Download ShareX Free – Complete Screen Capture and Video Recording Guide

What Is ShareX?

ShareX is an open-source screen capture and video recording tool, completely free, developed by the ShareX Team on the .NET framework. It is the most comprehensive screen capture utility on Windows, widely regarded as the best free screenshot tool with over 30 million downloads and a stellar 4.8/5 star rating across software platforms.

Unlike the default Snipping Tool in Windows or commercial software like Snagit, ShareX is completely free with all features unlocked — no watermark, no ads, no limitations. Its greatest strength is combining screen capture, video recording, image editing, cloud upload, and workflow automation into a single application.

Design philosophy: ShareX is built on the "capture, upload, share" principle. With a single hotkey press, you can capture your screen, automatically upload to a hosting service, and copy the shareable link to your clipboard — all within seconds.

History of ShareX

ShareX was first released in 2014 by Jaex as a successor to ZScreen — a screenshot tool he also created. Since then, ShareX has continuously evolved to become the most popular open-source screen capture tool on GitHub.

Key development milestones:

• 2014: ShareX 1.0 released, succeeding ZScreen
• 2016: ShareX 9.0 adds screen recording and OCR
• 2018: ShareX 11.0 with built-in Image Editor
• 2020: ShareX 13.0 with output encryption, performance optimizations
• 2022: ShareX 14.0 with dark mode, WebP and AVIF support
• 2024-2026: ShareX 15.x-16.x optimized for Windows 11, improved screen recording, new upload destinations

Today, ShareX is an open-source project with over 30,000 stars on GitHub, translated into 30+ languages, and is the top choice for SEO professionals, developers, content creators, and IT specialists worldwide.

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Why Use ShareX?

Completely Free – Open Source

ShareX is open-source software released under the GNU GPLv3 license. You can use it for any purpose — personal, commercial, educational — without paying a single cent. The source code is publicly available on GitHub, ensuring transparency and security.

Diverse Capture Modes

ShareX supports over 20 capture modes, more than any other screenshot tool:

Capture Mode	Description
Fullscreen	Entire screen
Window	Specific application window
Monitor	Specific monitor (multi-monitor setups)
Rectangle	Rectangular region
Region	Freeform region
Active Window	Currently active window
Active Monitor	Currently active monitor
Scrolling Capture	Full-page scrolling screenshot
Text Capture (OCR)	Optical character recognition
Freehand Region	Hand-drawn region
Ellipse Region	Elliptical region
Triangle Region	Triangular region

High-Quality Screen Recording

ShareX supports screen video recording with various options:

• Recording modes: Fullscreen, Region, Active Window
• Resolution: Up to 4K (depends on your display)
• FPS: Up to 60 FPS
• Output formats: MP4 (H.264/H.265), AVI, MKV, WebM
• Audio sources: Microphone, system audio, or both
• Webcam overlay: Record webcam footage overlaid on screen
• Mouse recording: Highlight cursor, show mouse clicks

Automatic Cloud Upload

This is ShareX's killer feature that few tools match. After capturing, ShareX can automatically upload to over 80 hosting services:

• Images: Imgur, Flickr, PicGo, and more
• Video: Streamable, Gfycat
• Files: Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Mega, MediaFire
• Custom upload: FTP/SFTP, S3, WebDAV, and more
• URL shorteners: bit.ly, TinyURL, and more

After uploading, ShareX automatically copies the shareable link to your clipboard — just Ctrl+V to share.

Built-in Image Editor

ShareX includes a powerful image editor that lets you:

• Draw: Pen, line, arrow, rectangle, ellipse
• Annotate: Highlight, blur, step labels
• Crop: Crop, resize, rotate
• Effects: Drop shadow, edge blur, watermark overlay
• Text: Add text with various fonts and colors

This feature is especially useful for SEO professionals and content creators who need to create illustrations for articles. For advanced image editing, combine with GIMP.

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Key Features of ShareX

Scrolling Capture (Full-Page Screenshot)

ShareX can capture entire web pages (scrolling screenshot) — extremely useful for capturing full website content, long documents, or product pages. ShareX automatically scrolls and stitches the images into a single file.

How to use:

1. Open the target web page in your browser
2. Select Capture → Scrolling Capture (or hotkey Ctrl+Shift+PrintScreen)
3. ShareX will automatically scroll and capture the entire page
4. Output is a single PNG/GIF/PDF file

Delay Capture

This feature lets you set a capture delay (1-60 seconds). Useful for capturing dropdown menus, tooltips, or temporary windows that appear on mouse click.

OCR (Optical Character Recognition)

ShareX integrates OCR to recognize text from screenshots. Supports 30+ languages including Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and more. Simply capture a region containing text — ShareX will automatically detect and copy the text to your clipboard.

How to use:

1. Select Capture → Text Capture (OCR)
2. Select the region containing text
3. ShareX automatically recognizes text — results are displayed and copied to clipboard

Color Picker

ShareX includes a Color Picker that lets you grab color codes from any point on screen. Supports multiple formats: HEX, RGB, HSL, CMYK, HSV. Essential for web designers and SEO specialists checking website colors. Learn more about image optimization in our Image SEO Guide.

Screen Ruler

The Screen Ruler tool measures on-screen objects in pixels. Useful for checking element sizes on websites — especially important for responsive design testing.

Workflow Automation (Actions)

ShareX lets you create custom Actions that run automatically after capture:

• After capture: Open image editor, upload to cloud, copy link
• After upload: Copy URL, open URL in browser, send via email
• Custom workflow: Chain multiple actions together

Example: Capture screen → auto-resize image → upload via FTP → copy link → delete temp file — all with a single hotkey.

Integration With Other Tools

ShareX pairs well with OBS Studio for long-form video recording, or with GS Auto Clicker for automating repetitive tasks. Together, they form a powerful toolkit for content creation and IT work.

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ShareX vs Other Screen Capture Tools

Criteria	ShareX	Snagit	Greenshot	Lightshot
Price	Free 100%	$62.99 (one-time)	Free	Free
Open source	Yes (GPLv3)	No	Yes (GPLv3)	No
Screen recording	Yes	Yes	No	No
Scrolling capture	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
OCR	Yes (30+ languages)	Yes	No	No
Cloud upload	80+ services	Screencast integration	Imgur, FTP	prnt.sc
Image editor	Powerful (built-in)	Powerful	Basic	Basic
Color Picker	Yes	Yes	No	No
Screen Ruler	Yes	Yes	No	No
Automation	Powerful (Actions)	Basic	Basic	No
Command line	Yes	No	Yes	No

Bottom line: If you need a free, feature-rich screen capture tool, ShareX is the undisputed choice. It surpasses Greenshot and Lightshot in every aspect and goes head-to-head with Snagit — a $62.99 paid application.

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How to Download and Install ShareX

Step 1: Visit the ShareX Website

Go to the official ShareX website at: https://getsharex.com/

You can also download ShareX from the Microsoft Store (for automatic Windows Update integration) or from GitHub Releases.

Step 2: Choose the Right Version

ShareX offers the following versions:

• ShareX 16.1.0 (Installer): Standard installer — recommended for most users
• ShareX Portable: Run from USB, no installation required
• ShareX from Microsoft Store: Auto-updates via Windows Store
• ShareX Nightly: Experimental build with latest features (may be unstable)

Note: ShareX only supports Windows 64-bit. If you use 32-bit Windows, consider Greenshot — another free screenshot tool.

Step 3: Install ShareX on Windows

After downloading ShareX-16.1.0-setup.exe, follow these steps:

1. Double-click the installer
2. Select the setup language (default: English)
3. Click Next to continue
4. Accept the license agreement (I Agree)
5. Choose the installation folder (default: C:\Program Files\ShareX)
6. Select options:
   • Create desktop shortcut
   • Run ShareX when Windows starts (recommended)
   • Add "Open with ShareX" to context menu (recommended)
   • Install ShareX Hotkey (install global hotkeys)
7. Click Install
8. Click Finish

Step 4: Initial Setup

On first launch, you will see the ShareX Setup Wizard with options:

1. Upload destinations: Choose your default upload service (Imgur is easiest)
2. Custom upload settings: Configure FTP/SFTP/your own cloud
3. Hotkeys: Review and customize hotkeys
4. After capture tasks: Choose automatic actions after capture

You can skip the wizard and configure everything later in Application Settings.

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How to Use ShareX in Detail

Default Hotkeys

ShareX comes with pre-configured global hotkeys ready to use:

Hotkey	Function
Print Screen	Rectangle Region capture
Ctrl + Print Screen	Fullscreen capture
Shift + Print Screen	Active Window capture
Ctrl + Shift + Print Screen	Scrolling Capture
Alt + Print Screen	Screen Recording
Ctrl + Shift + Alt + R	Region screen recording

You can customize all hotkeys in Hotkey Settings.

Basic Screen Capture

1. Press Print Screen (or your configured hotkey)
2. Drag your mouse to select the capture region
3. Release the mouse — the captured image opens in the image editor
4. Edit if needed: add arrows, highlights, blur, text...
5. Click Upload (or Save) to save the image
6. If uploaded, the shareable link is automatically copied to clipboard

Using the Image Editor

After capture, the ShareX image editor opens automatically. Key tools:

Tool	Icon	Function
Pen	Pen	Freehand drawing with color and thickness options
Line	Line	Draw straight lines
Arrow	Arrow	Directional arrows
Rectangle	Rectangle	Draw rectangular frames
Ellipse	Ellipse	Draw circles/ellipses
Text	Text	Add text with font and color options
Highlight	Highlight	Highlight important areas
Blur	Blur	Blur sensitive information (passwords, personal data)
Crop	Crop	Remove unwanted areas
Step	Step	Numbered step labels (1, 2, 3...)

Tip: Use the Blur tool to obscure sensitive information before sharing screenshots publicly.

Screen Recording

1. Press Alt + Print Screen (or go to Capture → Screen Recording)
2. Select recording region (Fullscreen / Region / Active Window)
3. Choose FFmpeg as the encoder (will auto-download if first use)
4. Configure settings:
   • Video source: Screen (with optional webcam overlay)
   • Audio source: Microphone, system audio, or both
   • FPS: 30 or 60
   • Quality: From Very Low to Insane
5. Click Start Recording
6. Click Stop Recording on the floating toolbar (or hotkey) to finish
7. Video is saved as MP4 or WebM format

For professional multi-scene recording with transitions, check out OBS Studio — the most powerful live streaming and recording tool.

Cloud Upload

1. Capture a screenshot
2. Click Upload in the editor window (or Ctrl+U)
3. ShareX automatically uploads to your configured service
4. The shareable link is copied to your clipboard
5. Paste (Ctrl+V) to share with anyone

Configuring upload destination:

1. Go to Destinations → Destination Settings
2. Select your preferred service (Imgur, Dropbox, Google Drive...)
3. Enter API key / token if required
4. Set as default destination

Creating Automated Workflows

ShareX lets you chain automated actions:

1. Go to Application Settings → Task Settings
2. Under After capture tasks, select actions:
   • Open image editor
   • Upload image to host
   • Copy URL to clipboard
   • Open URL
   • Save image to folder
   • Add watermark
   • Resize image
3. Under After upload tasks, select:
   • Copy URL to clipboard
   • Open URL
   • Send URL to email

Create multiple Task Profiles for different purposes: "Quick capture", "Blog screenshot", "Bug report"...

These workflows are a massive time-saver for SEO content writers who need to capture screenshots, auto-resize them, and upload to their server. Combine with Everything to quickly locate captured images.

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Important Notes When Using ShareX

Security & Privacy

• Download only from official sources: getsharex.com, Microsoft Store, or GitHub
• Privacy: ShareX does not collect user data. Open-source code ensures no backdoors
• Sensitive screenshots: Always use the Blur tool to hide personal information, passwords, and customer data before sharing
• Upload destinations: Review the privacy policy of your upload service, especially for business-sensitive screenshots

Performance

• Screen Recording: High-resolution recording consumes CPU and RAM. Lower FPS to 30 on weaker machines
• FFmpeg: On first recording, ShareX downloads FFmpeg (~50MB). Internet connection required
• Background usage: ShareX uses ~30-50MB RAM when idle. Disable Run when Windows starts if not needed
• Storage: Default save location is Documents\ShareX. Clean up periodically to avoid filling your drive

Troubleshooting

• Hotkeys not working: Run ShareX as Administrator, or check for hotkey conflicts with other software
• Upload failed: Check Internet connection, API key, or switch to another destination
• FFmpeg error: Go to Application Settings → FFmpeg and click Download FFmpeg to reinstall
• Recording not working: Update graphics drivers or run ShareX as Administrator

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Frequently Asked Questions About ShareX

Is ShareX really free?

Yes. ShareX is completely free for all purposes, including commercial use. It is released under the GNU GPLv3 license — you can use, modify, and redistribute it freely.

Is ShareX safe?

Yes. ShareX is open-source with over 30,000 stars on GitHub, vetted by the global developer community. However, only download from getsharex.com or the Microsoft Store to avoid fake versions.

Does ShareX support multiple languages?

Yes. ShareX supports over 30 languages including Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, and more. Go to Application Settings → General → Language to select your language.

Is there a portable version of ShareX?

Yes. ShareX offers a Portable version on the official website, running directly from USB without installation. Very convenient for IT technicians on the go.

How do I auto-save screenshots to a specific folder?

Go to Application Settings → Task Settings → Save image to folder as... and choose your target folder. ShareX will automatically save images there after each capture.

Can ShareX capture the Windows login screen?

No. ShareX runs within the Windows desktop environment and cannot capture the login screen, UAC prompts, or pre-login screens.

What's the difference between ShareX and Windows Snipping Tool?

Snipping Tool only does basic screen capture. ShareX has everything Snipping Tool offers plus: screen recording, OCR, cloud upload, image editing, color picker, screen ruler, scrolling capture, workflow automation, and 80+ upload destinations.

Can ShareX upload videos to YouTube?

Not directly. ShareX uploads videos to services like Streamable or Gfycat. For YouTube uploads, use your browser or a dedicated tool.

Can I use ShareX commercially?

Yes. ShareX is released under the GPLv3 license, allowing commercial use without payment. You can use ShareX in your business for creating documentation, bug reports, employee training, and more.

Does ShareX support plugins?

ShareX does not support third-party plugins. However, most features you need are already built-in. For special functionality, you can request features on GitHub or contribute code.

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Conclusion

ShareX is one of the best free screen capture and video recording tools for Windows, offering a comprehensive feature set that rivals premium paid software. From basic screenshots, video recording, OCR, image editing, cloud upload to workflow automation — ShareX handles it all in a single lightweight application.

Whether you are an SEO professional creating article illustrations, a developer documenting bugs with screenshots, a content creator recording tutorial videos, or an IT specialist needing a remote support capture tool, ShareX delivers exceptional results without costing a penny. Download ShareX free using the Download button at the top of this article.

Explore other useful free tools: OBS Studio (video recording and live streaming), Everything (instant file search), GIMP (advanced image editing), HandBrake (video conversion), and browse more in the Free Software Downloads category.

Official download link: Download ShareX Now