How to screen record on nintendo switch for youtube

  • Instructions about how to capture and trim video game footage from select software on Nintendo Switch.
  • Steps to save a screenshot from a saved video.

Additional Information:

  • Up to thirty seconds of gameplay video can be captured on Nintendo Switch.
  • Captured videos can be trimmed and posted online.

Important:

  • Video capture is available for consoles with system menu version 4.0.0 or higher, and is compatible with the following software titles:
    • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
    • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
    • ARMS
    • Splatoon 2
  • More titles will become compatible in the future.
  • The compatible software must be updated to the most recent version.

Complete These Steps:

To capture video gameplay footage:

While in a compatible game, press and hold down the Capture Button on the left Joy-Con.

  • Up to thirty seconds of gameplay prior to pressing the Capture Button will be saved.
  • The captured videos can be viewed within the Album.

To edit or trim a saved gameplay video:

  1. Within the HOME Menu, select "Album" > "All Screenshots and Videos."
  2. Select a video to edit, then select "Editing and Posting" > "Trim."
  3. Slide the left marker to adjust the start of the video. Then press "Next" and slide the right marker to adjust where the video ends.
  4. When you are done, select "Save." The edited video will be saved as a new video.

To save a screenshot from a saved gameplay video:

  1. Within the HOME Menu, select "Album" > "All Screenshots and Videos."
  2. Select a video to edit. The video playback will begin.
    • You can pause the video by pressing "Y."
  3. Select "Editing and Posting" > "Save as Screenshot."

Capture cards are a major part of content creation in the video game space, but the Nintendo Switch has specific needs due to the nature of the platform. We'll cover some of the required components to get Switch gameplay onto a stream or into a video editor, and get more than those low-resolution, 30-second clips the console's share button makes.

A capture card is a device that passes a video feed from a game console to another device that can record the video. Typically, these devices work by connecting the game console to the card, then having the card send one feed out to the TV (so the player can continue to play on the TV as usual) and another feed to a PC. The PC can then either save the recording to be edited later or, through encoding software like OBS or XSplit, broadcast the footage as a live stream. Given that this process requires the device to be capable of connecting to a TV through HDMI, it is not possible to use a capture card with a Switch Lite, so if content creation is the goal, drop the extra $100 and pick up the standard Nintendo Switch.

With Switch and every current-generation console, the question of which card works is easy to answer: just about all of them. The important thing will be choosing the best one. By most accounts, the answer will be the Elgato HD60 S, easily the world's most popular capture card. It connects to a TV and a Switch via two HDMI cables, and then sends the game feed to a PC through USB. From there, it can be used with Elgato's dedicated, free software for editing, streaming, color correction, audio balancing, and so on. Elgato specializes in this field and prides itself on being an end-to-end solution for streamers or people who capture game video. This card costs about $180 usually.

Alternatively, the AverMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus is another great option specifically for Switch users. Its PC software isn't as robust as Elgato's but the device can record gameplay internally, so it doesn't require connecting to a PC. As a result, this is a portable gameplay recording solution, provided your definition of "portable" means you'll also have your Switch's dock with you. It records to a microSD card, so at some point, it'll require a PC to offload the video and subsequently upload it. This one can be found for about $170.

Why You Want to Use a Capture Card

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Every version of the Nintendo Switch has a share button that can take screenshots and record up to 30 seconds of video, but with a downgrade in resolution and frame rate. It's great for quick uploads but for anything more, a capture device is essential. Most of them, including the two listed above, record at 1080p resolution and at 60 frames per second, which happens to match the maximum output of Switch games. So footage recorded with a capture card will look as good it possibly can.

Capture cards are also a requirement for streaming Switch games. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One have limited streaming (and editing, in the case of the former) capabilities, but the Switch lacks the option entirely. Anyone pursuing a streaming career will want a PC and a capture card to get footage to that PC at some point. Fortunately, the current models of capture cards work with just about every console and should also be compatible with the upcoming PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, so they're a great investment.

More: Nintendo Switch VS. Switch Lite: Which Should You Buy?

How do I record a Nintendo Switch for YouTube?

While in a compatible game, press and hold down the Capture Button on the left Joy-Con. Up to thirty seconds of gameplay prior to pressing the Capture Button will be saved. The captured videos can be viewed within the Album.

How do I record on YouTube with Switch without capture card?

The most regular way to record Switch gameplay without a capture card is using the pre-installed gameplay capturing tool. This is free and convenient for users who don't want to set up a capture card.

How can I record my Nintendo Switch screen?

How to capture screen recordings.
Press and hold the Capture button on the left Joy-Con. It is a square-shaped button with a circular indent. It is located below the Directional buttons..
Holding the Capture button for a second records the last 30 seconds of gameplay..

Can you record more than 30 seconds on Nintendo Switch?

the Nintendo switch can't record more than 30 seconds at a time “on the fly”, but there are ways around that. to start with, you can just hold the capture button every 25 seconds and use a video editor to stick the fragments together into a longer recording.