YouTube is the easiest place to upload a screen recording: a tutorial, a gameplay clip, or a video instruction. You can send the link to anyone, and the video itself is not stored on your own disk. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to upload a video to YouTube from your computer — from recording the screen to publishing the video on your channel.
What you need
- A Google account — it is also your YouTube login.
- A ready video file (for example, a screen recording with sound).
- A browser on your computer — uploading from a PC is easier than from a phone.
Step 1. First, record the screen
Before you upload a video, you need to record it. If you are looking for how to record the screen on Windows with sound, the simplest option is a dedicated program — for example, Screen Recorder: just two buttons, Record and Save. It captures the whole screen together with microphone sound, works offline, and saves a ready file to your desktop — you can upload it to YouTube right away.
Step 2. Sign in to YouTube and start the upload
- Open youtube.com and sign in with your Google account.
- Click the camera icon with a plus in the top right corner and choose Upload video.
- Drag the video file into the window, or click Select files and point to the recording on your computer.
If YouTube asks you to create a channel, agree — it takes one click.
Step 3. Fill in the title and description
While the file uploads, you can fill in the video details:
- Title — short and to the point, the words a person would actually search for.
- Description — a couple of sentences about the video; you can add links.
- Thumbnail — the preview image shown in the list. A single frame from the video works well.
By the way, if you need a clean frame for the thumbnail, you can pull it straight from the recording: the Kadrik program slices a video into separate sharp frames (photos) — you just pick the one you like.
Step 4. Choose who can see the video
On the visibility step YouTube offers three options:
| Visibility | Who can see it | When to choose |
|---|---|---|
| Public | Everyone, shown in search | A public video for all |
| Unlisted | Only people with the link | Instruction for a colleague or client |
| Private | Only you | A personal archive or draft |
For a video instruction you do not want to show to the whole internet, people usually pick Unlisted — the video will not appear in search, but it will open for anyone you send the link to.
Step 5. Publish
Wait until the upload and processing reach 100%, then click Publish (or Save). Done — YouTube shows a ready link to the video, which you can copy and send right away.
Which format to upload
YouTube accepts almost any video, but MP4 files go through without surprises — this is the standard format most screen-recording programs save in. You do not need to compress or convert the clip separately: YouTube prepares the versions for different quality levels itself.
Frequently asked questions
How do you upload a video to YouTube from a computer?
Sign in at youtube.com, click the camera icon with a plus → Upload video, drag the file, fill in the title and click Publish.
How long does the upload take?
It depends on the file size and your internet speed. A short screen recording usually uploads in a couple of minutes, after which YouTube processes the video for a little while.
Can you upload a video so it is not found in search?
Yes. Choose Unlisted — the video will only open via the direct link and will not show up in search or on your channel.
What is the maximum video length?
By default, up to 15 minutes. To upload longer videos, you need to verify your account once with a phone number.
Do you have to pay to upload?
No, uploading videos to YouTube is free.
In short
- Record the screen with sound and save the file (for example, with Screen Recorder).
- Sign in to YouTube → Upload video → drag the file.
- Fill in the title, description and thumbnail.
- Choose visibility: public, unlisted or private.
- Click Publish and copy the link.