How to Record Streaming Videos on Windows 10

Alma Elliott
2024-04-18 16:33:55 • Filed to: Screen Record on Windows

It can often be very difficult to record streaming media on your computer. Perhaps you are watching a movie on Netflix or a live video on YouTube and you would like to have a copy of it. For YouTube and other media-sharing sites like Vimeo, it may be possible to download a copy of the video to your computer for offline viewing. But for streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, the only way you can have an offline, shareable copy of the video is to record it.

If the process of recording streaming media seems rather difficult, it's because it can be. But with the right tool, the process can be simple enough that you can do it quickly without compromising on the quality of the resultant video. In this article, we will take a look at 5 of the most effective ways to record live-streaming on Windows 10 computers, starting with the best solution.

Way 1. Best Streaming Video Recorder for Windows 10

The best way to record streaming video on Windows 10 is to use Wondershare DemoCreator. This tool is the most ideal solution since it can capture both the screen and audio from the computer, which is necessary if you are going to record a streaming video with sound. It is also so easy to use that you can actually record the video even if you have never used similar software before.

Before we share with you how it works, let's begin by first looking at its main features;

  • It allows you to record crisp, clear screen-flow videos for presentations and narration.
  • Recording the screen, webcam and audio is only a matter of turning these options on in the settings.
  • It has a very simple user interface that makes it one of the simplest video recording programs to use.
  • It comes with a full editing suite that you can use to edit your videos to perfection.

Here's how to use DemoCreator to record streaming video on Windows 10?

Step 1: Install the Program and Configure the Settings.

Download and install DemoCreator on your computer. After installation, run the program and then click "New Recording" in the next window to begin the process.

new recording democreator

In the next window, you will see some settings that you can configure according to your needs.

democreator settings

The "Screen" section is the most important in this sense, as it will allow you to choose if you want to record the whole screen or a customized section of the screen.

The "Audio" section is also important if you want to capture the sound of the streaming video that you want to record. If you would like to add your own voice to the recording, you can set the "Microphone" option to "Capture."

The "Camera" tab is only important if you want to capture webcam footage as well.

Step 2: Start the Recording.

When all your settings are as you need them to be, click on "Start Capturing" to begin the recording. You can also use the "F10" hotkey to begin the recording.

You will see a 3-second countdown appear on the screen, after which DemoCreator will begin recording both the screen both the webcam and the screen at the same time.

roblox menu

During the recording, you can press the "F9" key to pause or resume the recording as required.

When you're done with the recording, press the "F10" key again to finish the recording.

Step 3: Export or Edit Videos.

edit recordings democreator

The video will be saved in the pre-determined folder and you can then use the DemoCreator editor to make changes to the video.

Way 2. Record Stream Video on Windows with VLC

The VLC media player is a versatile tool that can also be used to record streaming video. The numerous features that this program has, make it the ideal solution when you want to record the screen in quick, easy movements. Assuming that you already have VLC installed on your computer, follow these simple steps to use it to record streaming video on your screen;

Step 1: Open the VLC media player and then go to the "Media" tab. Choose "Convert/Save."

vlc media convert and save

Step 2: Click on the "Capture Device" tab and then select "Desktop" in the "Capture Mode" dropdown menu.

Step 3: Choose the frame rate that you would like to use. 10f/s is usually sufficient if you want to record fast-moving objects, like in a streaming video.

advanced options vlc

Step 4: Click on "Convert/Save."

Step 5: Click "Browser" to choose a filename and a location to save the file. Once the file name and location are selected, click "Save."

save videos vlc

Step 6: Then simply click "Start" to start the recording.

When the recording is complete, the video will be available in the pre-selected path, and you can use VLC to preview the file after the recording.

Way 3. Use Windows 10 Game Bar

You can also use the Windows 10 Game Bar to record the streaming video on your PC. This is a recording feature that comes built-in to Windows 10. Although, as the name suggests, it is primarily useful for recording gameplay, it is also one of the best ways to record anything on the screen, including streaming media. It is easily accessible and completely free to use. Just follow these simple steps;

Step 1: Open the streaming video/media that you would like to record.

Step 2: Then, open the Game Bar on your computer. The easiest way to do that is to use the "Windows Key + G" on your keyboard.

open windows game bar

But if the "Windows Key + G" combination doesn't work, it may be because Windows 10 Game Bar has not yet been enabled. To enable it, search for the "Game Bar Settings" and open it. Then, turn on the switch next to "Enable Xbox Game Bar."

Step 3: When the Game Bar opens, you should see some recording tools on the left in a window labeled "Capture."

start capture with game bar

Step 4: To start the recording, click on the white circle icon and a small bar will appear on the right side of the screen, showing the duration of the recording. To include audio in the recording, click on the microphone icon.

xbox recording process

Step 5: When you're done, simply click on the stop icon or the recording timer and the recording will stop.

Way 4. Record Stream Videos with OBS

Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) is an open-source screen recording tool that can also be very helpful when you want to record live-streaming media on your PC. It is completely free to use and comes with some of the most advanced recording features available in the market, making it the go-to solution for gamers who want to capture gameplay. It can also be used to Livestream video directly to sites like Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok.

Follow this guide to record streaming video using OBS;

Step 1: Download and Install OBS

Go to OBS Project to download and install OBS onto your computer. Once it is installed, launch the program.

Step 2: Configure Recording Settings

When you first open OBS, you will see a scene added in by default in the bottom left corner of the window.

open obs

You will need to add a source to this scene before you can start the recording. The default scene is already highlighted. Click on the "+" icon at the bottom of the "Sources" panel and choose "Display Capture."

Click "OK" in the popup box that appears.

Click "OK" again in the next popup that will appear.

Then click "Settings" at the bottom right of the interface. Choose the "Output" tab and note the "Recording Path" field. This is the folder where the video will be saved when the recording process is complete.

Step 3: Start the Recording

Now you are ready to begin the recording. Simply click "Start Recording" in the bottom right corner of the screen.

start screen recording with obs

When the recording is complete, click "Stop Recording" and the recorded video will be saved to the specified folder.

Way 5. Use ShareX to Record a Live Stream

ShareX screen recorder is another open-source solution that can be very useful when you want to record the screen on a PC. It can easily capture a section of the screen or the whole screen, and it comes with numerous features to make the recording process as easy as possible.

Here's how you can use this free program to record the screen on your computer;

Step 1: Go to ShareX to download and install ShareX onto your PC.

Step 2: Once the program is installed on your computer, right-click on its icon in the system tray and hover over "Capture" and then choose "Screen Recording."

screen recording with sharex

Step 3: If you are recording the screen for the first time, ShareX will ask you to download "ffmpeg.exe." Click "Yes" and the needed files will be downloaded automatically.

Step 4: Click on "Screen Recording" again when the necessary files have been downloaded. Then, select the section of the screen that you would like to record. You can choose to record the whole screen or just a section of the screen.

Step 5: Once the recording area has been selected, the recording will begin immediately. You can end the recording session by clicking on the "Stop" button in the toolbar that appears after the recording begins.

Once the recording is complete, the video will be available in the pre-determined output folder in MP4 format. You can configure the settings in ShareX to get additional options during the recording, such as adding sound recording from both the microphone and computer sounds.

There are numerous ways that you can record streaming media on your PC. The solutions above present the best solutions in terms of ease of use, effectiveness, and easy accessibility. Choose a recording solution that is suitable for you and follow the steps we have outlined above to record the streaming video.