Start recording quickly, solve common audio and video problems, and find the right Free Screencast guide for your task.
Quick start
- Choose Display, Window, or Region.
- Enable system audio, microphone, webcam, cursor, and click effects only when needed.
- Choose an output format and compression level. MP4 is the easiest default for sharing.
- Leave automatic stop off when you want to stop manually. Countdown is measured in seconds; automatic stop is measured in minutes.
- Select Start recording, then use the floating controller or configured shortcut to pause or stop.
Popular help topics
- Record Windows 11 with system audio and microphone
- Capture one application window without exposing the desktop
- Record the screen and webcam together
- Reduce file size without making text blurry
- Schedule a one-time or daily recording
- Choose between MP4, MKV, WebM, MOV, WMV, and AVI
- Trim a recording or export a GIF
Common checks
No microphone or system sound
Confirm that the correct device is selected, its switch is enabled, its volume is above zero, and Windows privacy settings allow desktop applications to use the microphone. Make a short test before a long recording.
The output file is too large
Capture a smaller region, lower FPS when motion is limited, raise compression gradually, trim idle time, and use the displayed MB-per-minute estimate to plan storage.
The wrong content was captured
Use the source preview. For a window capture, select the application again after it is visible and not minimized. For sensitive work, record a region instead of the full desktop.
I want to stop the recording myself
Turn off automatic stop. The recording will continue until you stop it from the floating controller, the main window, or your configured stop shortcut.
Still need help?
Include your Windows version, Free Screencast version, capture source, output format, audio devices, and the exact steps that reproduce the problem. Do not attach private recordings unless you intend to share them.