How to Clip on PC in 5 Easy Ways

Quick Answer:
You can clip on Windows using Xbox Game Bar, GeForce Experience, OBS Studio, FBX Game Recorder, or SurFlex Screen Recorder. These tools provide screen recording shortcuts for you to easily clip a video on your computer.

When using a computer, there are occasions when you may need to clip something for sharing, archiving, or other purposes. So, how can you clip on a PC? The answers are plentiful and straightforward. Whether you want to record game clips or capture other on-screen content, there are built-in and third-party screen recorders available to assist you. If you’re interested in learning how to clip on PC using five different methods, continue reading.

How to Clip Gameplay on PC with Xbox Game Bar

If your PC is running Windows 10 or a higher version, you can utilize the preinstalled screen recorder, Xbox Game Bar, to record clips on your PC. The screen recording feature of Xbox Game Bar allows you to capture the currently active window with audio (except for File Explorer) or clip the last 30 seconds on your computer (or other durations, depending on your settings). That means you can not only capture what is happening but also record what happened on your PC. The steps to clip on PC slightly vary, depending on what you want to record.

Note: Want to customize recording settings? Check the guide on Xbox Game Bar recording for more details.

To clip on PC directly:

Step 1. Make sure the window or app you want to clip is currently focused.

Step 2. Press Windows + Alt + R to start clipping a video.

Step 3. Once finished, press Windows + Alt + R again to end the recording.

Step 4. Click the Game clip recorded message to check the video.

To clip the last 30 seconds on PC:

Step 1. Go to Start > Settings > Gaming > Captures.

Step 2. Enable Background Recording and select to record the last 30 seconds.

Step 3. When needed, press Windows + Alt + G to record and save the last 30 seconds on your PC.

Step 4. Go to Videos > Capture to check the clip.

Xbox Game Bar is always a recommended solution when you want to clip on Discord or clip Twitch streams.

How to Clip with NVIDIA GeForce Experience

For PCs equipped with NVIDIA GeForce GPUs, there is an additional built-in screen recorder available to help clip videos on PC, which is GeForce Experience. Its recording enables you to capture high-quality clips on your PC. Whether you wish to record videos at 60fps or clip games in 8K resolution, it proves to be a valuable tool. If you are interested in GeForce Experience, you can check the guide on how to clip with NVIDIA for more details. (This app also helps to record the last 15 seconds or capture past clips in another length on your PC or laptop.)

How to Clip with OBS Studio

Although OBS Studio is not a preinstalled tool on your computer, it is free and open-source software available for all Windows versions. You can easily download and install it on your computer to use it to clip stuff on PC. Unlike Xbox Game Bar and GeForce Experience, which are primarily developed for game recording, OBS Studio allows you to record any content you need. Additionally, it offers the capability to capture real-time content as well as past activities. If you are looking for free clipping software for your PC, OBS Studio is worth trying. (You can get more details from the guide: how to clip with OBS.)

To clip with OBS:

Step 1. Download and install OBS Studio on your computer.

Step 2. Go to File > Settings > Output to finish the recording settings.

Step 3. Then go to the Hotkeys tab to set the hotkey for starting and stop recording.

Step 4. Head to the Sources panel and add the recording sources you need.

Step 5. Click Start Recording or press the hotkey you set to start clipping on PC.

Step 6. Click Stop Recording or press the hotkey you set to end the recording.

Step 7. Go to File > Show Recordings to check the video clip.

OBS Studio also provides a feature called Replay Buffer that allows you to capture what happened on your computer, such as recording the last 1 minute on PC.

How to Clip Videos on PC with FBX Game Recorder

If you aim to solely clip gameplay on your PC, using FBX is also a highly recommended choice. This game recorder offers an in-game overlay that assists you in recording game clips on your computer through shortcuts. It supports a wide range of 3D and 2D games and allows you to capture gameplay without experiencing lag. If your requirement is limited to recording gameplay on PC, FBX will effectively fulfill your needs.

Note: You need to be recording to save a clip.

To clip gameplay on PC with FBX Game Recorder:

Step 1. Download and install FBX Game Recorder on your computer.

Step 2. Launch FBX and go to Settings.

Step 3. Select Video and choose the video output settings.

Step 4. Go to Overlay and adjust its position and displayed content.

Step 5. If necessary, go to Hotkeys to customize the hotkey for clipping.

Step 6. Go to Options > Clips to set the clip length.

Step 7. Start a game and press Ctrl + F12 to start the recording.

Step 8. When you need to clip a video, press F10 to save the past gameplay.

Step 9. Go to FBX > Recordings to check the video.

How to Clip on PC with SurFlex Screen Recorder

If you prefer lightweight clipping software for PC, you will like SurFlex Screen Recorder. This tool helps you to record clips on your PC in your preferred format and quality and allows you to record any part of your screen. During the screen recording, you can also capture system sound, microphone voice, or both. What’s more, it also offers a free online screen recorder for you to record videos on your PC via Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. If you want to record clips on PC for free without any watermark, don’t miss SurFlex Online Free Screen Recorder.

To clip videos on PC:

Step 1. Open SurFlex Screen Recorder. Before the screen recording, click Settings to customize the output options.

Step 2. If you want to record a video with audio on your PC, enable audio recording and select the audio type you need.

Step 3. Choose to record the full screen or a selected region, select the recording area, and then click REC to start recording a video on your PC.

Step 4. The recording will start in five seconds (you can customize the option in Settings). Once the recording is finished, click Stop.

Step 5. Check the recorded video in the popup window.

Wrapping Up

Undoubtedly, utilizing the built-in Xbox Game Bar is the most convenient method for capturing clips on your PC. However, it cannot customize the recording region and will capture the currently active window by default. If you desire to record a specific part of the screen on Windows, it becomes necessary to use third-party clipping software such as SurFlex Screen Recorder.