Chrome OS has a built-in screen recorder that requires no additional software. It can record your full screen, a selected area, or a single window, with or without audio. Here is how to use it and where recordings are saved.

How to Start a Screen Recording

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows (or open Quick Settings by clicking the time, then click Screen capture).
2. The Screen Capture toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen.
3. Click the video camera icon on the right side of the toolbar to switch from screenshot mode to screen recording mode.
4. Choose your recording area: full screen, partial (drag to select), or single window.
5. Click the area or confirm your selection to start recording.
6. A 3-second countdown begins, then recording starts. A red dot appears in the system tray to show recording is active.

Recording with Audio

Before starting the recording, look for the microphone icon in the Screen Capture toolbar. Click it to toggle microphone audio on or off. When enabled, your voice through the Chromebook microphone is captured along with the screen recording.

Note: internal system audio (sounds playing from apps) is not captured by default. Only microphone input is recorded alongside the screen.

How to Stop a Screen Recording

Click the red Stop recording button in the system tray (bottom right corner). Alternatively, click the red dot that appears in the taskbar. A notification will appear confirming the recording is saved.

Where Are Screen Recordings Saved?

Recordings are automatically saved to the Downloads folder as WebM video files. You will also see a notification with a preview immediately after stopping – click it to view the file. WebM files play in the Chrome browser and can be uploaded to Google Drive or converted to MP4 using an online converter if needed.

Recording a Specific Window

1. Open the Screen Capture toolbar (Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows).
2. Switch to video recording mode.
3. Select Record a window (the middle option with a window icon).
4. Click the window you want to record. Only that window’s content is captured, even if you move it or other windows overlap it.

Using Third-Party Screen Recorders

For more advanced features like webcam overlay, annotation tools, or direct upload to YouTube, Chrome extensions like Screencastify and Loom are popular options. They add a button to the Chrome toolbar and record directly from the browser with more export options than the built-in tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my screen recording showing as a black video?

This can happen with DRM-protected content (Netflix, Disney+, etc.). Chrome OS prevents screen recording of DRM content, so the video area shows black while the rest of the screen records normally.

Can I record the screen and webcam at the same time?

The built-in recorder does not support simultaneous webcam capture. For this, use a Chrome extension like Screencastify which offers picture-in-picture webcam recording.

How long can a screen recording be?

There is no hard time limit, but recordings consume storage space. A 10-minute full-screen recording at typical quality is around 150-300MB. Monitor available storage if you plan long recordings.