Updated April 26, 2026.
Windows users have two built-in options for screen recording: the Xbox Game Bar (Win+G) and the Snipping Tool with video mode. Both work. Both have specific reasons not to use them outside their narrow design intent. Clipy is the free third option that gives Windows users the same "record → share-link" flow Loom users have always had.
The 30-second answer
- Game Bar: built for capturing gameplay. Locks to a single foreground window. Won't capture File Explorer or the desktop.
- Snipping Tool video: works for short captures of a screen region. No webcam, no audio capture by default in older builds, and you still have to share the resulting MP4 yourself.
- Clipy: free, browser-based, captures any window or tab, with webcam and microphone, gives you a clipy.online share link the moment you stop.
What can’t Windows Game Bar do?
- Record File Explorer or the Windows desktop. The OS blocks it.
- Record across multiple windows. Game Bar locks to one foreground app.
- Easy webcam-on-screen overlay during the recording.
- Generate a share link. You get an MP4 in your Captures folder.
Game Bar is brilliant if you're recording a game or a single-window app session. It's frustrating if you're recording a multi-step workflow that touches Explorer.
What can’t Snipping Tool video do?
- Record long sessions reliably (it's not built for it).
- Capture a webcam overlay.
- Hand you a share link.
- Trim or edit beyond basic crop.
Snipping Tool's video mode is fine for a 20-second clip you'll attach to an email. For anything else, you'll graduate to a real recorder fast.
What is the Clipy workflow on Windows?
- Open clipy.online in Edge, Chrome, Brave, or Arc — or install the desktop app.
- Click record. Pick entire screen, a window, or a browser tab.
- Stop. Link is on your clipboard.
- Paste in Teams, Slack, email, Linear — anywhere.
That's the entire flow. Same on every modern Windows machine, no per-app settings, no Captures folder to manage.
How do Clipy, Game Bar, and Snipping Tool compare side-by-side?
| Feature | Game Bar | Snipping Tool | Clipy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captures Explorer/desktop | No | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-window recording | No | Yes (region) | Yes (full screen) |
| Webcam overlay | No | No | Yes |
| Mic + system audio | Yes (mic + game) | Limited | Yes |
| Output | Local MP4 | Local MP4 | Hosted link + downloadable file |
| Share link | You upload yourself | You upload yourself | Instant |
| Watermark | None | None | None |
| Cost | Free | Free | Free |
When should I keep using the built-in tools?
- Game Bar for actual gameplay clips that you'll edit in DaVinci or upload to YouTube.
- Snipping Tool for one-off 10-second clips you'll attach as a file to a single email.
When should I switch to Clipy?
- You record more than once a week.
- You share with people via Slack/Teams/email and want a clickable link instead of a 40 MB attachment.
- You record across multiple windows or apps.
- You want a webcam overlay without a workaround.
Frequently asked questions
Why won’t Game Bar record File Explorer or the desktop?
Game Bar locks to a single foreground app and explicitly blocks recording File Explorer, the Windows desktop, and several system surfaces. It’s a deliberate Microsoft design choice tied to its game-recording origins. If you need to record across multiple windows or capture File Explorer, you have to use a third-party recorder.
Does Snipping Tool video capture audio?
Snipping Tool’s video mode captures region video but its audio support is limited and depends on your Windows build. Newer Windows 11 builds added microphone capture; system audio is still spotty. For reliable mic + system audio, use Clipy or another dedicated recorder.
Do Windows built-in tools generate share links?
No. Both Game Bar and Snipping Tool save MP4 files to your local drive. To share, you upload the file to OneDrive, Drive, or your messaging app. Clipy generates a clipy.online share link the moment you stop recording — no upload step.
Do Game Bar or Snipping Tool add a watermark?
Neither adds a watermark — they’re built into Windows and have no commercial reason to brand your recordings. Clipy is also watermark-free. The difference between them isn’t watermarks; it’s what each tool can record and how it’s shared.
Which Windows recorder is best for tutorial-style screencasts?
For tutorials longer than a couple of minutes that require multi-window switching, webcam overlay, and a shareable link, Clipy is the simpler choice. For short region-captures with no audio you’ll attach to email, Snipping Tool is fine. For game footage you’ll edit elsewhere, Game Bar is the right default.