Xbox Series capture settings: How to capture and where to find screenshots and video are stored explained
How to take screenshots and video on Xbox Series and Xbox One, and where to find your footage.
Xbox Series X / S has the easiest capture settings of any Xbox console yet, thanks to the latest controller revision offering a dedicated share button.
However, you don't need that to take screenshots or video, as any supported Xbox controller can capture with a couple of extra steps, and from there, you have a number of options on how to share your capture.
This page explains how to capture on Xbox Series X / S (and Xbox One, on the latest dashboard update), where to find captures, and change capture settings.
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If you're looking for more Xbox help, we have pages on how to appear offline on Xbox, adding and removing Xbox accounts and how to connect an Xbox controller.
How to capture screenshots and video on Xbox Series X / S and Xbox One
How to capture depends on the Xbox controller currently in use. On Xbox Series X / S devices, they will come with a dedicated capture button, housed in the middle of the front of the controller, with an 'upload' style icon.
By default, pressing this will capture a screenshot, and holding will capture a video.
If you don't have a dedicated capture button on your Xbox controller, then press the Guide button during the game, then press the Y button to capture a screenshot, or the X button to record what happened.
In either of the above cases, you'll receive a notification showing the capture has been successful (by default, anyway; you can switch off these notifications if you like.)
Remember you can customise how capturing works, from the buttons required to how long it captures for, and whether they are uploaded to Xbox Live right away. More on this towards the end of this page. Before that - let's find out where those captures are located.
Where to find captures on Xbox Series X / S and Xbox One
To locate where captures on Xbox Series X / S are stored, press the Guide button (the glowing Xbox logo) on your controller. This will overlay a menu on the left side of the screen.
Now go to the second to last option on the right, which is Capture and Share.
This gives you a list of pretty much everything you need to capture on an Xbox, from recording what just or is about to happen, recording a screenshot, through to sharing.
If you want to view captures in particular, then the second to last option, Recent Captures, is the one to go for.
This then brings up a list of your recent captures. Selecting one will give you a range of further options to share and edit if you like.
However, if you want to see all your captures, then select the Show All option at the bottom of this menu.
This then allows you to see everything tied to your online account or on the Xbox with the drop down box on the upper left, as well as filter by other settings, such as by screenshot, video or by game.
How to change capture settings on Xbox Series X / S and Xbox One
Within Settings, go down to Preferences on the left side, then select Capture and Share.
Alternatively, press the Guide button (the glowing Xbox logo) on your controller. This will overlay a menu on the left side of the screen, then go to Capture and Share, then Capture settings at the bottom.
This then brings up a number of options - including which apps are allowed to capture automatically, what happens when they are uploaded, and so on.
These include:
- Allow game captures (Captures by me or games, Captures by me, Don't capture)
- Record what happened (from 15 seconds to several minutes *)
- Automatically upload (Captures by me or games, Captures by me, Don't upload)
- Game clip resolution *
- Capture location **
* This will differ according to the Xbox console you are using, and the games you are playing (options for Xbox Series optimised games will be different to backwards compatible ones, for example).
** If you don't have any external devices, only internal will be listed.
How to change what the capture button does on Xbox Series X or S
The Xbox Series X or S will come with the latest model of Xbox controller, complete with a specific button for capture, right in the middle of the console.
By default, pressing will capture a screenshot, while holding will capture a video.
You can change this by going into Settings, then Preferences, Capture and Share, then Button Mapping.