How to Capture Your Desktop with VLC Media Player

Need to capture your desktop without installing extra software? VLC media player includes a built-in screen recording tool that lets you record your full screen and save it to popular formats like MP4. The feature is free and works on both Windows and macOS.

This guide explains how to use the VLC record screen feature on PC and Mac, select the right output formats, and troubleshoot common audio and capture limitations.

How to use VLC as a screen recorder 

Recording your desktop in VLC involves selecting your display under Open Capture Device and then using VLC’s conversion features to export the final video file. 

Step 1. Enable the advanced controls toolbar

Open VLC on your PC. Go to View → Advanced Controls in the top menu. A second row of controls appears above the standard playback bar – it includes a red Record button. You won’t use this button for screen recording directly (it’s for recording currently playing media), but enabling it confirms the controls are active.

Step 2. Open Media → Open Capture Device

Click Media in the top menu bar, then select Open Capture Device. The Open Media dialog opens on the Capture Device tab.

Input sources supported by VLC

VLC’s Open Capture Device accepts the following input sources across PC and Mac:

Step 3. Set the capture mode and choose frame rate

In the Capture Device tab, click the Capture mode dropdown and select Desktop. In the Desired frame rate for the capture field, enter a frame rate. 10–15 FPS is fine for slides and non-moving content; 30 FPS gives smoother video for fast-moving demos. Higher FPS increases file size and CPU usage. For audio, if you have a virtual audio device installed, select it in the audio dropdown below; otherwise leave it blank.

Step 4. Click Convert / Save and set the output file

Click the dropdown arrow next to the Play button at the bottom-right of the dialog and select Convert.

In the Convert window:

1. Click the Profile dropdown and choose Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4) for the most compatible output.
2. Click Browse next to Destination file, choose a folder and filename, and click Save.

Step 5. Begin recording and stop when done

Click Start. The VLC window minimizes or sits in the background. VLC is now active – everything on your computer screen is being captured. When you’re done, bring the VLC window back to the front and click the Stop button (the square icon in the playback controls). The video file saves to your chosen destination automatically.

Output formats supported by VLC

On Windows (via Convert / Save), VLC can output screen recordings in:

VLC screen recorder alternative – Movavi Screen Recorder

Movavi Screen Recorder is the purpose-built alternative that solves every limitation of VLC’s screen recorder: it captures any custom area or single window, records system audio and microphone simultaneously without any virtual audio driver, shows the mouse cursor in the recording, and exports clean MP4 files – all on both Windows and Mac. No command-line configuration, no virtual device setup.

The 7-day free trial gives full access to all recording features before any payment. The paid version removes the trial watermark and all limitations.

How to record screen using Movavi Screen Recorder

Three steps from installation to a finished screen recording with audio – on Windows or Mac.

Step 1. Install Movavi Screen Recorder

Download and install Movavi Screen Recorder from the official website. Click the Screen recording icon on the sidebar.

Step 2. Select your recording area and set up audio

Use your mouse to drag and highlight the exact portion of the display you want to record – full screen, a specific window, or a custom area.

Step 3. Record, edit, and export your screen video

Click REC to start recording after a 3-second countdown. Use the floating toolbar during capture to pause or draw on-screen annotations. When finished, click Stop. The video opens in the built-in trimmer so you can cut out unwanted parts, add final edits, and save the exported file to your computer.

Conclusion

VLC works for simple, occasional full-desktop captures. For recordings that need audio without a virtual driver, a custom capture region, mouse cursor visibility, or a cleaner output, Movavi Screen Recorder covers all of those gaps in a purpose-built tool that’s just as free to try. Download the 7-day trial and compare the results side by side with your VLC recordings.

FAQ

Where is the Record button on VLC?

The Record button in VLC is in the Advanced Controls toolbar – a second row of buttons above the standard playback bar. 

1. To show it, go to View → Advanced Controls. The Record button (a red circle) appears on the far left of the advanced controls row. However, this button records currently playing media (a video or stream you’re already watching), not your screen.
2. For VLC screen recording, the correct path is Media → Open Capture Device → Desktop → Convert/Save → Start on Windows, or File → Open Capture Device → Screen → Open → Playback → Record on Mac.

How do I record a clip from VLC?

To record a clip from a video already playing in VLC:

1. Enable View → Advanced Controls, play the video and pause at the point where you want the clip to start. 
2. Click the Record button (red circle), let the video play to the end of the clip, then click Record again to stop. VLC saves the clip to your Videos folder (Windows: C:\Users\[username]\Videos, Mac: ~/Movies). 
3. To record your computer screen as a clip, use the Media → Open Capture Device → Desktop workflow instead.

Why is VLC not recording?

The most common reasons VLC screen recording fails: 

• Used Play instead of Convert/Save – clicking Play in the Capture Device dialog previews the screen without saving. You must use Convert/Save to write a file. 
• No output path set – check that you clicked Browse and set a destination filename before clicking Start.
• Insufficient permissions – on Windows, try running VLC as Administrator; on Mac, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording and enable VLC.
• Hardware acceleration conflict – disable it in Tools → Preferences → Input/Codecs → uncheck hardware-accelerated decoding.
• Disk full or bad path – choose a destination folder with enough free space.

How do I record only one screen with VLC?

VLC screen recorder does not support recording only one monitor on a multi-screen setup – it captures the entire virtual desktop across all connected screens. There is no built-in region selection or single-monitor targeting in VLC. If you need to record only one screen or only a specific window, you’ll need a dedicated tool like Movavi Screen Recorder, which lets you click a single monitor, draw a custom area, or select a specific application window as the capture region. OBS Studio is another option that supports per-monitor capture via its Sources panel. On Windows 11, the built-in Xbox Game Bar (Win + G) also records the active window only.