How to capture videos for support with native screenshot tools

Problem:

You would like to know how to use a screen capturing tool integrated into Windows or macOS to record a video that shows your problem and can be shared with CodeTwo Customer Support.

Solution:

Depending on your operating system, you can use one of the following tools:

• Xbox Game Bar (Windows 10 or later)
• Screenshot toolbar (macOS Mojave or later)

Xbox Game Bar

As the name suggests, the app has been designed primarily for PC gamers, but nothing prevents you from using it to record your activities in regular programs like web browsers or Office 365 apps. When using the Xbox Game Bar, however, you need to remember about the following limitations of the tool:

• It allows you to capture your actions in one app at a time – even if you switch to another app, it will continue capturing the first one.
• You can’t use it to record either your desktop or File Explorer windows.

Before you start capturing videos, make sure that the tool is configured correctly. To do it, click the Start menu and go to Settings > Gaming > Captures. Next, review the settings – most of them are self-explanatory and should work for you without changing anything. Just make sure that the following ones are set up correctly, as shown in Fig. 1. below:

• The Record audio when I record a game and Turn mic on by default when I record options should be enabled if you want to include your voice commentary in videos.

  Tip

  If you plan to include a voice commentary in your video, it might be a good idea to make one or more short test recordings to see if the commentary isn’t too quiet. If it is, you can try to adjust your microphone’s volume, using the Microphone volume slider (see Fig. 1.).

• You should also select Capture mouse cursor in recordings to let people watching your videos actually see what you’re doing.

Fig. 1. The correct configuration of the most important options on the Captures setting page.

Once you’re ready to record a video, proceed as follows:

1. Open the app you want to capture, e.g. Google Chrome.
2. Use the Win+G key combination to launch the Xbox Game Bar.

   Tip

   If you want to quit Xbox Game Bar, simply press Esc.

3. When you’re ready to capture, click the button highlighted in Fig. 2. to start recording. Click anywhere on the screen to go back to the app you want to capture and start presenting your steps.

Fig. 2. Starting a recording with Xbox Game Bar.

4. While recording, you can comment on what you’re doing. Using the controls displayed in the top right corner of the screen (Fig. 3.), you can quickly turn your microphone on or off and stop your recording.

Fig. 3. The controls available during recording.

5. Each recording is always saved to the Captures folder. To access it, launch File Explorer and go to This PC > Videos > Captures (Fig. 4.).

Fig. 4. Accessing your videos captured with Xbox Game Bar.

6. Now, you can review your video using any app supporting the MP4 video format, e.g. Movies & TV.
7. If your video is OK, upload it via the dedicated CodeTwo file upload form. To learn how to access it, click here.

Screenshot toolbar

Apple’s tool lets you freely capture your screen contents (unless an app is configured to prevent you from capturing its window). While recording, you can even switch between multiple apps to show a procedure that involves several apps.

Here’s how to work with Screenshot toolbar:

1. Launch the toolbar by using the Shift+Command+5 key combination.

   Tip

   You can also launch the toolbar by opening QuickTime Player and choosing File > New Screen Recording from the menu.

   To quit Screenshot toolbar, simply press Esc.

2. Before you start capturing, configure the settings directly from the toolbar:
   • The two highlighted icons (Fig. 5., item A) let you choose the captured area - the entire screen or just a screen selection.
   • The menu displayed after clicking Options (Fig. 5., item B) lets you configure various settings, where the most crucial ones are the location for saving your video, microphone device selection, and the option to show your mouse clicks (you need to enable it to show people watching your videos what you’re actually doing).

     Tip

     If you plan to include a voice commentary in your video, it might be a good idea to make one or more short test recordings to see if the commentary isn’t too quiet. If it is, you can try to adjust your microphone’s volume by opening the System Settings app, going to Sound > Input, and moving the volume slider to the right.

Fig. 5. The options configurable for Screenshot toolbar.

3. Once you’re up and running, you can start recording a video – to do it, click Record on the far right side of the toolbar (see Fig. 5.).
4. If you’ve chosen your microphone device, you can comment on the steps you’re presenting – your voice will be recorded along with the video.
5. To stop your recording, click the Stop button on the menu bar at the very top (Fig. 6.).

Fig. 6. Stopping your recording.

6. Now, navigate to the location you chose to store your captures in and review the captured video using any app supporting the MOV format, e.g. QuickTime Player.
7. If your video is OK, upload it via the dedicated CodeTwo file upload form. To learn how to access it, click here.

See also:

• What are Contact ID and Tenant Association ID and where to find them