If you want to describe the action, connect your microphone and choose a moment when you can speak for a few seconds without obscuring the game audio.

2. Open the controls and record

1. Press Windows + G from the game to open Game Bar.
2. Locate the capture controls and microphone button, then return to the game when ready.
3. Press Windows + Alt + R to start, and again to stop.
4. Use Windows + Alt + M to turn microphone recording on or off.

Look for the recording indicator. Pressing a shortcut without seeing a response is not proof that recording has started. End your first test after a recognisable action, such as opening and closing a game menu.

3. Find the file and check the sound

In File Explorer, open Videos → Captures. Game Bar normally saves videos as MP4 files. Find the most recent file, open it and watch the entire short clip.

• Does it show the right game and action?
• Can you hear the game audio?
• Is your voice included only if you intended to record it?
• Does the ending match the point where you stopped?

Rename the file to describe the scene or problem. Keep the original until you have checked any edited version or uploaded copy. A file that appears in the folder but will not play is not a successful recording.

For a still screenshot

Press Windows + Alt + Print Screen to capture an image of the game with Game Bar. It is normally saved as a PNG in Captures. On some keyboards you may also need the manufacturer’s function key to access Print Screen.

A still image may be enough for a fixed error message. Use a short video to show a sequence of actions or an intermittent problem. In either case, review the result before sharing it.

If recording fails or the result is wrong

If Windows + G does nothing, search Windows for Xbox Game Bar and check that it is installed. If the controls open but refuse to record, note the exact message and try another supported game. This separates an application-specific limitation from a more general recording problem.

If only your voice is missing, check the microphone control and input device. For a choppy clip, close unnecessary demanding applications and make another short test. Review that second file before recording a long session.

Game Bar records supported games and applications. If it refuses the content you need, use a recording method appropriate to that content rather than assuming a clip was created.

Sources and scope

Prepared from official documentation checked on 20 October 2026. Windows labels can change between versions. This guide does not claim hands-on testing on every PC.

• Microsoft — enregistrer avec Xbox Game Bar (French source)