A video’s worth a thousand PowerPoint slides for communicating information. In this video, we show you how to create and insert screen recordings directly into your slides.
How to Record Your Screen in PowerPoint
Did you know that Microsoft PowerPoint includes a built-in screen recordings feature? Instead of using third-party software, you can capture your screen and audio directly within PowerPoint — and the recording is automatically embedded into your slide for easy presentation and sharing.
Step-by-Step: Record Your Screen in PowerPoint
1. Open the Slide for Your Recording – Start by opening the PowerPoint presentation and navigating to the slide where you want the recording to appear.
2. Launch the Screen Recorder – Click the Insert tab on the ribbon, then select Screen Recording.
3. Choose the Area to Capture – Your cursor will turn into a crosshair. Click and drag to select the portion of your screen you want to record.
4. Configure Audio and Mouse Settings – From the control dock, choose whether to:
- Record audio
- Capture mouse movements using the Record Pointer option
5. Start Recording – Click Record. PowerPoint will give you a 3-second countdown before recording begins.
6. Stop the Recording – When you’re finished:
- Move your mouse to the top of the screen to reveal the control dock and click Stop, or
- Use the keyboard shortcut: Windows + Shift + Q
Your recording will automatically appear on the selected slide.
Tips for Managing Your Recording
Reveal the Hidden Control Dock: If the recording controls disappear during recording, simply move your cursor to the very top edge of the screen to make them reappear.
Adjust Video Playback Settings: Right-click the video frame to control how the video starts during your presentation, such as:
- Automatically
- When Clicked On
Edit Your Recording: PowerPoint includes built-in editing tools that let you:
- Trim the video length
- Apply visual styles and formatting
- Adjust playback settings
Save the Recording as an MP4 File: Need the video outside of PowerPoint? Right-click the video on the slide and select Save Media As to export it as an MP4 file.
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