Want to know how to record a part of your screen? This guide covers 13 different screen recorders you can use to record a part of your screen on a range of devices.
Quick summary
High-quality screen recorder & editor: Movavi Screen Recorder
Built-in Windows recorder: Game Bar
Advanced recorder from multiple sources: OBS Studio
Special pick: Movavi Screen Recorder
Movavi Screen Recorder will help you record a part of the screen on your Windows PC or Mac. This app lets you select an area to record simultaneously or separately with a webcam, system sound, and microphone. It can also highlight your mouse cursor. After recording, you can cut out the unwanted parts right away.
Features:
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How to record a part of the screen on Windows 10
You can use the built-in Game Bar program on Windows to record a part of the screen. This program comes in handy when you don’t want to install any additional software on your PC. Follow the instructions below to learn how to record a part of your screen on Windows 10.
Step 1. Open the program
Game Bar is installed by default on Windows 10 devices, so you don’t need to worry about downloading or installing it. Simply press the Windows key and the G key at the same time. A pop-up window will appear, and you need to click on Yes, this is a game to proceed.
Step 2. Record a specific part of your screen
Click the Record button to start recording the screen. If needed, users can also open to the Settings menu to set up automatic cut off times and durations for their recordings.
Step 3. Stop recording
When you've finished the recording process, click the Stop Recording button. The recorded video will be automatically saved as an MP4 file in the Captures folder in your device's Videos section. Now you know how to use Game Bar on Windows 10 to record a part of the screen!
How to use the Movavi partial screen recorder
Movavi Screen Recorder is one of the most useful tools for recording either a small portion of your screen, your entire screen, or a specific window on your screen. It works on both Windows and Mac computers and is extremely easy to use. Here are the steps to follow if you'd like to give it a try:
Step 1. Download and install the partial screen recorder
Download the installation file for your PC or Mac. Then, just follow the installation instructions.
Step 2. Configure the parameters
Once Movavi Screen Recorder is installed, open it up and start configuring your recording settings. To do this, simply press the Screen recording button, which looks like a video camera. You can also press F10 if you're on Windows or ⌥ ⌘ 2 on a Mac. Draw a frame on the only part of your screen you'd like to capture. You can resize and move the frame around, as well as adjust the audio settings if you'd like to capture external or internal audio. You can also display keystrokes, mouse clicks, or your cursor during the recording.
Step 3. Record a part of the screen
Press the REC button to start the recording process. When you've finished, press the Stop button.
Step 4. Edit and save your video
Once you've finished recording, you can trim your recording and cut any unwanted parts. When you're happy with the final video, save it on your device by clicking the Export button and then Save. Or you can also use the sharing icons to upload it to various services, like YouTube and Google Drive.
How to record a part of the screen with OBS Studio
OBS Studio is an open-source software that many streamers and content creators use to make videos. It's also ideal for recording a small part of your screen on different devices. Here's how to get OBS to record a part of the screen:
Step 1. Download and install the program
Use the link below to download the installation file for your OS and follow the basic installation instructions to get started.
Step 2. Configure the settings
OBS Studio can be a little complicated the first time you use it, as you need to configure a few settings to set the program up. Take a look through the settings menus and adjust the settings that are important for you. You can also use the Auto-Configuration Wizard to set up the software automatically.
Step 3. Add a capture source
OBS Studio works by adding various sources via a small box at the bottom of the window labeled Sources. If you want OBS to capture part of the screen, you need to add a Window Capture source. To do this, click the plus icon in the Sources box. Then hit Window Capture and Create New. You can then select the window you want to record.
Step 4. Record your screen
Once you click on a window, it should appear in your Sources box and in the main Preview panel. You can adjust it and drag in the corners to get the right size. Next, click Start Recording. When you're done, just press Stop Recording. The video will be saved automatically as an FLV file.
How to use PowerPoint on Windows to record a part of the screen
Have you got Microsoft PowerPoint installed on your Windows device? If so, you might be surprised to learn that you can use it as a recording tool to capture videos of a certain part of your screen. Here's how to do it:
Step 1. Open the program
Microsoft PowerPoint is installed by default on most Windows systems, so simply find the program and launch it.
Step 2. Specify the settings
Open the Insert tab and click Screen Recording. You can use the Select Area tool to choose a specific area of the screen you want to record.
Step 3. Start recording
Click the Record button on the small control panel. The panel will disappear when you start recording, but you can move your mouse up to the top of the screen to make it reappear and stop or pause your recording.
Step 4. Save your recording
Click the Stop button. The video will be automatically added to your PowerPoint presentation as a slide. You can click File > Save As or File > Save Media As to save your presentation or just the video on its own.
How to record a part of the screen with QuickTime Player
So, what if you want to record a part of your screen on a Mac? Well, you can use Mac's very own built-in media software, QuickTime Player. Here's how to do it:
Step 1. Open QuickTime Player
Find QuickTime Player from your programs list and open it up. Then, click the File button at the top of the screen and choose New Screen Recording.
Step 2. Start recording
Once you click the New Screen Recording button, a tab with the Record button will appear on your screen. You can click the arrow beside this button to configure some basic settings, like showing mouse clicks or capturing audio. Or, you can click straight onto the button and then drag out a window over the section you want to record. The recording process will start once you hit the Start Recording button.
Step 3. Save the file
Once you've finished recording, click the Stop button. The recorded video will automatically open, and you can then save it using the File > Save menu.
How to record a part of the screen with Snipping Tool
Snipping Tool is a built-in program on Windows 11 that allows you to capture your screen in just a few clicks. Here’s the guide on how to use it:
Step 1. Open the program
You can find the app on your PC on your taskbar. If it’s not there, you can find it by typing Snipping Tool in the search bar.
Step 2. Select a part of your screen and start recording
Click New and drag your mouse to select a part of the screen you want to record. Then, click Start.
Step 3. Stop recording
Click Stop to finish recording. You can preview the result and save it on your computer.
Additional screen-recording programs you can try
Best for: Users who want an easy-to-use app for Windows
OS:
Windows
Price:
Free trial, full version from $39.95
Bandicam is a lightweight, easy-to-use app for screen recording on Windows devices. It allows you to capture full or partial screen recordings in high quality, great for people to make tutorials or other recordings to share online. It comes with a range of features, like voice-over, annotations, and webcam overlays, so you can edit and enhance your recordings however you like.
Pros:
Records in high quality
Lots of useful editing features
Ideal for tutorials and guide videos
Cons:
Not a good choice for recording high frame-rate videos
Best for: Users who need a business-ready screen recorder
OS:
Windows, macOS
Price:
Free trial, full version from $29.95
Icecream Screen Recorder is another video-editing and recording solution you can use for recording specific parts of your screen. It's ideal for recording webinars, games, and other content. The recorder has features that allow you to add your own custom shapes, text, and logos to your recordings, as well as share them easily on sites, like YouTube, Dropbox, and Google Drive. It’s perfect for people who want to make videos and send them to their family, friends, or followers online.
Pros:
Supports full and partial screen recording
Share recordings on major platforms
Add your own logo or watermark
Cons:
The free version is quite limited
Best for: Users who want to capture games
OS:
Windows, Linux
Price:
Free version, full version from $49
Next, we have Flashback Express, a handy and fully-featured screen recorder for both Windows and Linux computers. This is a powerful screen recorder that is great for capturing high-quality, fast-moving videos, like video gameplay. It also allows you to add audio commentary to your recordings and edit your clips before uploading them to YouTube. It's one of the most popular choices with gamers and content creators.
Pros:
Great for fast-moving videos
Lots of handy editing features
Sharing directly on YouTube
Cons:
Not as powerful compared to other apps
ScreenRec is another useful tool for recording a part of your screen. Aimed mainly at business users, this tool lets you make quick, short recordings and send them to your colleagues as instant video messages. It helps workers save time and demonstrate things quickly and easily. The app offers various features, like instant sharing, 1-click capture, and a drag-and-drop system.
Pros:
Capture your screen in a click
Share recordings as instant video messages
Protect your data with ScreenRec's privacy features
Cons:
Less useful for casual users
Best for: Users who want an online screen recorder
Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder
OS:
Any (online)
Price:
Free
Next, we have Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder. It's a web-based app that you can use directly in your browser to capture both video and audio from your screen without the need to download or install any extra software. It offers lots of handy, intuitive features, like 1-click recording without any limitations, and it even lets you record your webcam to create tutorials, guides, and other kinds of video content.
Pros:
Completely free to use
Doesn't require any downloads
Works on almost any device
Cons:
Requires an Internet connection to use
Best for: Users who want to record on a range of devices
OS:
Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Price:
Free version, premium version from $4/month
Screencast-O-Matic is another screen-recording app you can use on a wide range of devices, including Windows PCs, Macs, or even Android and iOS mobile devices. It's a very versatile screen recorder, ideal for people who work on different platforms. The app allows you to capture full or partial screen recordings, add your own webcam feed to recordings and capture external audio from a microphone to narrate your videos.
Pros:
Works on different devices
Lots of handy editing tools
A low-cost option for business and personal users
Cons:
The interface can be a little complex at first
Best for: Users who want a powerful recorder for a Mac
OS:
macOS
Price:
Free trial, full version from $29.99
Last but not least, we have Capto, which is a powerful screen-recording tool with its own extensive editing suite. Suitable for users of Mac devices, this screen-recording software is intuitive, easy to work with, and ideal for students, content creators, and professionals. It offers 60 FPS high-quality recording with crystal clear audio. And the editing tools are really impressive to help you enhance, adjust and fine-tune each recording you make.
Pros:
Captures in HD
Easy to work with
Very extensive editing suite
Cons:
The free trial is very limited
Reasons to record a part of the screen
So, why might you like to use one of these methods to record just one part of your screen, rather than the whole thing? Well, there are actually different reasons and benefits of partial screen recordings.
Video files will be much smaller. A partial recording will use less data, and the file you get will be easier to send to someone, transfer to a device or upload it to video-sharing sites, like YouTube.
Keep certain elements out of your recording. You might want to record just one window or a part of your desktop, for example, without showing all the other apps you're using or private messages displayed elsewhere on your device. Partial screen recording is therefore a good way to protect your privacy.
Focus on important things. For example, if you want to make a tutorial showing people how to use a specific type of software, you can focus your recording on a part of the screen to highlight certain key features or functions, rather than confusing your viewers with too much information.
What to look for in a partial screen recorder
Hopefully, this guide has given you all the information you need to know for recording a part of your screen. If you're not sure which method to use, here are some key factors you can focus on to help make your decision:
Ease-of-use: Usability is a key factor to think about when using any kind of software, and it's important to find an app that fits your levels of experience and expertise. Try to find one that is beginner-friendly and simple for you to work with to avoid any issues.
Features: Of course, any screen recorder you use should at least be able to make partial screen recordings. However, you should also look for other useful features that you might like to use, such as built-in editing tools to help you edit your recordings.
Price: You might have a certain budget in mind when looking for a screen recorder, too. Compare your options and try to find a screen recorder that not only provides the features and functions you need, but also fits within your budget. Remember that there are some free recorders you can use if you have a very limited budget to work with.
Support: It's also good to try and find recorders that have good customer support. That way, if you need any help, you can contact someone to assist you.
Summary
Both free and paid screen recorders have their pros and cons. Here, we’ve reviewed twelve decent tools to get you started with partial screen recordings. Depending on your needs, budget, and user experience, we hope you’ll pick the tool that is right for you.
You can use Movavi Screen Recorder for this:
Download and install Movavi Screen Recorder.
Download Movavi Screen Recorder for Windows
Download Movavi Screen Recorder for Mac
Click Start recording and adjust the capture frame.
Press REC to start recording.
To stop recording, click the Stop button and save your file.
Here's how to do it:
Download and install OBS Studio.
Download OBS Studio
Open the program and configure the settings.
Click on Studio Mode and add a Window Capture source.
Click Start Recording to launch the recording process.
For OBS Studio to capture a part of the screen, you need to add a Window Capture source. To do this, click the plus icon in the Sources box, then hit Window Capture and Create New. After this, you can select a part of the screen you want to record.
Here’s what to do to make OBS record only a part of the screen:
There are a lot of programs you can use on Windows and Mac devices. For an all-in-one solution, try out Movavi Screen Recorder. You can select any part of your screen to capture in HD and 4K, edit your result right after recording, and export your video in most popular formats.
Movavi Screen Recorder
The perfect way to record anything from your screen
Disclaimer: Please be aware that Movavi Screen Recorder does not allow capture of copy-protected video and audio streams.
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