How to Record Minecraft Gameplay (Free)

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Free on PC: install OBS Studio, add a Game Capture source for Minecraft and hit Start Recording. Consoles record with the built-in capture (Xbox/PlayStation share button, Switch 30s clips); phones use the screen recorder.

What you need

PC: OBS Studio (free, obsproject.com)
Consoles: built-in capture button
Phones: the system screen recorder

Step by step

PC: download OBS Studio free from obsproject.com (Windows, macOS, Linux). The auto-setup wizard picks sane settings.
Add a source: + > Game Capture, mode 'Capture specific window', select the Minecraft window. Mic goes in with the default audio.
Settings > Output: Recording Quality 'High' with MP4 or MKV format works for YouTube; 1080p 60fps if your PC handles it.
Press Start Recording and play. F1 in Minecraft hides the HUD for clean shots.
Consoles: Xbox captures up to a few minutes with the share button (longer to an external drive); PlayStation saves up to the last hour with the Create button; Switch holds the capture button for the last 30 seconds.
Phones/tablets: use the built-in screen recorder (Control Center on iOS, quick settings on Android).
Lightweight alternative on Windows: the Xbox Game Bar (Win + G) records without installing anything.

Java vs Bedrock

Recording is identical for Java and Bedrock on PC. Console and mobile use the platform capture tools, which cost nothing.

Versions: OBS works with every Minecraft version - it records the window, not the game files.

Frequently asked questions

Is OBS Studio free?

Yes, completely free and open source from obsproject.com. No watermarks, no time limits, no account.

My recording lags - what do I lower?

Drop to 720p 30fps in OBS output settings, use the hardware encoder (NVENC/QuickSync) instead of x264, and lower Minecraft's render distance.