How to Record Audio in Windows 10 (Voice Recorder)

To record audio in Windows 10, open Voice Recorder from the Start menu and select the Record button, or press Ctrl + R. Select Stop when you’re done. The recording appears in the list on the left and is saved as an .m4a file in Documents > Sound recordings.

Applies to: Windows 10. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 25, 2026.

Record with Voice Recorder

1. Select Start, type Voice Recorder, and open it.
2. Select the Record button, or press Ctrl + R. Allow microphone access if asked.

3. Speak into the microphone. Select Pause to take a break, or the flag button to add a marker you can jump to later.
4. Select Stop to save the recording.

Play, rename, or share a recording

• Select a recording in the list to play it.
• Right-click it and select Rename, Share, Open file location, or Delete.
• Select Trim while playing to cut the start or end.

Find and back up your recordings

• Recordings are saved as .m4a files in Documents > Sound recordings. Right-click one in Voice Recorder and select Open file location to go straight there.
• Copy the folder to a USB drive or OneDrive to keep a backup.
• Windows Media Player and most other music players can play .m4a files on other PCs.

Get a better recording

• Use a headset or USB microphone if you can. Built-in laptop mics pick up fan and keyboard noise.
• Record in a quiet room, and keep the mic at the same distance from your mouth the whole time.
• Make a short test recording and play it back before you record something long.
• The recording is very quiet: raise the input volume in Settings > System > Sound > Device properties, then record again.

Record sound from an app with Xbox Game Bar

Voice Recorder only uses the microphone. To capture the sound an app is playing, open the app, press Windows logo key + G, and select the record button in the Capture widget. Game Bar records a video of that app with its sound, saved in Videos > Captures. It doesn’t work on the desktop or in File Explorer.

If nothing records

1. Select Start > Settings > Privacy > Microphone and turn on access for Voice Recorder.
2. Select Start > Settings > System > Sound and choose the right microphone under Input.
3. Check the input volume. See how to turn up the mic volume in Windows 10.

For more mic fixes, see how to turn on and test your microphone in Windows 10.

Frequently asked questions

Can I save as MP3?

Voice Recorder saves in .m4a format. Use an audio editor or converter to change it to MP3 or WAV.

Can Voice Recorder record sound playing on my PC?

No. It records from a microphone. To capture sound from apps, you need recording software that supports system audio, or you can use Xbox Game Bar as shown above.

What if Voice Recorder is missing?

Install Windows Voice Recorder free from the Microsoft Store.

Do my recordings stay if I uninstall Voice Recorder?

Yes. The files are in your Documents folder, so they stay even if the app is removed. You can still play them in other apps.

Can I record a Teams or Zoom meeting?

Use the meeting app’s own record button instead. It captures everyone’s audio, and the app lets others know they’re being recorded. Always ask permission before recording people.

Why does my recording have an echo?

Your mic is picking up sound from your speakers. Wear headphones while you record, or turn the speaker volume down.

To shorten a video instead of a sound clip, see how to trim a video in Windows 10.

To record the sound your PC is playing instead of your mic, see how to enable and use Stereo Mix in Windows 10.

To trim an MP3 or other audio file, see how to trim an MP3 file in Windows 10.

On Windows 11, see how to record audio in Windows 11 with Sound Recorder.

Microsoft’s guide is Sound Recorder app for Windows: FAQ. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.

Related: record a WAV file on Windows 10.

Related: How to Edit an MP3 File on Windows 10.