How to Record Video with Windows Media Player [Alternative]

Quick Answer:
You can’t record videos on PC using Windows Media Player. Luckily, many alternative tools are available, such as Xbox Game Bar and SurFlex Screen Recorder. All help to screen record on Windows with ease.

Can You Record Video with Windows Media Player

Unfortunately, Windows Media Player doesn’t have a built-in feature for recording videos since it is primarily a media player. However, there are many alternative tools available for recording videos on PC, such as the preinstalled Xbox Game Bar and a third-party app like SurFlex Screen Recorder.

How to Record Video with Windows Media Player Alternatives

There are both built-in and third-party screen recorders available for you to screen record on Windows. Here I’d like to take Xbox Game Bar and SurFlex Screen Recorder as examples.

Record a Video on PC with Xbox Game Bar

Xbox Game Bar is the native screen recorder on a PC or laptop running Windows 10 or later. It allows you to record an app window (except for Windows Media Player) with audio and saves the recording in MP4 format. Although it disallows you to customize the recording region (it will record the entire window by default), it provides an easy and cost-free solution for video recording on PC. If it can fulfill your needs, follow the steps below to have a try.

Note: Before you start, it’s advisable to go to Start > Settings > Gaming > Captures and Xbox Game Bar > Settings > Widgets to finish the recording settings, such as video quality, frame rate, and the audio recording option.

To record a video with Xbox Game Bar:

Step 1. Open the app or window you want to capture and make sure it is currently focused.

Step 2. When you are ready to record, press Windows + Alt + R to start recording.

Step 3. When needed, press Windows + Alt + R to end the recording.

Step 4. Go to Videos > Captures on your PC to check the video.

Screen Record on Windows with SurFlex Screen Recorder

You can also use a third-party video recorder, such as SurFlex Screen Recorder, to capture your desired content. This video and audio recorder allows you to record any part of your screen with audio, including system sound, microphone audio, or both. Besides, it provides multiple output formats and other customizable options for you to choose from. Whether you want to record a video at 60fps, record MP4 on Windows, or record 4K videos, SurFlex Screen Recorder will serve you well.

Note: This tool also offers an online free screen recorder. The web-based service enables you to record a video on your computer via Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. Most importantly, it won’t add any watermark to your recordings or limit the recording length. In short, it is a 100% free tool for screen recording.

To record a video with the Windows Media Player alternative:

Step 1. Open SurFlex Screen Recorder. Before the screen recording, click Settings to customize the output options.

Step 2. If you want to record a video with audio on your PC, enable audio recording and select the audio type you need.

Step 3. Choose to record the full screen or a selected region, select the recording area, and then click REC to start recording a video on your PC.

Step 4. The recording will start in five seconds (you can customize the option in Settings). Once the recording is finished, click Stop.

Step 5. Check the recorded video in the popup window.

Wrapping Up

Although you can’t record any video with Windows Media Player, there are many easy and powerful tools available for recording videos on PC, no matter which Windows version you use. If you want to get more options, there are some popular Windows screen recorders for you:

• Bandicam
• OBS Studio
• ShareX
• Camtasia