How to Use Screencastify in Chrome: Setup, Features and Tips

What is Screencastify and how does it work?

Screencastify is a Chrome extension that records your screen, your webcam, or both, and stores the result in your Google account so you can share it as a link. It is made by Screencastify, and you get it from the Chrome Web Store listing on the official site.

It works by asking Chrome for permission to capture a tab, a window or the whole screen, plus your microphone and camera if you want them. Chrome shows its own picker and a sharing banner while it records, so you always know when capture is live.

According to Screencastify's Google Drive page, recordings are stored in a dedicated Google Drive folder, which is why teachers on Chromebooks and Google Workspace for Education accounts use it so often. You do not have to upload anything by hand.

It sits in the same category as other screen recorders, so if you are still deciding, read our hub on the best screen recorder extensions before you commit to one.

How do you install Screencastify in Chrome?

Add it from the Chrome Web Store, pin it to the toolbar, and sign in with the Google account you want your videos saved to. The whole setup takes a couple of minutes.

1. Open the Screencastify page in the Chrome Web Store and click Add to Chrome, then Add extension.
2. Click the puzzle-piece Extensions icon at the top right of Chrome and click the pin next to Screencastify so its icon stays visible.
3. Click the Screencastify icon and choose Sign in with Google. Pick the account whose Drive should hold your recordings.
4. Approve the access request. Screencastify needs Drive access to save videos there.
5. Follow the short setup prompts that appear on first run, including the microphone and camera permission prompts from Chrome.

On a school Chromebook, the extension is often installed by the administrator. If you do not see the icon, look under the Extensions menu before installing anything yourself. Our Screencastify on Chromebook guide covers the managed-device quirks.

Which settings should you check before your first recording?

Check three things: the recording mode, the microphone, and the countdown or webcam options. Getting these right avoids the two most common complaints, a silent video and the wrong thing being recorded.

Recording mode

Choose Browser Tab for one tab, Desktop for the whole screen or a window, or Webcam for camera only. Tab mode is the safest default because nothing outside that tab can appear.

Microphone

Pick the specific mic from the dropdown. If it says no microphone, Chrome has blocked access or the wrong input is selected.

Embed webcam

Turn on the webcam option to show your face in a small bubble over the recording. Move it so it does not cover the part of the screen you are explaining.

Tab audio

In tab recording, sound from the tab can be captured so your viewers hear a video or demo you play. Do not rely on system-wide audio from other apps.

Countdown

If your version offers a short countdown before recording, leave it on: it gives you time to switch tabs and take a breath.

Drawing and annotation tools

Screencastify's site lists drawing tools for highlighting and annotating as you speak. They are worth switching on for any software walkthrough so viewers can follow the cursor.

Open the extension's settings from the popup and skim the options once. Option names and locations can differ between versions, and some features are only available on certain plans, so if something looks greyed out or missing, that is why.

How do you record your screen with Screencastify?

Open the extension, pick a mode, confirm your microphone, and click Record. Chrome then asks what to share, and once you choose, a countdown starts.

1. Open the page or app you want to show first, so you are not fumbling when recording starts.
2. Click the Screencastify icon in the toolbar.
3. Select Browser Tab, Desktop or Webcam.
4. Set the microphone, and switch the webcam option on or off.
5. Click Record. In Chrome's picker choose a tab, window or entire screen, and for tab or system audio tick the share audio box if it appears, then click Share.
6. Talk through what you are doing. Use the on-screen toolbar for the pen, pause or restart.
7. Click Stop sharing in Chrome's banner or the stop button in the Screencastify controls to finish.

The recording is saved automatically. A new tab opens with the video so you can play it, trim it and share it straight away.

How do you record your screen and video at the same time?

Choose Desktop or Browser Tab and switch on Embed webcam. Your camera feed appears as a small bubble in the corner of the recording, so viewers see both your screen and your face in one file.

What changes on Windows, Mac and ChromeOS?

On Windows and ChromeOS the flow above is the same. On a Mac, macOS asks you to allow Chrome under System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording (the exact label can differ between macOS versions), then you must quit and reopen Chrome. Without that, desktop recordings come out blank.

What are the best ways to use Screencastify day to day?

Screencastify is best for short, informal videos where a link is faster than a meeting. These five workflows fit it well, and each one changes which settings you should use.

For a bug report, tab mode helps twice: it hides the rest of your desktop and keeps the file smaller and easier to open. For a lesson, embedding the webcam adds a human touch that a silent screen does not.

If you are on a Chromebook and need alternatives, our Chromebook screen recorder roundup compares the options for managed devices.

How do you edit, share and export a Screencastify video?

When you stop recording, you can open the video in Screencastify's editor. Trim the start and end, then share the link or export a file.

1. Drag the handles on the timeline to cut dead air from the beginning and end.
2. Use the other editing tools your plan includes; Screencastify's site lists trimming, cutting mistakes, zooming in, blurring sensitive info and adding text.
3. Click Share to copy a link, post to Google Classroom or send to YouTube.
4. Check the link's permissions in Google Drive: set it to Anyone with the link only if you want outsiders to watch.
5. To get a file, use the export or download option; Screencastify's export page lists MP4 for video and MP3 for audio only.

If you want to save screenshots and files from the same browser session into Drive, Save to Google Drive is a free extension that sends web pages and captures there in one click. Note it saves what you capture, not video from Screencastify.

Is Screencastify free, and what are the limits?

Screencastify has a free tier and paid plans. The free tier limits things such as recording length and editing features, and the exact numbers change, so read the official Screencastify pricing page before you plan a long recording.

Plan differences usually show up in three places: how long one video can be, how many videos you can keep or make, and which editing tools you get. Some school and district licences unlock more, so check with your admin before paying yourself.

• Length: if you plan a lesson longer than a few minutes, confirm the current cap first, or split it into parts.
• Storage: videos use your Google Drive space, so a full Drive stops saves.
• Editing: advanced editing and some export options may sit behind a paid plan.
• Long sessions: a laptop that goes to sleep mid-recording ruins the take. A keep-awake extension prevents that.

Is Screencastify safe, and how do you manage permissions and privacy?

Screencastify records only when you click Record, and Chrome shows a sharing banner while it does. The real privacy risks are what you accidentally show and who can open your link.

• Record a tab, not the desktop, when you can. Tab mode cannot leak your email or chat notifications.
• Turn on Do Not Disturb or close messaging apps before desktop recordings.
• Check link sharing in Drive before you send a video to anyone outside your school or company.
• Review site permissions under Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings to see which sites can use your camera and mic. Chrome explains this on its site permissions help page.
• Look at the extension's permissions on its Web Store page and in our permissions guide so you know what it can access.

If you use a school account, your administrator may be able to see or manage the videos in Drive. Treat anything you record on a managed account as visible to the organisation.

What if Screencastify is not working, and which is better, Loom or Screencastify?

Most problems come down to permissions. Check the microphone, camera and screen access, then restart Chrome. If it still fails, try another mode or another tool.

Screencastify versus Loom comes down to where you work. Screencastify is built around Google Drive and Classroom, which suits schools and Google Workspace teams. Loom is a freemium recorder built around sharing a link and works well for teams that live in other tools. The catch with either is plan limits, so compare current terms on both sites.

For a broader look at other ways to capture your screen without Screencastify, read how to record your screen in Chrome. It also covers Chrome's own built-in options. If you mainly need stills on a school device, see screen capture on Chromebook.