How to Record Steam Video Gameplay | 4 Easy Methods

Steam is now all the rage as a large game-playing platform online. Numerous game lovers prefer to play games, chat with like-minded friends, and share game videos. Combined with several social platforms, many users love to record Steam video and share it on their social accounts, like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, etc. This guide will show you how to record Steam gameplay videos easily, whether for sharing an amazing game moment, creating a tutorial, or reviewing a game and providing commentary. 

Four Steam gameplay recorders will be introduced here. Using them, you can successfully record Steam videos with audio. Check the detailed instructions in the following.

How to Record Steam Video with iTop Screen Recorder

The iTop Screen Recorder became an overnight sensation after its release, receiving high praise from many users. It is versatile screen recording software for Windows users. It can almost satisfy all your needs when you need to record Steam videos. You can use it to capture screen video, audio, or separately. Moreover, you can record part of screen, like a specific Steam window, the screen in a fixed ratio, etc. iTop Screen Recorder provides a free trial version for all users to access. Meanwhile, it has a default video editing feature, helping you edit the recorded Steam video and share it on social platforms directly. 

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• Free to Record Steam Gameplay

iTop Screen Recorder provides a free version to record screen video and audio. Apart from this feature, other tools within the software are also free to access, such as a powerful video editor, a helpful video compressor, a default screenshot tool, etc. 

• Record Steam Video with no Lag

iTop Screen Recorder can capture Steam gameplay smoothly. And as a handy tool, it won’t affect your game-playing experience at all. You can record as well as play games with no lag or high ping. 

• Capture Steam Video Last Minutes

iTop Screen Recorder enables you to record last minutes. Along with it, you can capture the whole process of a brilliant game-playing instant. 

• Export Recorded Steam Gameplay in High Resolution

This screen recorder allows you to record Steam video in high quality. You can select to export it in 4k, 1080p, etc. And multiple video formats are optional, like MP4, MOV, AVI, FLV, and more. 

After getting to know its features, it’s time to figure out how to record video on Steam on Windows with iTop Screen Recorder. Refer to the step-by-step guide below.

How to Record Steam Video on Windows Using iTop Screen Recorder

Step 1. Download and install iTop Screen Recorder on your computer and open it.

Step 2. Hit the options button and select Settings > Format to set up the recorded video resolution and file format. 

Step 3. Select the area of your screen you want to capture. Then open the Steam gameplay windows and press the REC button to start recording. When you finish, press the Stop button to end the recording.

How to Record Steam Video Gameplay on Windows with Xbox Game Bar

To record video in Steam without downloading any third-party software, the inbuilt Xbox Game Bar is a top option. It is a default screenshotting tool and screen recorder Windows 10 and later. This tool enables you to capture the entire screen and record it with the system’s sound and your voice. 

How to Record Steam Video Gameplay Using Xbox Game Bar

Step 1. Use the Wins + G hotkey to arouse Xbox Game Bar.

Step 2. Press the Record button to start capturing your screen. (Or you can use the hotkey Wins + Alt + R to start recording directly).

Step 3. Hit the stop button when you fulfill the Steam video recording.

Xbox Game Bar is easy and fast to record Steam videos. However, it also possesses several shortcomings compared to those versatile screen recording tools. On the one hand, it doesn’t allow you to capture a specific portion of your screen. On the other hand, it is not equipped with advanced video editing tools. It is a handy tool but not a professional one to record Steam gameplay. 

How to Record Video on Steam with VLC

VLC is a free and open-source multimedia player that can also be used for screen recording. VLC is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS systems. Therefore, you can use it to record Steam gameplay on both computer and mobile. As a screen recorder, it allows you to capture the entire screen or part of the screen, record screen video with audio, convert the recorded video format, etc. It is also a 1080p screen recorder that allows you to record video in high resolution. Here are the steps to use VLC to record video in Steam：

Step 1. Open VLC and select "Media" from the top menu. Then select Convert / Save.

Step 2. Tab the Capture Device button and set the Capture Mode to Desktop. Decide the video format and resolution you want to save. Then click on Save and then press Start to begin recording your screen.

Step 3. Click on the Stop button to stop recording. Then open the file to check the recorded video.

VLC is efficient in screen recording. But it also has a downside that most open-source screen recorders have: it doesn’t provide other helpful video editor features. Moreover, its user interface of it is a little outdated and unfriendly for new beginners.

How to Record Steam Gameplay with OBS

OBS refers to Open Broadcaster Software, is a free and open-source software for live streaming and video recording. You can use it to capture gameplay footage from Steam games and screen record with voice on your computer. But it may be tricky for novices to use OBS to record Steam Gameplay. It takes time and energy to learn and master the operation of the OBS Studio. This software is recommended for professionals in software processing. 

To record Steam gameplay using OBS Studio, follow these steps:

Step 1. Launch OBS and click on the "+" icon in the Sources section to start a new recording task. Then select Game Capture and choose the Steam game you want to record and add it as a source.

Step 2. Click on Setting > Output to set up your recording settings. Then press Start Recording to start capturing your gameplay footage.

Step 3. Paste Stop Recording to save your video file.

OBS is professional in Steam gameplay recording. But you have to note that it can be quite CPU-intensive, so make sure your computer meets the system requirements before using it to record gameplay.

Which Method is Better for Steam Gameplay Video Recording

The Bottom Line

The post mainly discussed how to record Steam video gameplay using practical and free screen recorders. Four efficient  Steam video recorders have been mentioned here. In comparison, we’d love to put iTop Screen Recorder at the top of the recommended list, because of its high-quality video output, multi-features, and ease of use. You can download it and give it a try. It is convinced that it can meet your needs when you record videos on Steam.