LesskeysRecord audio on Windows: the microphone, the PC sound, or both
To record the sound your PC plays, use a loopback input in Audacity, a Stereo Mix device if your hardware has one, or Lesskeys, which records the PC sound and your microphone together. Sound Recorder, Microsoft's app, records your microphone.
Windows 10 and 11 · No subscription
Last reviewed
Your voice
Record your own voice with Sound Recorder
- Open Sound Recorder from the Start menu.
- Select Start recording, or press Ctrl+R.
- Press Esc to stop and save. Space pauses and resumes.
One file runs up to three hours, and uninstalling the app deletes its recordings. Microsoft's page covers the microphone only.
Sources, read on 14 October 2026
- Microsoft: Sound Recorder app for Windows, FAQ (start, pause, stop, three hours, where recordings are kept)
PC sound
Record the sound your PC plays
A microphone hears the room. To capture what your PC plays, you need a loopback: a copy of the sound Windows sends to your speakers.
- In Audacity (audacityteam.org), set the audio host to Windows WASAPI and the recording device to the (loopback) entry for your speakers.
- Start the sound playing, then select Record.
- Select Stop, then edit or save.
Audacity records only while sound plays. If mono fails, use 2 (Stereo), and turn off input monitoring to avoid echoes. Check copyright first.
Sources, read on 14 October 2026
- Audacity Support: Recording desktop audio (WASAPI host and the loopback entry)
- Audacity manual: Recording Computer Playback on Windows (mono and stereo tip, echoes, Stereo Mix limits)
- Microsoft: Loopback recording (what a loopback is, Stereo Mix, enabling it)
- Audacity for Windows (tested on Windows 10 and 11)
Stereo Mix
Where is Stereo Mix?
Some sound hardware has a Stereo Mix input, and it is often switched off.
In the Sound window's Recording tab, show disabled devices, then enable it and set it as the default. Not every adapter has one.
Both at once
Both at once, with the words
Lesskeys records the PC sound and your microphone as one recording, then writes who said what.
- BothPC sound and mic
- Pauseand live levels
- Nothinguploaded
Open Record Call, pick your microphone, press record, then Stop & Transcribe. Windows asks for nothing beyond your microphone, and no bot joins a call.
Tell the people you record; some places require everyone's consent.
Installing on Windows? Step-by-step install guide.
Which one
Which one should you use?
| What | Records | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Sound Recorder | Your microphone | Up to three hours per file; Microsoft's page does not cover the sound your PC plays |
| Audacity loopback | The sound your PC plays | Records only while sound plays; you start the playback first; edits the sound afterwards; its pages do not cover the microphone at the same time |
| Stereo Mix | PC sound, if your hardware has it | Not every sound adapter has one, it is often switched off, and USB, wireless or HDMI playback cannot be captured through the built-in one |
| Lesskeys | PC sound and microphone, in one recording | Writes a transcript; not built for editing the sound |
Questions
Questions about recording audio from your computer
Can Windows Sound Recorder record computer audio?
Microsoft's page for Sound Recorder describes recording through your microphone and says nothing about computer sound. To record what your PC plays, use a loopback input in Audacity, a Stereo Mix device if your hardware has one, or Lesskeys.
How do I record audio from the computer in Audacity?
Set the audio host to Windows WASAPI, choose the loopback entry for your speakers or headphones as the recording device, start the sound playing, then select Record.
Why can't I find Stereo Mix on my PC?
Not every sound adapter has one. If yours does, it may be disabled: open the Recording tab of the Sound window, show disabled devices, then enable it and set it as the default device.
Can I record my microphone and the computer sound at the same time on Windows?
Yes, with Lesskeys: it records the sound your PC plays and your microphone as one recording, and writes a transcript.
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