How to Record Your Screen with Audio (Microphone & System Sound)

Recording your screen is easy. Recording your screen with audio — both your microphone and system sounds — is where most people get stuck. Whether you're making a tutorial, recording a presentation, or capturing a video call, this guide shows you exactly how to record your screen with audio on any platform.

Quick method: Open Tools Oasis Screen Recorder, enable your microphone, select "Share audio" when choosing your screen, and click record. No download needed.

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Understanding Screen Recording Audio Sources

There are two types of audio you might want to capture, and they work differently:

  • Microphone audio — Your voice through a built-in or external microphone. This works reliably across all platforms and browsers.
  • System audio (also called "desktop audio" or "internal audio") — Sounds coming from your computer: video playback, music, notification sounds, the other person's voice in a call. This is trickier and depends on your OS and browser.

Method 1: Browser-Based Recording (Easiest)

The fastest way to record your screen with audio is using a browser-based recorder like Tools Oasis Screen Recorder.

How to capture microphone audio:

  1. Open the screen recorder and enable the microphone option
  2. Grant microphone permission when your browser asks
  3. Select your preferred microphone if you have multiple
  4. Start recording — your voice is captured alongside the screen

How to capture system audio:

  1. When the browser asks what to share, choose "Browser Tab"
  2. Check the "Share tab audio" checkbox at the bottom of the dialog
  3. Select the tab playing the content you want to capture
  4. Audio from that tab will be recorded with your screen

Important: System audio via browser sharing only works when sharing a browser tab in Chrome or Edge. Sharing an entire screen or application window does not include system audio in most browsers.

Method 2: Windows Built-In (Xbox Game Bar)

Windows 10 and 11 include a built-in screen recorder through Xbox Game Bar:

  1. Press Win + G to open Game Bar
  2. Click the microphone icon to toggle mic recording on/off
  3. Go to Settings > Capturing to enable system audio recording
  4. Press Win + Alt + R to start/stop recording

Limitation: Game Bar cannot record your desktop or File Explorer — only application windows.

Method 3: macOS Built-In (Screenshot Toolbar)

macOS has a built-in screen recorder accessed via the Screenshot toolbar:

  1. Press Cmd + Shift + 5 to open the toolbar
  2. Choose "Record Entire Screen" or "Record Selected Portion"
  3. Click Options and select your microphone under the audio section
  4. Click Record

Limitation: macOS does not capture system audio natively. You need a virtual audio driver like BlackHole (free, open-source) to route system audio into the recording.

Method 4: OBS Studio (Most Flexible)

For full control over both audio sources, OBS Studio is unbeatable:

  1. Add a "Display Capture" or "Window Capture" source for your screen
  2. Add an "Audio Input Capture" source for your microphone
  3. Add an "Audio Output Capture" source for system audio
  4. Adjust levels in the Audio Mixer panel
  5. Click "Start Recording"

OBS captures both audio streams independently, giving you the most reliable system audio recording on any platform.

Troubleshooting Common Audio Issues

  • No microphone audio: Check browser permissions (click the lock icon in the address bar), make sure the correct mic is selected, and verify it's not muted at the OS level.
  • No system audio: Make sure you selected "Share tab audio" when sharing a browser tab. For full system audio, use OBS or a virtual audio driver.
  • Echo or feedback: Wear headphones while recording. If your speakers play audio that your microphone picks up, you'll get echo.
  • Low microphone volume: Move closer to the mic or increase input volume in your system sound settings before recording.
  • Audio out of sync: This usually happens with very long recordings. Use a dedicated tool like OBS for recordings over 30 minutes.

Best Practices for Screen Recording Audio

  • Always do a test recording — record 10 seconds, play it back, and verify both audio sources work before starting your actual recording
  • Use an external microphone if possible — even a $20 USB mic sounds dramatically better than a laptop's built-in microphone
  • Record in a quiet room — close windows, turn off fans, and silence phone notifications
  • Keep system audio at moderate levels — if system sounds are too loud, they'll overpower your voice narration
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