This article is for people who use a screen reader program such as Windows Narrator, JAWS, or NVDA with Windows tools or features and Microsoft 365 products. This article is part of the Accessibility help & learning content set where you can find more accessibility information on our apps. For general help, visit Microsoft Support.
Use the Xbox Game Bar with your keyboard and a screen reader to record a video clip of your favorite game or app, for example, if you find a usability issue with it and want to show the problem to the developer. We have tested it with Narrator and NVDA, but it might work with other screen readers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques.
Notes:
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New Microsoft 365 features are released gradually to Microsoft 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you can get new features faster, join the Office Insider program.
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To learn more about screen readers, go to How screen readers work with Microsoft 365.
In this topic
Enable Xbox Game Bar
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Press the Windows logo key+I to open Windows settings. The focus moves to the Find a setting search text field.
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Type xbox, press the Down arrow key until you hear "Enable Xbox Game Bar," and press Enter. With Narrator, you hear: "Open Xbox Game Bar using this button on a controller, Xbox button, toggle switch, off." With NVDA, you hear: "Xbox button, toggle button, not pressed."
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To enable the Xbox Game Bar, press Spacebar.
Include system audio in the recording
To make the most of your recording, make sure all computer sounds are included.
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When you've enabled the Xbox Game Bar, press the Windows logo key+G to display the Xbox Game Bar controls.
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Press the Tab key until you hear "Settings button," and press Enter.
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Press the Down arrow key until you hear: "Capturing."
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Press the Tab key until you hear: "All, game, enabled mic, apps, system, radio button." You also hear if the All option is selected or not. With Narrator, you hear "Selected" or "Not selected." With NVDA, you hear "Checked" or "Not checked." If the option is not selected, press Spacebar to select it.
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To hide the Xbox Game Bar controls, press the Windows logo key+G.
Record your screen
It's simple to record a clip of what's happening on your screen with the Xbox Game Bar. Make sure you have enabled Xbox Game Bar as explained in Enable Xbox Game Bar before you continue.
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Go to the game or app you want to record.
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Press the Windows logo key+Alt+R to start recording a clip. With Narrator, you hear: "Recording in progress." With NVDA, there's no audio cue.
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To toggle the microphone on and off during the recording, press the Windows logo key+Alt+M. To display the Xbox Game Bar controls, press the Windows logo key+G. You hear: "Xbox Game Bar window."
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Play the game or use the app until you have recorded what you wanted. To stop recording, press the Windows logo key+Alt+R. With Narrator, you hear: "Game clip recorded." With NVDA, there's no audio cue.
You can find the recorded video on your computer under Videos in a folder called Captures as an MP4 file. The file name contains the name of the game or app and the date and time of the recording.
Tip: If you want a screenshot of your game or app, press the Windows logo key+Alt+PrintScreen. With Narrator, you hear: "Screenshot saved." With NVDA, there's no audio cue. The image is saved to the Captures folder as a PNG file.
See also
Get to know Xbox Game Bar on Windows
Customize Xbox Game Bar on Windows devices
Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365
Use the Xbox Game Bar with your keyboard and a screen reader to record a video clip of your favorite game or app, for example, if you find a usability issue with it and want to show the problem to the developer. We have tested it with Narrator and NVDA, but it might work with other screen readers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques.
Notes:
-
New Microsoft 365 features are released gradually to Microsoft 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you can get new features faster, join the Office Insider program.
-
To learn more about screen readers, go to How screen readers work with Microsoft 365.
In this topic
Enable Xbox Game Bar
-
Press the Windows logo key+I to open Windows Settings. The focus moves to the search field.
-
Type xbox, press the Down arrow key until you hear "Enable Xbox Game Bar," and press Enter.
-
Press the Tab key until you hear: "Enable Xbox Game Bar for things like recording game clips, chatting with friends, and receiving game invites." With Narrator, you next hear: "Toggle switch, Off." With NVDA, you next hear: "Toggle button, not pressed." Press Spacebar to enable the Xbox Game Bar.
Include system audio in the recording
To make the most of your recording, make sure all computer sounds are included.
-
When you've enabled the Xbox Game Bar, press the Windows logo key+G to display the Game Bar controls.
-
Press the Tab key until you reach the Settings button, and press Enter.
-
Press the Down arrow key until you hear: "Capturing."
-
Press the Tab key until you hear "All radio button," followed by "Selected" or "Not selected." With NVDA, you hear "All radio button, Checked" or "Not checked." If the option is not selected, press Spacebar to select it.
-
To hide the Game Bar controls, press the Windows logo key+G.
Record your screen
It's simple to record a clip of what's happening on your screen with the Xbox Game Bar. Make sure you have enabled Xbox Game Bar as explained in Enable Xbox Game Bar before you continue.
-
Go to the game or app you want to record.
-
Press the Windows logo key+Alt+R to start recording a clip. With Narrator, you hear: "Recording in progress."
-
To toggle the microphone on and off during the recording, press the Windows logo key+Alt+M. To display the Game Bar controls, press the Windows logo key+G. You hear: "Xbox Game Bar window."
-
Play the game or use the app until you have recorded what you wanted, then press the Windows logo key+Alt+R to stop recording. With Narrator, you hear: "Game clip recorded."
The video is saved under the Videos folder in a folder called Captures as an MP4 file. The file name contains the name of the game or app and the date and time of the recording.
Tip: If you want a screenshot of your game or app, press the Windows logo key+Alt+PrintScreen. With Narrator, you hear: "Screenshot saved." The image is also saved under the Videos folder in a folder called Captures.
See also
Get to know Xbox Game Bar on Windows
Customize Xbox Game Bar on Windows devices
Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365
Technical support for customers with disabilities
Microsoft wants to provide the best possible experience for all our customers. If you have a disability or questions related to accessibility, please contact the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk for technical assistance. The Disability Answer Desk support team is trained in using many popular assistive technologies and can offer assistance in English, Spanish, French, and American Sign Language. Please go to the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk site to find out the contact details for your region.
If you are a government, commercial, or enterprise user, please contact the enterprise Disability Answer Desk.
