Clippy vs Steam Game Recording: what each one does
Steam Game Recording is built into the Steam client. Turn it on and it records in the background or on demand, with a timeline in the overlay for replaying and clipping, and it works on Steam Deck too. Clippy is a separate Windows app: it starts recording when a game starts and saves the last minute as an MP4 when you press one key, with an editor and a share link built in.
Updated November 2026
The short answer
Steam Game Recording is built into the Steam client, records in the background or on demand, and lets you rewind and clip from a timeline in the overlay. Clippy is a separate Windows app that starts with your game and saves an MP4 on one key, with an editor and a share link built in. Pick Steam if you want it inside Steam or on Steam Deck, Clippy if you want clips ready as files and a link to share.
Clippy and Steam Game Recording side by side
| Feature | Clippy | Steam Game Recording |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no watermark on normal exports | Part of the Steam client |
| Where it runs | Windows 10 and 11 | The Steam client on desktop, and Steam Deck |
| Turning it on | Starts by itself when a game starts | Choose Record in Background or Record on Demand in Settings |
| Saved as | MP4 files | Steam's own format for recordings and clips, with MP4 export |
| Sharing | One link, and viewers need no account | Send to chat or another device, or a temporary link Steam hosts |
Check steampowered.com for Steam Game Recording's current features.
What Clippy does
- Free, with no watermark. Supporters pay for cosmetics and extra storage, never for the recorder.
- Recording starts by itself when a game starts and stops when it closes. No profiles to set up.
- One key (F8 by default) saves the last minute as an MP4. The buffer goes up to ten minutes.
- Unreal and Unity games are recognised by how they are built and Minecraft from any launcher, and you can add a game Clippy misses.
- On Windows 11, game, other sound and microphone land on separate tracks you can rebalance in the editor.
- An editor with trim, chapters, speed and GIF export, plus vertical 9:16 exports and a "fit under N MB" option.
- One link to share, with clean embeds on Discord and X. Viewers need no account.
Where Steam Game Recording is different
- Built into the Steam client on desktop and Steam Deck.
- Records in the background up to a duration and disk limit you set, or on demand, for games that allow the Steam Overlay to run, non-Steam titles included.
- A timeline in the overlay with markers for replaying and clipping, and clips you can save in Steam, export as MP4, copy or send to another device.
Check steampowered.com for Steam Game Recording's current features.
Which one fits
Pick Clippy if you want recording that starts by itself, MP4 files straight away and an editor and share link in one place. Pick Steam Game Recording if you play through Steam, want a timeline you can rewind in the overlay, or also play on Steam Deck.
Questions
Why use Clippy if Steam already records games?
Steam Game Recording is already there if you play through Steam. Clippy is for people who want recording to start with the game, an MP4 on one key, and an editor and a share link in the same place. Clippy is Windows only, so on Steam Deck you would use Steam's own.
Is Clippy really free?
Yes. The recorder is free, with no time limit and no watermark on normal exports. Supporters pay for extras such as more shared-clip storage, themes and cosmetics, never for recording. One thing to know: a vertical export made on the free plan carries a small "made with Clippy" mark.
How do I save the last minute of a game?
Press F8, or any key, mouse side button or controller button you choose. Clippy records in the background while a game runs and saves the last stretch it kept: one minute by default, and up to ten minutes if you raise the buffer in Settings.
Does Clippy record my whole screen?
No. It records the game window only, through the Windows Graphics Capture API, so a Discord message or a browser tab never ends up in a clip.
Does Clippy work on any graphics card?
Yes. It encodes on the card with NVIDIA NVENC, AMD AMF or Intel Quick Sync, and falls back to software if none of them works.
Can I bring my Steam Game Recording clips to Clippy?
Clippy can copy MP4 and MKV clips from any folder on your PC into its library, so clips you exported from Steam as MP4 can come along. See how import works.
Is it safe to use Clippy in games with anti-cheat?
Clippy records through Windows' own window capture and does not inject anything into the game or read its memory. Each game guide says the same about that game, and your game's own rules always come first.
Switching from Steam Game Recording?
Clippy can copy MP4 and MKV clips from any folder on your PC into its library, so clips you exported from Steam as MP4 can come along. How clip import works.
Last updated November 6, 2026. All comparisons.