How to Record Games with NVIDIA: Comprehensive Guide

In the past, most people primarily played single-player games and lacked the means to fully interact with other players. However, with the development of online platforms and video websites, more and more people have started sharing gameplay videos online, creating visual tutorials, and even launching live game streams. All these activities rely on one core tool: screen recorders.

If you're an NVIDIA GPU user looking to capture your gameplay, consider using the company's own solution: GeForce Experience. It not only records your screen but also takes screenshots and assists with game streaming.

This guide will walk you through recording games with NVIDIA, streaming via this platform, capturing screenshots, and more. We hope you find everything you need here.

Part 1. What Is Geforce Experience & NVIDIA ShadowPlay

Many users may be unfamiliar with the terms GeForce Experience and NVIDIA ShadowPlay, especially regarding their functionality. So before diving into the user guide, let's first explore the concepts behind these names.

What Is GeForce Experience

GeForce Experience is a comprehensive tool from NVIDIA designed to handle graphics card-related tasks. Its primary functions include optimizing game settings, live streaming, capturing gameplay footage, and keeping graphics drivers up to date.

What Is NVIDIA ShadowPlay

NVIDIA ShadowPlay is a screen recording tool provided by GeForce Experience. It enables users to capture high-quality gameplay clips or take screenshots, and facilitates sharing of captured content.

Notably, GeForce Experience also supports continuous recording. This allows users to trace back to earlier gameplay videos.

Part 2. How To Use NVIDIA ShadowPlay To Record Your Gameplay

Alright, now that you understand NVIDIA ShadowPlay is specifically designed for capturing gameplay footage, let's dive right into how to use it.

Please note that NVIDIA ShadowPlay requires your computer to be equipped with an NVIDIA graphics card.

First, we'll guide you through how to record games with NVIDIA.

Follow these steps:

Step 1. Begin by downloading and setting up the GeForce Experience app on your PC.

Step 2. Log into your NVIDIA account, head to Settings in the top-right corner, and under General, switch on the In-Game Overlay option.

Step 3. Use the keyboard shortcut Alt + Z to bring up the recording control panel.

Step 4. Within the Settings menu, adjust the recording quality—such as resolution, frame rate, and bitrate—and decide whether to include microphone audio.

Step 5. Launch your game and hit Alt + F9 to begin recording.

Part 3. How To Use Instant Replay In NVIDIA ShadowPlay

What if I forget to turn on recording when I hit a thrilling moment? Do I have to replay it?

As long as you've activated Instant Replay in NVIDIA ShadowPlay, this won't be an issue. It runs in the background, continuously recording your screen, and can save up to twenty minutes of gameplay footage.

And yes, even if you haven't manually started recording, it automatically captures your last 20 minutes of gameplay. Note, however, that if you don't save the captured videos, they will be automatically deleted after you finish your current game session to prevent excessive storage usage.

Alright, here's how to record games using NVIDIA Instant Replay.

Step 1. Click the Share button in the top-right corner, or quickly open the overlay by pressing Alt + Z to launch ShadowPlay.

Step 2. Inside the overlay menu, choose Instant Replay and then go to Settings.

Step 3. Set how long you’d like ShadowPlay to keep your gameplay history and tweak video quality details. Don’t forget to hit Save once finished.

Step 4. Return to the overlay, pick Instant Replay, and select Turn On. From now on, the tool will continuously capture your sessions.

If something memorable happens and you want to keep it, open the overlay and press Save, or simply use the shortcut Alt + F10.

Part 4. How To Stream Recorded Game Live In NVIDIA ShadowPlay

Now we come to the live streaming feature. Yes, NVIDIA ShadowPlay, like many game recorders, supports direct streaming across various platforms. Currently, it is compatible with streaming platforms including YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch.

To start streaming smoothly, you still need to do some preparatory work.

Here's how to set up and stream using NVIDIA ShadowPlay:

Step 1. Press Alt + Z to bring up the ShadowPlay overlay. From there, click Broadcast Live and head into Settings, where you’ll find stream-specific options.

Step 2. Select your streaming platform, then adjust video quality settings such as resolution, frame rate, and bit rate.

Step 3. Choose any custom overlays you want, for example, to hide your in-game chat or display branding.

Step 4. Make sure the correct ingest server is chosen for your region to ensure smooth streaming.

Step 5. Return to the overlay, open Broadcast Live, and select Start.

Fill out the basics—platform login, stream title (up to 140 characters), target audience, and location

Then, hit Broadcast or press Alt + F8 to go live.

Part 5. How To Use NVIDIA ShadowPlay To Take Screenshots

Although setting up NVIDIA game recording may seem a bit complicated, we have to admit that NVIDIA ShadowPlay's screenshot tool is top-notch. Not only does it activate quickly, but the steps to use it are also extremely simple.

Follow along as we take a quick look at how it works:

Step 1. Launch the game you want to play and pause at the exact scene you’d like to capture.

Step 2. Press Alt + Z on your keyboard to bring up the GeForce Experience overlay.

Step 3. Click the Screenshot option, or simply use the shortcut Alt + F1 to grab the image instantly.

Part 6. Best Alternative To NVIDIA Screen Recorder - FVC Screen Recorder

Did you notice a key point in the previous section? That is, only users with NVIDIA graphics cards can utilize its built-in screen recording software and learn how to record games with NVIDIA GeForce Experience.

If you use a different graphics card or find NVIDIA Screen Recorder doesn't fully meet your needs, we recommend trying another highly compatible software: FVC Screen Recorder.

FVC Screen Recorder is a desktop screen recording application for both Windows and Mac. It not only captures any video and audio occurring on your screen but also simultaneously records footage from your webcam and microphone audio. Even more impressively, it can connect your phone to your computer via WiFi or USB cable to record your phone's screen directly on your computer.

We'll outline its main features in bullet points:

Key Features

• Record audio from both the system and your microphone at the same time.

• Take control of your desktop or webcam recording with ease.

• Connect your phone to capture its screen directly from your computer.

• Choose between various screenshot options like full screen, window-only, or custom area.

• Edit your videos, images, and sound with a wide set of built-in tools.

How to record your gameplay with this screen recorder:

Step 1. Download and install FVC Screen Recorder on your device.Launch it. To capture your gameplay on the computer, begin by selecting the Game Recorder option from the main panel.

Step 2. Click on Select the game to specify which game process you want to record. At this point, you can also enable your webcam, system audio, and microphone.

Step 3. Once everything is ready, press the REC button and your gameplay session will be recorded immediately.

Part 7. FAQs of Recording Games with NVIDIA

Conclusion

In this guide, we've covered how to record games with NVIDIA Experience, including capturing standard gameplay videos, performing in-game instant replays, launching live streams on platforms, and taking screenshots using NVIDIA ShadowPlay. This single guide addresses all your operational questions.

For users unfamiliar with NVIDIA ShadowPlay or those using non-NVIDIA graphics cards, we recommend the best alternative: FVC Screen Recorder. It offers strong compatibility, simple operation, diverse features, and even editing support—making it the perfect choice.