How to Record from a Webcam

This wikiHow teaches you how to record video using a webcam on both Windows and Mac computers. You'll use the built-in Camera app on Windows or the built-in QuickTime app on Mac.

EditSteps

EditOn Windows

1. Make sure that your webcam is attached to your computer. If your PC doesn't have a built-in webcam, you'll need to plug the webcam into one of the computer's built-in USB ports.
   
   • You may have to install your webcam before proceeding.
2. Open Start . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
   
3. Type in . This will search your computer for the Camera app, which is the default Windows 10 webcam-managing app.^[1]
   
4. Click . It's a camera-shaped app at the top of the Start window. This will open the Camera app.
   
5. Switch to recording mode. Click the video camera icon, which is on the right side of the Camera window, just above the the camera-shaped icon.
   
   • If you've never set up your webcam before, you may first be prompted to allow Windows access to your webcam.
6. Click the "Record" button. It's the circular, video camera-shaped icon on the far-right side of the window.
   
7. Record your video. The webcam will record anything at which it's pointed.
   
8. Click the "Stop" button. This circular button with a red box in it is on the right side of the window.
   
   • The video will automatically be saved in your computer's Photos app.

EditOn Mac

1. Open Spotlight . Click the magnifying glass-shaped icon in the top-right corner of the screen. A search bar will appear.
   
2. Type in . This will search your computer for the QuickTime app.
   
3. Double-click . It should be the top result in the Spotlight window. Doing so will open the QuickTime Player window.
   
4. Click . It's in the upper-left side of your Mac's screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
   
5. Click . This option is near the top of the File drop-down menu. Clicking it switches the QuickTime Player to record mode.
   
6. Click the "Record" button. This red, circular icon is near the bottom of the QuickTime window. Doing so will prompt QuickTime to begin recording whatever your webcam is facing.
   
7. Record your video. The webcam will record anything at which it's pointed.
   
8. Stop the recording. Click the "Record" button again to stop the recording.^[2]
   
9. Save your recording. Click File again, click Save to open the "Save" window, enter a name in the "Export As" text field, and click Save at the bottom of the window.
   
   • You can also change the file extension from MOV to MP4 here by selecting the "mov" section at the end of the file name and typing in instead.

EditTips

• Check your lighting. Place a lamp on top of your desk or table and cover it with a sheet of paper. You can also shine a light indirectly at a wall to soften it and to create good video quality.
• Turn off any background noise such as a radio or television, as your webcam's microphone will pick up the noise and exaggerate it.
• Brightly patterned or striped clothing can distract from your face while you're making your recording. Red is the hardest color for cameras to reproduce, and blue is the easiest. If you wear white, your skin will look darker; if you wear black, you skin will look lighter.

EditWarnings

• Most webcams aren't capable of recording in resolutions higher than 720p, and many webcams can't record at more than 30 frames per second.

EditRelated wikiHows

• Record Your Voice on a Windows Computer
• Upload a Video to YouTube

EditSources and Citations

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