You want to record your Chromebook's screen, but finding the video controls and getting the right sound takes a few extra clicks. The built-in recorder captures your whole display, one window, or a selected area without installing an extension. Start there, then add narration, a webcam view, or use Screencast for a transcript.
Record your screen with the built-in tool
Press Shift + Ctrl + Show windows to open the capture toolbar. Select Screen record to switch to video recording.
Choose Record the full screen for everything on your display, Record a partial screen for a selected area, or Record a window for one window. Before starting, open Settings to configure sound or the camera. Click the screen, select the region, or select the window, depending on the recording mode you chose.
When you finish, select Stop recording or press Search + Shift + X. ChromeOS saves the video as a .webm file in Downloads by default.
Open Screen Capture with another key or touch
If your Chromebook has a dedicated screenshot key, press it to open the capture toolbar, then select Screen record. On an external keyboard without a Show windows key, press Ctrl + Shift + F5, then select Screen record.
On a Chromebook tablet, press and hold Power to open the power menu. Select Screen capture, then switch to Screen record. The Power + Volume down shortcut takes a still screenshot; it does not start a video.
If the key or power-menu route does not open the toolbar, select the time, choose Screen capture, then select Screen record. This route works with touch, too.
Add sound, your camera, and click indicators
These controls add narration, device sound, and visual cues to your recording. Open Settings in the capture toolbar before starting your recording. Choose Device audio for sound from the Chromebook, Microphone for your voice, or Device audio and microphone for both.
Enable Front camera to include your webcam view. Turn on Show clicks and keys to show mouse clicks, touch gestures, and key combos in the recording. For privacy, only key combos that use modifier keys appear.
Find your saved recording
The default save location is Downloads, so a finished recording goes there unless you choose another folder. Open Downloads to find your video.
To change where recordings go, open Settings in the capture toolbar. Select Select folder. Choose the folder you want to use.
The built-in recorder produces WebM video. For an edited MP4, use the Clipchamp recording workflow below.
Make a GIF of part of your screen
Select Record a partial screen in the capture toolbar. Mark the region you want to capture. Choose Record GIF instead of Record video. Use GIF capture for a visual demonstration that needs neither audio nor camera input, since it excludes both.
Use Screencast for a narrated recording with a transcript
Screencast creates narrated, transcribed recordings and stores them in Google Drive. Open Launcher. Select Screencast. Creation requires the ChromeOS app on ChromeOS 104 or later and a supported device language; the web player only plays recordings.
Select + New screencast. Configure your camera through Settings → Camera. Choose the full-screen, partial-screen, or window icon. Select the screen area or window you want to record.
Use Marker during recording to add annotations. Finish with Stop on the shelf. Your recording is stored in Google Drive.
Create an edited MP4 with Clipchamp
Clipchamp works in Chrome on Chromebook and requires an internet connection. For a recording you can edit and export as MP4, use its personal-account workflow.
Open app.clipchamp.com with your personal account. Open a project. Select record & create. Choose screen or screen & camera.
Grant the requested permissions. Select the microphone you want to use. Press the red recording button.
Choose a browser tab, window, or screen in the sharing picker. For playback audio, choose a browser tab. Enable audio sharing to capture that tab's sound. Select share to begin capturing your chosen content.
Finish by selecting stop sharing. Select save and edit to bring the recording into your project. Use export to create an edited MP4. If you cannot complete the Clipchamp recording, use the built-in Screen capture → Screen record route to save a WebM video.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Chromebook Plus to record my screen?
Google's requirements for built-in Screen Capture do not include a Chromebook Plus requirement.
Why is Screencast missing on my school or work Chromebook?
Administrators can disable Screencast access. Contact your administrator if the app is missing on a managed account.
Can I keep Screencast on the shelf for quicker access?
Yes. Open Launcher. Right-click the Screencast icon. Select Pin to shelf. For your next recording, open it from the shelf and select + New screencast.
Can my school or workplace block browser screen recorders?
Yes. Administrators control whether sites can request screen capture through the Screen video capture policy. It governs the screen-sharing APIs used by browser recorders and extensions. Contact your administrator when a managed account blocks capture.