How to make a tutorial video on Windows

Below: the free recorders and editor compared in one table, the steps from script to export, how to make the recording readable, and a worked example with timings. Tool facts were read on November 1, 2026.

Video tutorial makers for Windows compared: what each one does

The short version: Snipping Tool or OBS records, Clipchamp edits, and an overlay makes what you do visible. All four are free, so you can make a complete tutorial without paying for video tutorial software.

How to make a tutorial video, step by step

The workflow follows TechSmith’s how-to video guide (choose one task, record the steps, edit, caption, share), in our wording.

1. Pick one task with one visible result, such as “turn on dark mode”. A narrow goal keeps the video short.
2. Write the script before you record. Complete the software demo script template for the lines and cues, and check the running time with the speech time calculator.
3. Close chat, email and notifications, and clear the desktop so the video shows only what the viewer needs.
4. Record a 10-second test and play it back to check the picture, the audio and what is visible.
5. Record the tutorial in short takes, one step at a time. You can cut a bad take later.
6. Trim the mistakes and add captions in Clipchamp, then export the video.
7. Upload the video with a title that says the task, and a one-line description of the result.

Tip: say what the viewer will end up with in the first sentence. TechSmith’s guide suggests a demo should answer why someone would want it, what problem it solves and how it makes their life easier.

How to record your screen: Snipping Tool, Game Bar or OBS

Record with Snipping Tool on Windows 11

1. Press Win+Shift+R, or open Snipping Tool, select Record, then New.
2. Drag over the area you want to record, then select Start.
3. Do the task, then select Stop.
4. Save the recording, or select Edit in Clipchamp to open it in the video editor.

Source: Microsoft Support: Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots. Snipping Tool records the region you pick, so choose the whole area you will use before you start.

Record with Xbox Game Bar

1. Press Win+I, search for “xbox” and turn on Xbox Game Bar.
2. To include system sound, press Win+G, open Settings, go to Capturing and choose All.
3. Open the app you are teaching and press Win+Alt+R to start.
4. Press Win+Alt+R again to stop. The MP4 is in your Videos folder, under Captures.

Source: Microsoft Support: record your screen with Xbox Game Bar. That page does not say whether the desktop can be recorded, so test the window you plan to teach in.

Record with OBS Studio

1. In OBS, select + in the Sources dock and add a Display Capture or Window Capture source.
2. Open Settings › Output to check your recording options, and confirm the meters in the Audio Mixer move when you speak.
3. Select Start Recording in the Controls dock and record a short test.
4. Play the test back. If you will show an overlay such as SHARA, use Display Capture; see the guide on showing mouse clicks in OBS.

Source: OBS Knowledge Base: Quick start guide, which also recommends a short test recording first.

How to edit and caption a tutorial video in Clipchamp

Clipchamp is the editor Snipping Tool opens, and it has a free plan. Its pricing page lists watermark-free exports up to 1080p; 4K and premium stock media need a paid plan. The steps below are from Microsoft’s Snipping Tool page.

1. In Snipping Tool, select Edit in Clipchamp after you stop recording. For an OBS or Game Bar file, import the video into Clipchamp.
2. Trim the start, the end and any slip-ups on the timeline.
3. Select the Audio tab to change the volume from 0 to 200%, or Detach audio to save it separately.
4. Select the Captions tab, then Transcribe media, and choose your language.
5. Read the captions once for wrong words, then export the video.

How to make a screen recording easier to follow with SHARA

A bare recording shows a small arrow on a busy screen. Viewers ask “where did you click?” because they cannot see it. SHARA is a Windows overlay, not a recorder, so it works with whatever recorder you chose.

• A halo that follows the cursor. The Circle, Squircle or Rhombus halo is free, in five sizes and any colour.
• A flash on every click. The basic click flash is free. The ripple and separate left and right click colours are free for 14 days, then part of Pro.
• Ink on the screen. The Pen, Laser, Arrow, Text and Eraser are free forever.
• Zoom and keys. Live Zoom up to 8× and the keystroke pill are free for 14 days, then a one-time upgrade.

1. Install SHARA free from the Microsoft Store. There is no account, and it waits in the background for a hotkey.
2. Press Ctrl+Win+H if the halo is not showing. It is on at first launch.
3. Open SHARA’s Settings and pick a halo shape, size and colour that stand out against your app.
4. Hold Ctrl+Space and choose Draw to circle a button. Press Ctrl+Win+B to clear the ink before the next step.
5. Press Ctrl+Win+T to show the keys you press, then start your recorder and record a test.

Check it before a long take: record 10 seconds, click a few buttons and play the file back. Whether an overlay appears depends on the recorder and the capture method, so the test shows what your file gets. A recording of one window may leave overlays out.

More setups: SHARA for screen recording, overlays for software tutorials and the guide to showing keystrokes on screen.

Tutorial video examples: what to copy from each type

TechSmith groups instructional videos into a few types. Pick the one that matches your job, then copy its length and shape.

Worked example: a 2-minute tutorial script

At 130 words a minute (our estimate, the middle of Microsoft’s Speaker Coach range of 100 to 165), two minutes is about 260 spoken words. Here is how a script for “turn on dark mode in Windows 11” could split up.

Record each part as its own take, so a slip costs 20 seconds, not two minutes. For a product demo, the software demo script template adds a cue for every click, zoom and pause.

When SHARA isn’t the right fit

SHARA does not record, edit or caption, so you still need a recorder and an editor. Its marks are in the pixels, so you cannot restyle or remove them after recording. It is Windows only, line width does not follow pen pressure, and Live Zoom, the keystroke pill and the click ripple need the 14-day trial or the upgrade. If you want effects you can change later in an editor, add them in editing software instead.

Making a tutorial video: FAQ