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PowerPoint’s Windows desktop app can record a selected area of your screen and insert the capture as a video on a slide. The feature is available in PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, 2024, 2021, 2019, and 2016; it is different from the presentation-recording feature that captures narration and timings.
To record, select Insert > Screen Recording, choose an area, and select Record. When you stop, PowerPoint places the video on the selected slide.
PowerPoint screen recording availability
The documented Insert > Screen Recording workflow is for the Windows desktop application. It is not available in PowerPoint for Mac or PowerPoint for the web. Mac users can record with macOS tools and then insert the resulting video into PowerPoint. If you use PowerPoint in a browser, open the presentation in the Windows desktop app if your plan and installation provide it.
How to record your screen in PowerPoint
- Open the presentation and select the slide where the recording should appear.
- Select the Insert tab.
- Select Screen Recording.
- On the Control Dock, select Select Area.
- Drag across the portion of the screen you want to capture.
- Select Record.
- Select Pause if you need to stop temporarily.
- Select Stop when you have finished.
PowerPoint inserts the completed recording as a video on the selected slide. The minimum selectable recording area is 64 × 64 pixels.
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Record the entire screen with a shortcut
To record the entire screen without dragging a selection rectangle, use this Control Dock shortcut:
Windows logo key + Shift + B
To select a recording area using the keyboard, press Windows logo key + Shift + E.
Choose whether to record audio and the pointer
PowerPoint selects both Audio and Record Pointer by default on the Control Dock.
- Audio: Leave this selected to include related audio, or clear it for a silent capture.
- Record Pointer: Leave this selected to show mouse movements, or clear it to omit the pointer.
The audio option does not guarantee that every sound from every application will be captured. In particular, the documentation does not promise capture of protected or restricted application audio.
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Unless pinned, the Control Dock moves into the top margin while recording. Move the pointer to the top edge of the screen to make it reappear. Pin the dock before recording if you need it to remain visible.
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Set when the recording plays
After PowerPoint inserts the video, you can choose when it starts during a slide show:
- Right-click the video frame.
- Select the Start icon.
- Choose In Click Sequence, Automatically, or When Clicked On.
In Click Sequence starts the video as part of the normal click order. Automatically starts it when the slide appears. When Clicked On waits for you to click the video.
Change the video’s appearance
You can change how the video looks on the slide without changing the screen content that was captured:
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- Right-click the video.
- Select the Style icon.
- Choose a style or shape.
Trim the beginning or end of the recording
PowerPoint can remove unwanted material from the start or end of the clip. Its documented trimming controls do not provide a timeline editor for cutting arbitrary sections from the middle.
- Right-click the video frame.
- Select Trim.
- In the Trim Video dialog box, select Play.
- Select Pause near the point where trimming should occur.
- Use Next Frame or Previous Frame for precise positioning.
- Drag the green marker to set the beginning.
- Drag the red marker to set the ending.
- Select OK.
Save the recording as a separate video file
The recording is initially embedded in the presentation. To save it separately, normally as an MP4:
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- Right-click the embedded video.
- Select Save Media as.
- Choose a folder in the dialog box.
- Enter a name in the File name box.
- Select Save.
Use this option when you need the clip outside PowerPoint. Ensure the destination drive has enough free space. Save Media as may not be available in older PowerPoint versions that do not support embedded-media extraction.
Export the entire presentation as a video
Save Media as extracts only the screen-recording clip. To render the entire presentation as a video:
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- Select File > Export > Create a Video.
- Choose a video quality.
- Choose Use Recorded Timings and Narrations or Don’t Use Recorded Timings and Narrations.
- If you are not using recorded timings, set Seconds to spend on each slide.
- Select Create Video.
- Choose a filename and location.
- Choose MPEG-4 Video or Windows Media Video as the file type.
- Select Save.
Available export resolutions:
| Quality | Resolution |
|---|---|
| Ultra HD (4K) | 3840 × 2160 |
| Full HD (1080p) | 1920 × 1080 |
| HD (720p) | 1280 × 720 |
| Standard (480p) | 852 × 480 |
Microsoft recommends MPEG-4 for broad compatibility. Exporting can take substantial time for a long or complex presentation; PowerPoint shows progress in its status bar.
Common PowerPoint screen-recording problems
Screen Recording is missing
Check that you are using the Windows desktop app and looking under Insert. The Record button and Record Slide Show commands are presentation-recording features, not the screen-capture command. The installed edition or version may also affect whether the command is available.
The Control Dock disappeared
If the dock is not pinned, it moves to the top margin during recording. Move the pointer to the top edge of the screen to reveal it, or pin it before recording.
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The recording area is too small
PowerPoint will not accept an area smaller than 64 × 64 pixels. Select a larger rectangle or use Windows logo key + Shift + B to record the entire screen.
The audio is missing
Check that Audio was selected on the Control Dock before recording. PowerPoint does not promise to capture every type of application audio, including protected or restricted audio.
The mouse pointer is not visible
Make sure Record Pointer is selected before recording. It is selected by default but can be cleared.
Save Media as is unavailable
Older PowerPoint versions that do not support embedded-media extraction may not offer Save Media as. On macOS, extraction of embedded media is available to Microsoft 365 subscribers beginning with PowerPoint version 16.24; this does not add the Windows-only screen-recording feature.
The PowerPoint file is unusually large
Screen recordings are embedded in the presentation by default, and video can increase its size. Use Save Media as to create a separate file if needed. You can remove the embedded video from the presentation if you no longer need it there.
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Some content is missing from an exported presentation video
Microsoft notes that exported video may omit some older or unsupported content, including media inserted in previous PowerPoint versions unless converted or upgraded, QuickTime media under certain codec conditions, macros, and OLE or ActiveX controls. Convert or embed legacy media before exporting when possible.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
Can PowerPoint record my computer screen?
Yes. In the Windows desktop app, select Insert > Screen Recording, select an area, and choose Record. PowerPoint inserts the capture as a video on the selected slide.
Does PowerPoint screen recording work on Mac?
No. The documented Insert > Screen Recording feature is Windows-only. Mac users can record with macOS tools and then insert the video into PowerPoint.
Does PowerPoint automatically save the recording as an MP4?
No. PowerPoint first embeds the recording in the presentation. To save a separate file, right-click the video, select Save Media as, and save it to a folder.
What is the minimum screen area PowerPoint can record?
The minimum selectable area is 64 × 64 pixels.
What is the difference between Screen Recording and Record Slide Show?
Screen Recording captures a selected area or the entire Windows screen and inserts it as a video. Presentation recording captures narration, timings, ink, pointer gestures, and optionally the presenter’s camera feed.
The Bottom Line
Use Insert > Screen Recording in PowerPoint for Windows to capture an application or desktop area inside a presentation. Set the audio and pointer options on the Control Dock, trim the clip if needed, and use Save Media as to create a separate video file. To render the entire deck, use File > Export > Create a Video.
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