Chromebooks are great for getting work done, but did you know they're also fantastic for capturing and sharing video content? With the built-in screen recording feature or the third-party screen recorder software, you can easily record anything on your screen, from a video call to a gameplay session. In this guide, we'll show you how to screen record on Chromebook, step-by-step.

How to screen record on Chromebook using keyboard shortcut

The quickest way to record the screen on your Chromebook is by using the keyboard shortcut. It allows you to record the entire screen, a selected portion, or a specific window. To screen record on a Chromebook using a keyboard shortcut, follow these steps:

Step 1. Press the "Ctrl + Shift + Show all windows" keys simultaneously. The "Show all windows" key is typically located in the top row of keys and has an icon that looks like a rectangle with two lines on the right side.

chromebook ctrl shift show all windows

Step 2. Click on the "New screen recording" button that appears in the control panel at the bottom of the screen.

Step 3. Select whether you want to record the entire screen, a window, or a specific portion.

Step 4. Click the "Record" button to start recording.

Step 5. When you are finished recording, click the "Stop" button in the control panel.

Step 6. Your screen recording will be saved to your Downloads folder.

Note: If you can't find the "Show all windows" key, you can use the "Ctrl + Shift + F5" keyboard shortcut to start a screen recording on a Chromebook.

How to record your screen on Chromebook with Screen Capture

If you don’t want to use a keyboard shortcut, you can also screen record on a Chromebook by using Screen Capture, a built-in feature that allows users to take screenshots and record their screens. Inbuilt into Chrome 89 and later versions, Screen Capture is a handy tool for capturing images or videos of anything displayed on your Chromebook's screen.

To record your screen on a Chromebook with Screen Capture, follow these steps:

Step 1. Look for the clock icon in the lower-right corner of your screen and click on it. If you can't see it, you may need to click on an arrow or similar symbol to show all the options.

Step 2. Once the menu pops up, choose Screen Capture. This should include a toolbar with various recording options at the bottom of your screen.

chromebook screen capture

Step 3. Look for the Video icon on the left-hand side of the toolbar and select it. This will enable you to record a video of your screen.

Step 4. Select the area of your screen you want to record. You can record your entire screen, a specific application window, or a custom area.

Step 5. Click the gear icon to select whether to include audio, enable the microphone, and choose the video quality.

chromebook screen capture settings Step 6. If you have selected full-screen recording, simply click anywhere on the screen to commence recording. For partial screen recordings, move the box to the desired location where you wish to record, and then hit the “Record” button. Click on the window you want to capture and start recording for window recordings.

Step 7. When you're finished recording, click on the "Stop" button to end the recording. The video will be saved to your Downloads folder by default.

chromebook screen capture stop recording

How to screen record on Chromebook with audio using Screencast

If you are using Chrome OS 103 or above, you can also use Screencast to record the screen of your Chromebook. Screencast is a new screen recording application for Chromebook primarily aimed at students and teachers, but anyone can use this powerful screen recording tool.

Screencast offers advanced features such as screen and voice recording, adding your face using the webcam, drawing on the screen, generating transcripts, and providing translations, among other features. However, it should be noted that Screencast is currently available only for devices with English (US) language settings.

Now, let's learn how to record your Chromebook screen using the new Screencast app.

Step 1. Click on the Screencast app in the app launcher of your Chromebook.

chromebook find screencast Step 2. Once the app is open, click on “New Screencast” at the top-left corner of the screen.

chromebook screencast create new screencast Step 3. Choose the area of the screen that you want to record. You can choose to record the full-screen, window, or partial area.

Step 4. By default, the microphone and webcam are enabled. If you don't want to record audio or video, you can disable them from the “settings” icon at the bottom.

Step 5. Click on the red “record” button to start the recording.

chromebook screencast start recording Step 6. If you want to add annotations while recording, click on the “pen” icon. You can also drag the webcam view to whichever corner you want.

Step 7. When you're done recording, click the red “stop” button on the Chrome OS Shelf.

Step 8. The recording will be saved in My screencasts of the Screencast app. You can review the transcript and edit it if necessary.

chromebook my screencasts Please note that the Screencast app doesn't save the video locally. You can click “Share” to share the screen recording using a shareable link.

How to screen record on a Chromebook using Awesome Screenshot & Recorder

If you need a more powerful tool to screen record on your Chromebook on the go, try Awesome Screenshot & Recorder. It is a powerful extension that allows users to capture and record their screens. Compatible with Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari, it is particularly useful for Chromebook users who want to create videos, tutorials, or presentations.

Awesome Screenshot & Recorder

One extension for all your screen recordings & screenshots

Record screen and capture screenshots easily
Edit videos/images quickly
Store videos/images to the cloud and share instantly

Benefits of using Awesome Screenshot & Recorder to screen record on Chromebook:

Easy to use: Awesome Screenshot & Recorder is a user-friendly extension that makes screen recording on Chromebook a breeze.
Multiple recording modes: You can choose between recording the full screen, a selected area, a browser tab, an active window, or just the camera.
Screen recording with audio: You can choose whether to record screen with system audio and/or microphone sound.
Customizable settings: You can adjust the video quality and audio settings to meet your specific needs.
Annotations and editing: The extension allows you to annotate your recordings with text, arrows, and shapes, as well as trim and crop the video to remove unwanted parts.
Cloud storage: You can save your recordings to the cloud, which makes it easy to access them from anywhere and share them with others.
Local storage: You can also choose to save your recordings locally on your Chromebook.
Save as MP4 format: The videos are recorded in webm format by default, but it allows you to save them as MP4 format with a mouse click.
Free to use: The basic version of Awesome Screenshot & Recorder is free, which is great for those who only need basic screen recording features.

Here is how to screen record on a Chromebook using Awesome Screenshot & Recorder.

Step 1. Download and install Awesome Screenshot & Recorder to your browser. Launch it, sign in, or create a new account.

Step 2. Select “Record” and choose from 4 recording modes: “Desktop”, “Camera Only”, “This Tab” or “Custom(This Tab)” based on your needs. Set the video resolution and choose whether to open the webcam or microphone sound.

awesome screenshot and recorder record desktop

Step 3. Once the setting is done, click "Start Recording" to record. If you have chosen the "Desktop" mode, you will be asked to select the page or window to record before the recording starts. If you have chosen the "Custom(This Tab)" mode, you will need to drag to select the recording area and then let the recording start.

Step 4. When you want to end the recording, click the Awesome Screenshot & Recorder icon, then click the "Stop" button.

stop recording with awesome screenshot and recorder

Step 5. Your video will be saved to the cloud automatically. You can check it in "My Items". It lets you edit it online or generate a shareable link in a snap.

Bonus tip: How to find your screen recordings on Chromebook

By default, when you create screen recordings on a Chromebook, they are saved to the "Downloads" folder. To access the "Downloads" folder, you'll need to open the "Files" app from the app launcher and select the "Downloads" folder from the sidebar.

However, if you prefer, you can change the location where the recordings are saved by adjusting the settings.

The screen recordings you create will be saved as .webm files, which may not be the most convenient file type for your needs. You may need to convert them to MP4 to make them more compatible with other devices or software.

If you use the Screencast app to create your screen recordings, they won't be saved locally. Instead, they'll be saved in the cloud, and you can access them in the Screencast app and share them with others by sending them a link.

Conclusion

By following the steps outlined in this article and using the tips for successful screen recording, you can create engaging and informative videos to share with the world.

FAQs about screen recording on a Chromebook

1. How do I know if my Chromebook has the screen recorder feature?

You need to have Chrome OS version 89 or higher to access the screen recorder feature on your Chromebook. Go to Settings > About Chrome OS > Additional details to check your Chromebook version.

2. How do I edit my screen recording on a Chromebook?

You can use the built-in video editor on Chromebook to trim, crop, and add text to your recording. Alternatively, you can use a third-party editing app.

3. Can I screen record a specific window or tab on Chromebook?

Yes, you can record your entire screen, a specific window, or a specific tab on Chromebook.

4. Can I record audio while screen recording on Chromebook?

Yes, you can record audio along with your screen recording. Select the "Record Audio" option before starting your recording.

4 Methods | How to Screen Record on Chromebook with Ease

Miley Shen

Miley Shen