6 Ways to Record YouTube Live Stream on Computer and Mobile

Quick Answer:
You can use the following tools to record a live stream on YouTube, including SurFlex Screen Recorder for Windows & macOS, Xbox Game Bar for Windows 10 and later, QuickTime Player for macOS, ScreenCapture for Chrome, Firefox, and other popular browsers, and the phone’s built-in screen recorder.

Livestream recording is a useful method for preserving live-streaming content for future purposes, including distribution, sharing, archiving, and more. It’s understandable that you may want to record YouTube live stream on your computer or mobile device. If that’s the case, follow this guide to learn how to record a live stream using simple tools. Whether you’re planning to record a YouTube live stream on your computer or phone, you’ll find a suitable solution for your needs.

How to Record YouTube Live Stream on Computer

Tool: SurFlex Screen Recorder for Windows & macOS

Recording a streaming video on a computer is easy since there are various types of screen recorders to help. SurFlex Screen Recorder is one of them. This screen recorder for Windows and macOS enables you to capture whatever content on your computer, including YouTube live streams.

When you record a YouTube live stream with SurFlex Screen Recorder screen recorder, you can customize the video format, video quality, and more. Besides, you can record a live stream on PC with audio, including system sound, app sound, and microphone sound.

Note: It is advisable to maximize the YouTube live stream window to ensure a perfect screen capture.

To record a YouTube live stream on your computer:

How to Record a YouTube Live Stream on PC

Tool: Xbox Game Bar on Windows 10 and later

In addition to using a third-party screen recorder, you can utilize the preinstalled screen recording app on your Windows PC or laptop to directly record a live stream on PC. One such app is Xbox Game Bar, which allows you to record an app window along with audio, including system sound, microphone sound, or both. If you prefer a free option to record a YouTube live stream, using Xbox Game Bar recording will meet your requirements.

Before you begin, it is recommended to go to Start > Settings > Gaming > Captures to configure the recording options, and then access Xbox Game Bar (Windows-G) > Settings > Capturing to select the desired audio recording option. Afterward, follow the steps below to easily record a YouTube live stream on your PC or laptop.

To record a YouTube live stream on PC:

Step 1. Make sure the live stream window is currently active.

Step 2. Press Windows-Alt-R to start recording the current window automatically.

Step 3. When the recording is completed, click the Stop icon in the recording bar or press Windows-Alt-R again to stop the recording.

Step 4. Go to Xbox Game Bar (Windows-G) and check the video in the Gallery panel.

Note: If you don’t see the Gallery panel, click Widget Menu and choose Gallery.

How to Perform YouTube Live Stream Record on Mac

Tool: QuickTime Player on macOS

Certainly, macOS has its own built-in screen recorder called QuickTime Player, which allows you to record a live stream on Mac. By default, QuickTime Player can record a YouTube live stream on your Mac with external sound. However, if you want to record the screen with internal audio, you’ll need to install and configure a virtual audio driver on your Mac beforehand. If this is what you’re looking for, you can refer to the guide on QuickTime Player screen recording with audio.

To perform YouTube live stream recording on Mac:

Step 1. Prepare the YouTube live stream window.

Step 2. Go to QuickTime > File > New Screen Recording.

Step 3. Click Options to choose the audio input device.

Step 4. Choose to record the entire screen or a selected portion.

Step 5. Click Record to start recording the YouTube live stream.

Note: Using the built-in screen recorder for Mac can’t capture system sound and microphone sound at the same time. If that’s what you need, use a third-party screen recording app instead.

How to Record Live Stream on YouTube Online

Tool: ScreenCapture online screen recorder

Supported browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera.

Using a desktop-based screen recorder is not the only option available for recording a live stream on your computer. There are also online screen recording services that allow you to record a live stream on YouTube without the need for any software installation. One such service is ScreenCapture.

It is free to use and has no time limitations, saving the recorded video in HD quality and in MP4 format. However, it should be noted that ScreenCapture adds a watermark to the recording. If you wish to remove the watermark, you can upgrade to the pro version of the service.

To record a live stream on YouTube online:

Step 1. Open a browserand visit ScreenCapture.com.

Step 2. Select the audio recording option and click Start Recording.

Step 3. Choose to record a browser tab and choose the YouTube live stream tab.

Step 4. Ensure the Also share tab audio option is enabled and click Share.

Step 5. Once the recording is done, click Stop Sharing and go back to ScreenCapture to click Stop Recording.

Step 6. Preview the recording and then click Download to save it to your computer.

How to Record a Live Stream on iPhone from YouTube

Tool: iPhone’s built-in screen recording feature

When you need to record a live stream on iPhone, utilizing the built-in screen recording feature is the most convenient solution. While there are third-party screen recorder apps available on the App Store, it is simpler to use the native screen recorder as it can be accessed directly from the Control Center. With the native screen recorder, you can easily record a live stream on YouTube or any other platform using your device.

To record a live stream on iPhone from YouTube:

Step 1. Go to Settings to add Screen Recording to your Control Center.

Step 2. When you need to record, swipe down from the top-right of your screen and tap Screen Recording.

Step 3. When you are finished with the recording, tap the recording bar and click the Stop button.

Step 4. Go to the Camera Roll on your iPhone to check the recorded live stream from YouTube.

How to Record a Live Stream YouTube via Android

Tool: Android’s built-in screen recorder

You can also record a live YouTube stream on Android by utilizing the pre-installed screen recorder. Before you begin, ensure that the screen recorder is accessible in the Control Panel. If it is not present, you can add it to the panel first. Once done, follow the steps below to record a live stream on your Android device.

To record YouTube live on Android:

Step 1. Open the YouTube app and find the live stream you’d like to record.

Step 2. Swipe down from the top of your screen to open the Control Panel.

Step 3. Click the Screen Recorder to start recording the live stream on YouTube immediately.

Step 4. When you are done, tap the recording bar and click Stop.

Step 5. Go to the Gallery app to check the recorded video.

Bonus Tip: Download a YouTube Live Stream

Another method to preserve a live stream on YouTube is by downloading it using a YouTube video downloader, such as SurFast Video Downloader. This downloader allows you to download both uploaded YouTube videos and YouTube live streams. It offers an advantage over screen recording because it saves time: if you choose to screen record, you would need to record for the entire duration of the video. Therefore, it provides a more straightforward approach to saving a live stream on YouTube.

Wrapping Up

Depending on the device you are using, the appropriate method for recording a YouTube live stream may vary. In general, regardless of the device, there is a pre-installed screen recorder that allows you to record a live stream on YouTube for free. However, if you desire more advanced features or customizable options, opting for a professional screen recorder would be a better choice.