What is Steps Recorder? 

Steps Recorder (known as Problems Steps Recorder (PSR) in Windows 7) is a Windows inbox program that records screenshots of the desktop along with the annotated steps while recording the activity on the screen. The screenshots & annotated text are saved to a file for later viewing. For more information on PSR, see Record steps to reproduce a problem.

Steps Recorder Deprecation

As part of our ongoing commitment to enhance and innovate the Windows experience, we want to inform our users about an important change in PSR. In a future Windows 11 update in early 2024, PSR will include a new banner notification to assist users in transitioning to alternative tools.

What's Happening?

Deprecation of PSR: In a future Windows release, PSR will be deprecated. This change is part of our plan to streamline our offerings and focus on providing more advanced and integrated tools for our users.

Windows 11 update in early 2024: To ensure a smooth transition, we are introducing a banner within PSR in this Windows update to create awareness and help the user migrate to other effective inbox tools available in Windows that serve similar or enhanced functions. 

Warning in In-Product Banner in PSR

Alternate tools to record your screen

The following inbox tools are available to record your screen:

  1. Snipping Tool—Provides screen recording feature, which is a good alternative to PSR and also ships inbox with Windows. You can simply search for "Snipping tool" in the task bar or via the Start menu   to find the tool.  Earlier in 2023, the built-in screen recorder was introduced in Snipping Tool for Windows 11 devices. With this feature, you can select and refine part of your screen before starting the recording, preview it, and then share it with others easily. To start recording your screen, just open the Snipping tool and select the Record option. You can also pause the recording when needed.Learn more about Snipping tool If you don't find Snipping tool in your system, click here to install.

  2. Xbox Game Bar—It is available in the Xbox application in Windows. You can use the shortcut key Windows Logo key   + G to open the Xbox Game Bar. The Xbox Game Bar lets you take control of all your favorite gaming activities while playing on windows which also provides a screen recording feature.

  3. ClipChamp—Microsoft ClipChamp is a video editing tool that can also be used to record the screen. On Windows 11 devices, just search for "Clipchamp" in the taskbar or via the Start menu   .

Note: The Windows versions prior to the Windows 11 update in early 2024 will still support PSR.

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