PwnClips

How to Clip Gameplay on PC

Captured a clutch, a 1v5, or a hilarious fail? Here's the fastest way to save the last 30 seconds of your game on Windows — no editing software required — plus the pro-level option for higher-quality captures. Once you have your clip, share it on PwnClips to get it in front of the community.

TL;DR — the fastest option

On Windows 10 or 11 with a modern GPU, press Win + Alt + G in-game. Windows saves the last 30 seconds automatically. That's it. Skip below for higher-quality options.

1. Windows Game Bar (built-in, free)

Best for: quick clips on any Windows 10/11 PC. No extra install needed.

  1. Press Win + G to open Game Bar.
  2. Click the ⚙️ icon → Capturing → enable Record in the background while I'm playing a game.
  3. Set the background recording length (up to 10 minutes).
  4. In-game, press Win + Alt + G to save the last N seconds.
  5. Clips land in Videos/Captures.

2. NVIDIA ShadowPlay (RTX / GTX users)

Best for: higher bitrate, smoother 1080p/1440p/4K captures with almost no performance hit.

  1. Install GeForce Experience (or the newer NVIDIA App) and sign in.
  2. Press Alt + Z to open the overlay.
  3. Click Instant Replay → Turn On (or Alt + Shift + F10).
  4. Set the buffer length under Settings → Instant Replay (up to 20 min).
  5. In-game, press Alt + F10 to save the replay.

3. AMD ReLive (Radeon users)

Best for: AMD RX-series GPUs, roughly the same features as ShadowPlay.

  1. Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.
  2. Go to Recording → Instant Replay → toggle on.
  3. In-game, press Ctrl + Shift + S to save the buffer.

4. OBS Studio (free, most control)

Best for: multi-scene setups, custom bitrate, ultra-wide/high-refresh captures, or streaming.

  1. Download OBS Studio.
  2. Add a source: Game Capture (fullscreen apps) or Display Capture (windowed / borderless).
  3. In Settings → Output → Replay Buffer, enable it and set the buffer length.
  4. Under Settings → Hotkeys, bind a key to Save Replay.
  5. Click Start Replay Buffer in the main window before you play.

Recommended settings for shareable clips

  • Resolution: 1080p is the sweet spot — better upload times, still crisp on mobile.
  • Framerate: match your gameplay (60 fps is fine; 120 fps if you have the disk speed).
  • Bitrate: 25–50 Mbps for 1080p60. Higher = less compression, larger file.
  • Length: keep clips under 60 seconds. Short clips get more replays and shares.

Share your clip on PwnClips

Once your clip is saved, upload it to YouTube (Public or Unlisted both work), copy the link, and paste it into the PwnClips submission form. Approved clips appear on the homepage feed, and the best community clips get featured.

Submit your clip →Get featured for $10

FAQ

Does clipping affect game performance?

Instant Replay (Game Bar, ShadowPlay, ReLive) uses hardware encoders (NVENC / AMF / Intel QSV) and typically costs less than 5% FPS on modern GPUs.

Where are Game Bar clips saved?

C:\Users\<you>\Videos\Captures by default.

Why is Game Bar not recording my game?

Some anti-cheat systems block overlays. Try running the game in Borderless Windowed mode, or use OBS with Display Capture as a fallback.