Screen Recorder

Screen Recorder

Record your screen, browser tab or webcam directly in browser. No installation required. Export to WebM or GIF. Free online screen capture tool

Loom and OBS each solve part of the problem (cloud-hosted vs full-featured local). Browser-native screen recording sits between: works without installing anything, records to a local file, and never uploads. This tool uses the getDisplayMedia API (supported in every modern browser since 2020) to capture screen, window, or browser tab, with optional microphone and webcam overlay, exporting to WebM or MP4. Ideal for quick bug reports, tutorials, and demos that should not pass through a cloud service.

What you can actually capture

  • Entire screen — including all open windows, system notifications, mouse cursor. Captures whatever is visible.
  • Specific window — one application; switching to other windows during the recording does NOT change the captured surface.
  • Browser tab — only the visible content of one tab. Privacy-friendly: other tabs are not in the recording.
  • With audio — system audio (what the screen is playing) and/or microphone, depending on browser support and permissions.
  • With webcam overlay — picture-in-picture circle of your face.
  • Format — WebM (VP9 codec, Opus audio) is the browser default. MP4 (H.264) for compatibility with non-browser viewers.

Working example: a 90-second bug report

Input

You found a UI bug; need to share with the team.

Output

Steps:
  1. Click "Start Recording".
  2. Pick "Browser Tab" (cleanest — no desktop clutter).
  3. Reproduce the bug.
  4. Click "Stop". Recording saved to your Downloads folder.

Output:
  Format:     WebM
  Resolution: 1920×1080 (matches your screen)
  Frame rate: 30 fps (default; can be 60 for smooth animation)
  Duration:   90 sec
  File size:  ~12 MB

For sharing:
  - Slack: drag-and-drop the WebM. Most users see it inline.
  - GitHub issues: drag-and-drop the WebM. Renders inline on issue page.
  - Email: attach. Recipients with modern browsers/players play inline.

For better compression (smaller file):
  - Convert to MP4 (H.264) — same quality, ~40% smaller.
  - Trim dead time at start/end with a video editor.

Recording at native screen resolution + 30fps is plenty for bug reports. 60fps + 4K is overkill — files become 50+ MB without visible benefit. For tutorials with mouse-heavy content, 30fps is fine; for game / animation demos, 60fps is worth the larger file.

Privacy considerations

  • System notifications appear in recordings. Enable Do Not Disturb / Focus mode before recording to suppress.
  • Tab title (if recording browser tab) is captured. Switch to a generic title if it reveals private info.
  • Microphone may pick up surroundings — family conversations, phone calls. Mute or use a directional mic.
  • Mouse cursor reveals what you click. For sensitive content (passwords typed in fields), the cursor shows the field but not the password — but consider this when filming.
  • Screen contents are recorded exactly as displayed. If you accidentally show an internal Slack message or unrelated email, it is in the recording. Trim or re-record.

When to reach for this tool

  • You found a bug and need to demonstrate it for the team — words explain less than video.
  • You are creating a tutorial or onboarding doc with screen-recorded examples.
  • You are debugging async behavior visually (animations, timing) and want to capture the sequence for review.
  • You are demoing a feature to a stakeholder asynchronously — Loom-like usage without the cloud upload.

What this tool will not do

  • It will not edit your recording. For trimming, adding annotations, cropping, use a video editor (DaVinci Resolve free, iMovie, Clipchamp).
  • It will not record DRM-protected content. Netflix, premium streaming services prevent screen-recording at the OS / browser level.
  • It will not upload to a hosting service. Saves to your local Downloads; you share manually. For automatic cloud hosting, use Loom or similar.
  • It will not record both screen AND webcam as separate streams. Picture-in-picture combines them into one frame at recording time.

Recording happens entirely via your browser using the standard getDisplayMedia API. The captured video stays on your device until you choose to share it. Useful for confidential bug reports, internal training, or demos containing private data.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my recording missing the cursor?

Browser screen-recording usually captures the cursor by default, but some configurations omit it. On macOS, system-level screen recording (cmd-shift-5) is more reliable for cursor capture. Check the cursor visibility option in the recording dialog.

Can I record audio from my computer (system audio)?

Depends on browser and OS. Chrome on Windows: yes, by checking "Share tab audio" or "Share system audio". Safari and Firefox: limited. macOS: requires extra permissions or third-party tools (BlackHole, Loopback). For consistent system-audio recording across platforms, use OBS Studio.

Why is my WebM file not playing on a colleague's machine?

WebM (VP9) is supported by all modern browsers but not by older versions of Windows Media Player or QuickTime. For maximum compatibility, convert to MP4. ffmpeg -i input.webm -c:v libx264 output.mp4 takes a few seconds.

How long can I record?

Up to your browser's memory limits — typically 30-60 minutes before performance degrades. For longer recordings, use OBS Studio (file-based recording, unlimited length).

Why does my recording look pixelated?

Either: (1) the source resolution was lower than expected (some tools downscale to save bandwidth); (2) compression quality too low. Increase bitrate (most tools have a slider) or record uncompressed and compress in post-production.

Can I record with face cam overlay?

Yes — most screen recorders support picture-in-picture webcam overlay. Position in a corner so it does not obscure important screen content. For tutorials with personality, webcam helps; for technical bug reports, often unnecessary.

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Last updated · E-Utils editorial team