You don’t need a paid app to record your games. Android and iPhone both have a free built-in screen recorder with no watermark and no time limit. Here’s how to use it, how to record game sound and your voice, and how to get the best quality for YouTube or TikTok.
Record on Android
- Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings.
- Find Screen recorder. If it’s not there, tap the pencil / edit icon and drag Screen recorder into your tiles. It’s built in on Android 11 and newer.
- Choose the sound. Pick Media sounds (game audio only), Media and microphone (game plus your voice), or none.
- Tap Start. After the countdown, open your game and play.
- Stop from the notification or the floating button. The video is saved in your Gallery or Photos.
Many phones’ game modes also record. On Samsung, open Game Booster during a game (swipe up from the navigation bar) and tap Record. Xiaomi Game Turbo and other brands have similar buttons. Samsung’s recorder settings let you choose the video quality and add a selfie camera overlay.
Record on iPhone and iPad
- Add the button: on iOS 18 and later, open Control Center, tap + in the top left, then Add a Control and choose Screen Recording. On older iOS, go to Settings → Control Center and add Screen Recording.
- Want your voice too? Long-press the Screen Recording button and turn Microphone on.
- Tap the button and wait for the 3-second countdown, then play your game.
- Stop by tapping the red indicator at the top of the screen. The video is saved to Photos.
Tips for better recordings
- Turn on Do Not Disturb so notifications don’t appear in the video.
- Free up storage first. Gameplay videos are big: 10 minutes can be over 1 GB at high quality.
- Set the quality. On Android, look for resolution and bitrate options in the recorder’s settings. Higher means better quality and bigger files.
- Recording costs performance. If the game lags while recording, lower its graphics a little or record at a lower resolution.
- Some apps block recording. Streaming apps and some banking apps show a black screen, and a few games block system audio. That’s the app’s choice, not a fault in your phone.
Edit and share
For quick trims, use the editor in Google Photos, your gallery app or iPhone Photos. For YouTube videos with text and transitions, free editors like CapCut work well on both Android and iPhone.
FAQ
How do I record my screen while gaming on Android?
Open Quick Settings, tap Screen recorder (add it with the edit button if needed), choose whether to record media sounds and your microphone, then tap Start and open your game.
Does the built-in screen recorder add a watermark?
No. The built-in recorders on Android and iPhone are free, have no watermark and no time limit.
How do I record game sound and my voice on iPhone?
Long-press the Screen Recording button in Control Center and turn the Microphone on. Game sound is recorded automatically.
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