What is the keyboard shortcut to record screen on Ubuntu?

Press Print Screen to open GNOME's capture overlay, then press V or click the video control to switch to screencast mode. GNOME also assigns Shift+Ctrl+Alt+R to Record a short screencast. Click the red indicator in the top bar to stop.

Where do Ubuntu screen recordings save?

The built-in GNOME recorder saves WebM files to ~/Videos/Screencasts in your home directory. OBS Studio and SimpleScreenRecorder let you choose the output folder. Screenix saves each recording in its own timestamped folder inside ~/Videos/screenix/ and opens it in a built-in editor when you stop recording.

How do I record screen with audio on Ubuntu?

GNOME's current capture overlay does not expose microphone or system-audio controls. To capture those sources, use Screenix, OBS Studio, or SimpleScreenRecorder. Screenix lists audio devices in its toolbar, with each source off until you enable it. OBS uses audio sources and its mixer. SimpleScreenRecorder has an audio selector but remains X11-focused.

Can I record my Ubuntu screen on Wayland?

Yes. GNOME's built-in recorder works on Wayland. Screenix uses PipeWire and the desktop portal, where you approve a screen or window after pressing Record. OBS Studio also provides a PipeWire capture source. SimpleScreenRecorder remains X11-focused.

How do I add zoom effects to my Ubuntu screen recording?

Screenix logs clicks while you record, then generates editable zooms from them. You can change zoom modes, add zooms, or remove them without keyframes. OBS has no equivalent workflow built in, though plugins, scene transforms, or a separate editor can approximate it.

How do I record a specific window or region on Ubuntu?

GNOME's built-in recorder offers Screen or Selection, but not a dedicated window choice for video. Screenix and OBS can request a window through the Wayland portal. SimpleScreenRecorder offers window and region capture on X11.

Does the GNOME built-in recorder have a time limit?

Current GNOME documentation does not specify the old 30-second default cutoff. That limit and its gsettings workaround apply to older GNOME releases and should not be used as current Ubuntu guidance. Stop a current recording from the red indicator in the top bar.

A practical Linux guide

How to Record Your Screen on Ubuntu

Use GNOME's built-in shortcut for a quick clip, OBS for streaming, or Screenix for the complete record, automatic polish, edit, transcribe, and share workflow on Wayland or X11.

Why Screenix is the better value

One Linux app. $39/year or $59 once.

Record, polish, edit, transcribe, and share without stacking separate tools or giving up local ownership.

Native Linux

Direct X11 and portal-based capture on supported Wayland desktops

One complete workflow

Record, polish, edit, transcribe, and share

Your files, your choice

Keep recordings local, use hosted sharing, or bring your own storage

Simple pricing

$39/yr with hosted sharing or $59 lifetime with your own storage

The short answer

For a quick clip, press Print Screen, switch to screencast mode, choose Screen or Selection, and click the red record button. GNOME saves the result in ~/Videos/Screencasts. Use Screenix when you need microphone or system-audio controls, automatic zooms, cursor styling, editing, transcription, and sharing. Use OBS when you need streaming or complex scenes.

1. Screenix 2. GNOME Built-in Recorder 3. OBS Studio 4. SimpleScreenRecorder

4 Ways to Record Your Screen on Ubuntu

Exact steps for Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04, GNOME, Wayland, and X11, ranked from quickest to most polished

Best for tutorials

Screenix

Record Ubuntu tutorials, then let the editor auto-generate zooms from your clicks

Ubuntu 22.04+ (.deb)$39/yr or $59 lifetime

Screenix is a native Ubuntu app that captures your screen and logs every click while you record. When you stop, the built-in editor opens with zooms automatically generated from those clicks, no manual keyframing. It works on Wayland and X11, supports microphone and system audio (off by default, one click to enable), and exports MP4 without a separate video editor.

Step-by-step

1
Install Screenix. The quick installer auto-detects Ubuntu, installs dependencies, and adds a desktop entry.
curl -fsSL https://screenix.studio/install | sh
Prefer a manual install? Download the standard .deb, Debian 12-compatible .deb, or Flatpak reference from screenix.studio.
2
Open Screenix from the application menu and start your 7-day free trial with an email, no credit card needed.
3
Optionally enable microphone and system audio from the toolbar popovers. Audio is off by default, and Screenix lists your devices automatically once you open a popover.On Wayland, pressing Record opens your desktop's native screen and window picker. On X11 you choose your screen or window in the toolbar first.
4
Click the red Record button to start. Screenix detects the session type. On Wayland, choose a monitor or window in the desktop portal picker; on X11, Screenix uses the source selected in its toolbar.
5
Click Stop when you are done. The recording opens in the built-in editor, which automatically generates zooms from the clicks you made while recording.Recordings save to ~/Videos/screenix/, each in its own timestamped folder.
6
Fine-tune the auto-generated zooms in the editor: switch zoom modes, add or remove zooms, trim the clip, style your cursor, then export at up to 120fps. 4K export is available on Lifetime and Team plans.

Pros

Captures microphone and system audio, enable each in one click from the toolbar
Editor auto-generates zooms from your clicks during recording, no manual keyframing
Multiple zoom modes, plus add, remove, or adjust zooms after recording
Direct X11 capture and portal-based Wayland capture on documented Ubuntu desktops
Installs with one command, a .deb package, or Flatpak
Built-in editor exports MP4, WebM, or GIF; Lifetime and Team plans include 4K export

Cons

Paid after a 7-day free trial, $39/yr or $59 lifetime
No live streaming mode
Focused on recording and light editing rather than full video production

GNOME Built-in Recorder

The zero-install shortcut built into every Ubuntu GNOME desktop

Ubuntu GNOMEFree, built in

ShortcutPrint Screen

Ubuntu ships with a screen recorder built into the GNOME desktop. It needs no separate recorder installation and works through GNOME's Wayland capture path. The current overlay exposes no microphone or system-audio controls and saves WebM files.

Step-by-step

1
Press Print Screen to open GNOME's capture overlay.
Print Screen
2
Switch to screencast mode, then choose Selection or Screen. Toggle pointer capture if needed.
3
Click Capture (or press Enter) to start recording. A red indicator appears in the top panel showing how long you have been recording.
4
Stop the recording by clicking the red indicator in the top panel.
5
Find your recording in the Videos/Screencasts folder in your home directory.
xdg-open ~/Videos/Screencasts
The file is a WebM video. It contains no audio track.

Pros

No installation, included with Ubuntu and GNOME
Works on Wayland with no configuration
Instant start with a single keyboard shortcut
Can record a selected region or the full screen

Cons

Records no audio at all, no microphone and no system sound
WebM output only, which some platforms do not accept
No zoom, cursor effects, camera overlay, or editing

OBS Studio

Free, powerful recorder and streamer with full audio and Wayland support

Ubuntu, Linux, Windows, macOSFree

OBS Studio is a free, open-source recorder that supports microphone audio, system audio, cameras, and multi-source scenes. On Ubuntu it works on both Wayland and X11, but you must add a PipeWire capture source manually and configure scenes before recording.

Step-by-step

1
Install OBS Studio from the Ubuntu repositories.
sudo apt install obs-studio
For the latest version, add the OBS PPA: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:obsproject/obs-studio && sudo apt update && sudo apt install obs-studio.
2
Open OBS Studio and run the auto-configuration wizard. Choose Optimize for recording, not streaming, if your goal is local files.
3
Under Sources, click the + button and add Screen Capture (PipeWire) for Wayland, or Screen Capture (XSHM) for X11.OBS added its official PipeWire capture source for Wayland in version 27.
4
Add Audio Input Capture (PulseAudio) to record your microphone, and enable Desktop Audio in the Audio Mixer to capture system sound.
5
Click Start Recording to begin. Click Stop Recording when finished. Files save to ~/Videos by default.

Pros

Free and open source with a large plugin ecosystem
Records microphone and system audio simultaneously
Supports Wayland and X11, cameras, and live streaming
Fine-grained encoder and audio controls

Cons

Requires scene and source setup before the first recording
No automatic zoom or cursor effects without plugins or editing
Wayland capture depends on adding a PipeWire source manually

SimpleScreenRecorder

Lightweight X11 recorder with audio and custom codecs

Ubuntu (X11 only)Free

SimpleScreenRecorder is a lightweight tool that records audio alongside your screen and gives you control over frame rate, codec, and file format. It is efficient on older hardware, but it only works on X11 sessions, not Wayland.

Step-by-step

1
Install SimpleScreenRecorder from the Ubuntu repositories.
sudo apt install simplescreenrecorder
2
Open SimpleScreenRecorder and choose the recording area: full screen, a fixed rectangle, the cursor's monitor, or a specific window.
3
Set the frame rate, video codec, and audio source. Enable Record audio to capture your microphone or system sound.Switch to the Xorg session at the login screen if you are on Wayland. SimpleScreenRecorder does not support Wayland.
4
Choose your output file, container (MP4, MKV, WebM), and directory, then click Continue.
5
Click Start recording. Use the tray icon to pause or click Save recording when you are done.

Pros

Very low CPU and memory usage, ideal for older hardware
Records microphone and system audio
Supports custom frame rates, codecs, and file formats
Simple, predictable interface

Cons

X11 only, does not work on Ubuntu Wayland sessions
No zoom, cursor effects, or annotations
The project updates infrequently and the interface is dated

Which Ubuntu Recording Method Should You Use?

A quick comparison of audio, Wayland, zoom, and setup effort for each method

Method	Best for	Effort
Screenix	Polished tutorials with audio and zooms	Low
GNOME Built-in	Instant silent clips	Low
OBS Studio	Free recording, streaming, scenes	Medium
SimpleScreenRecorder	Low-overhead X11 recording	Medium

SupportedNot supported

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

Ready to record?

Record Your First Ubuntu Tutorial

Install the native .deb and create polished, shareable Ubuntu videos for $39/year or $59 lifetime.

7-day trial, no credit card. Instant shares have no watermark. Edited exports include a small trial watermark.