How to record gameplay on PS5

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The PS5 is a content creator’s dream machine. It captures your most epic victories, your funniest fails, and your most skillful plays with a level of ease and quality that previous consoles could only imagine. Whether you want to save a 30-second clip of a game-winning goal to show your friends, or produce a full-length, edited montage for YouTube, the PS5 has you covered—all without needing a single extra piece of hardware.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything from the basics of the built-in recording system to advanced techniques for aspiring streamers and creators. Forget the confusion of menus and settings; by the end, you’ll be capturing and sharing your gameplay like a pro.

Part 1: The Built-In Powerhouse – Understanding the DualSense’s Create Button

Forget the old “Share” button. The PS5’s Create Button (located to the left of the touchpad) is your command center for all things capture. Pressing it once opens the Create Menu, giving you instant access to a suite of tools.

1. The Two Recording Modes: Short Clips vs. Manual Control
The PS5 is constantly recording your gameplay in the background. This is the magic behind its most popular feature.

  • Short Clips (The “I just did something awesome!” button):
    • How it works: By default, your PS5 is always keeping a rolling buffer of the last 60 minutes of gameplay in its temporary memory.
    • To save a clip: Simply press the Create Button once, then press the Square button. This instantly saves a video of your gameplay from the last 60 seconds (the default length). No menus, no fuss. It’s perfect for that incredible headshot, hilarious glitch, or unexpected victory.
    • Changing the Clip Length: You can adjust this. Go to Settings > Captures and Broadcasts > Shortcuts for Create Button. Here, you can change the “Save Recent Gameplay” duration to 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 3 minutes, or even 15 minutes. A 30-second or 1-minute clip is often ideal for social media.
  • Manual Recording (For planned sessions):
    • How it works: This is for when you know you want to record the next 10 minutes of a mission, a full multiplayer match, or a walkthrough.
    • To start: Press the Create Button, then select Start New Recording. A red dot will appear in the top-left of your screen.
    • To stop: Press the Create Button again and select Stop Recording. The clip will be saved to your gallery.

2. Capturing Stunning Screenshots

  • Quick Screenshot: Press the Create Button once, then press Triangle. This takes a screenshot instantly.
  • Timing is everything: For the perfect action shot, use Photo Mode (if the game has it) to pause the action, frame your shot, and then use the screenshot shortcut.

Part 2: Mastering the Settings – Quality, Length, and Storage

To get the best out of your recordings, you need to dive into the settings. Go to Settings > Captures and Broadcasts.

  • Video Clip Format:
    • WebM: The default. Efficient file size, good quality. Best for general use and sharing via the PS App.
    • MP4: The universal standard. Choose this if you plan to transfer clips to a PC for editing in software like DaVinci Resolve or Adobe Premiere. Much easier to work with outside the PlayStation ecosystem.
  • Resolution and Frame Rate:
    • This depends on your display and game. If you have a 4K TV and play a game in 4K, you can set it to record in 4K resolution. However, note:
    • 4K clips are huge in file size.
    • Frame rate is capped at 30 FPS for 4K recordings.
    • For smoother, more modern-looking footage (especially for fast-paced games), choose 1080p at 60 FPS. This is the sweet spot for most creators.
  • HDR (High Dynamic Range): If you have an HDR TV, you can choose to capture in HDR for stunning colour and contrast. Be aware that viewing and editing HDR footage on non-HDR devices can look washed out.

⚠️ The Critical Warning: Storage Management
Gameplay clips, especially at high resolutions, will devour your SSD space. A few 4K clips can take up 10s of GB.

  • Regularly review your Capture Gallery. Delete clips you don’t need.
  • Set a Time Limit: In Settings, you can set recordings to auto-delete after a certain period (like 30 days) if you haven’t viewed them.
  • The Best Practice: Get into the habit of trimming and sharing your best clips immediately, then delete the source file. Use the PS App to download them to your phone, or copy them to a USB drive for PC storage.

Part 3: Editing and Sharing – Making Your Clip Shine (Without a PC)

You don’t need fancy software to make your clips presentable. The PS5 has surprisingly robust built-in editing tools.

1. The Basics: Trimming and Sharing

  1. Go to your Media Gallery from the home screen.
  2. Select a clip and press X.
  3. Choose Trim. Use the on-screen sliders to select your start and end points. This is crucial for removing boring bits before the action starts.
  4. When done, press Options > Save As New Clip.

To Share Instantly:
While viewing the clip or screenshot, press the Create Button. You can then:

  • Share to Twitter/X or YouTube: Link your accounts in Settings.
  • Send to a PSN Friend: Attach it to a message.
  • The Best Method: “Download to Smartphone”: This generates a QR code. Scan it with your phone’s camera, and the clip is sent directly to your mobile device via your local network. From there, you can post it to Instagram, TikTok, Discord, or anywhere else.

2. The Secret Weapon: Create Studio (The PS5’s Video Editor)
Hidden in your Game Library under “Your Collection” is an app called Create Studio. This is a full-featured, timeline-based video editor on your console.

  • You can combine multiple clips into one video.
  • Add background music (from your own MP3s on a USB drive or select PS5 tracks).
  • Insert text, titles, and transitions.
  • Record voiceover commentary using your headset mic.
    It’s perfect for creating simple montages or compilations without ever leaving your console.

Part 4: Leveling Up – For Aspiring Streamers and Serious Creators

If you want to go beyond simple clips and create live streams or high-production content, you’ll need to look beyond the basic shortcuts.

1. Broadcasting (Live Streaming) Directly from Your PS5
The PS5 makes streaming to Twitch, YouTube, or TikTok incredibly simple.

  1. Press the Create Button, go to the Broadcast tab.
  2. Choose your service (link your account first in Settings).
  3. Crucially, adjust your Broadcast Settings:
    • Include Your Camera: Plug in a USB webcam (like a Logitech C920) or use the PS5 HD Camera. You can use the green-screen effect if you have the official camera.
    • Include Your Mic Audio: Let your audience hear you.
    • Include Party Audio: You must get permission from your friends to broadcast their voices. A warning will appear, and you must enable it each session.
    • Set your Stream Quality: 1080p at 60 FPS is ideal if your internet upload speed is strong (15 Mbps+).

2. Using a Capture Card for Maximum Quality & Control (The Pro Method)
For the highest quality recordings, live commentary with perfect audio, and seamless integration with overlays and alerts, you need a capture card. This device takes the HDMI signal from your PS5 and sends it to a PC, where you use software like OBS Studio (free) or Streamlabs.

  • How it works:
    1. Connect your PS5’s HDMI OUT to the capture card’s INPUT.
    2. Connect the capture card’s OUTPUT to your TV/monitor (for gameplay with no lag).
    3. Connect the capture card to your PC via USB.
    4. Your PC recording software (OBS) sees the PS5 as a video source.
  • Benefits:
    • Record in pristine quality (high bitrate) to your PC’s spacious hard drive.
    • Use a professional microphone (like a Blue Yeti) for crystal-clear voiceovers.
    • Add overlays, webcam frames, alerts, and music easily.
    • Separate your game audio, voice audio, and party chat into different tracks for perfect editing later.
  • Recommended Capture Cards:
    • Entry-Level: Elgato HD60 S
    • The Sweet Spot: Elgato HD60 X (supports 4K60 HDR passthrough with 1080p capture)
    • For 4K60 Recording: Elgato 4K60 Pro (internal PCIe card)

3. The Audio Dilemma: Capturing Party Chat for Edited Videos
This is the #1 challenge for PS5 creators. The console mixes all audio together by default. To get a clean voice track for editing:

  • Method 1 (Built-in): When starting a manual recording, you can choose to include your mic and/or include party audio. However, these are baked into the video track.
  • Method 2 (The Best Way): Use the PlayStation app on your phone for party chat. Join the party on your phone using a headset connected to your phone. Your friends’ voices come through your phone, not the PS5. Record your own voice separately on your PC or even your phone’s voice memos. Sync them in editing. This gives you perfect, separate control.

Part 5: Your Content Creation Workflow – Putting It All Together

Here’s a practical guide for two common scenarios:

Scenario A: The Social Media Clip Sharer

  1. Set your shortcut to save the last 30 seconds of gameplay.
  2. Do something cool. Press Create > Square.
  3. Go to Media Gallery, trim the clip to 10-15 seconds for TikTok/Reels/Shorts.
  4. Use the PS App to download it to your phone.
  5. Use a mobile app (CapCut, InShot) to add captions, music, and effects.
  6. Post it.

Scenario B: The Aspiring YouTube Creator

  1. Set recordings to MP4 format, 1080p, 60 FPS.
  2. Plan your recording session. Start a manual recording via the Create Menu.
  3. Use a USB mic plugged into the PS5 for decent voice audio, or record commentary separately.
  4. After playing, transfer the clips to a USB drive (Format it as exFAT on your PC first).
  5. Move the USB drive to your PC. Import clips into DaVinci Resolve (free).
  6. Edit your video, add music (from a royalty-free source like Epidemic Sound), sync your audio, and render.
  7. Upload to YouTube.

Final Pro-Tips:

  • Disable HDR for SDR Screens: If you’re recording for a platform that doesn’t support HDR (like most standard PC monitors), turn HDR off in the PS5 system settings before recording to avoid washed-out colours.
  • Clean Up Regularly: Make a weekly ritual of managing your Capture Gallery.
  • Engage with Communities: Share your clips in relevant game subreddits or Discord servers for feedback and exposure.

Conclusion: Your Moments, Mastered

The PS5 has democratized game capture. What used to require thousands of pounds in equipment is now at the fingertips of every player. Whether you’re a parent saving your child’s first virtual goal, a friend sharing a laugh, or an aspiring streamer building an audience, the tools are there.

Start simple with the Create Button shortcuts. Experiment with trimming and the PS App. As your passion grows, explore Create Studio, and finally, consider the world of capture cards and professional editing. Your greatest gaming moments are no longer fleeting—they’re waiting to be captured, crafted, and shared with the world. Now, press that Create button and start building your legacy, one clip at a time.

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