How-to guide
How to Screen Record on a Chromebook
How-to
How to Screen Record on a Chromebook
On this page
- The short answer
- How do I screen record on a Chromebook without installing anything?
- Should I record the full screen, a window, or a partial area?
- Can I record my webcam along with my Chromebook screen?
- What's the best screen recorder extension for a Chromebook?
- How do I stop my Chromebook screen from sleeping mid-recording?
- Where does my Chromebook save the screen recording after I stop it?
- How do I record a Google Meet call on a Chromebook?
- Why is part of my Chromebook screen recording black or not working?
- Can I trim or edit a Chromebook screen recording afterward?
- Frequently asked
The short answer
Press Shift+Ctrl+Show windows (the rectangle-with-lines key) to open ChromeOS's built-in Screen Capture tool, click the camera icon, pick full screen, a window, or a partial area, then click Record. For webcam overlays, automatic Google Drive uploads, or editing, use a screen recorder extension like Loom instead.
How do I screen record on a Chromebook without installing anything?
Press Shift+Ctrl+Show windows (the key with a rectangle and two lines, usually where F5 sits) to open ChromeOS's built-in Screen Capture toolbar, then click the video camera icon to switch from screenshot mode to recording mode. Choose your capture area and click Record to start.
- Press
Shift+Ctrl+Show windowsto open the Screen Capture toolbar. - Click the video camera icon (not the plain camera icon, which takes a still screenshot).
- Choose Full screen, Partial screen, or Window.
- Click Record and, if prompted, choose whether to include microphone audio.
- Click the red stop icon in the shelf, or press
Shift+Ctrl+Show windowsagain, to end the recording.
Where's the Show windows key?
On most Chromebook keyboards it's in the top row, showing a rectangle with two vertical lines. If your keyboard doesn't have it, try Ctrl+F5 on models where that row is mapped differently. Need a still image instead? See how to take screenshots on a Chromebook.
Should I record the full screen, a window, or a partial area?
Choosing Window records only one open app or browser tab, which keeps notifications from other windows out of the recording, while Partial screen lets you drag a box around just the region you need — useful for a tutorial that only covers part of a page.
- Full screen: captures everything, including the shelf and any pop-up notifications
- Window: follows one app or browser window even if you move it, but stops if you close that window
- Partial screen: records a fixed rectangle you draw; moving content outside that box won't be captured
If you're demonstrating a browser-based tool, Window is usually the safer default, since it hides your desktop background, other open tabs, and any unrelated notifications that pop up mid-recording.
Can I record my webcam along with my Chromebook screen?
ChromeOS's built-in recorder captures your screen and, if you enable it, your microphone — but it has no option to overlay your webcam as a small circle on top of the recording. For a tutorial or presentation where viewers need to see your face, you'll need a screen recorder extension built for that instead.
- Microphone audio: toggle on in the built-in recorder's settings before you hit Record
- System audio: the built-in tool can also capture what's playing on the device, depending on your ChromeOS version
- Webcam overlay: not available in the built-in tool; requires an extension like Loom
What's the best screen recorder extension for a Chromebook?
A screen recorder extension adds a webcam bubble, cloud storage, and shareable links on top of what ChromeOS's built-in tool does. Pick one based on whether you need quick sharing, meeting-specific recording, or just a faster way to save clips to Drive. If you haven't installed a Chromebook extension before, how to add extensions on a Chromebook covers the install process first.
Screen recorder extensions for Chromebook
-
LoomFreemium
Screenshots & Recording
Records your screen and camera together with a webcam bubble, then gives you a shareable link instead of a raw file to upload elsewhere. Main catch: longer recordings and editing features sit behind the paid plan.
-
Productivity
Auto-records Google Meet calls and saves them straight to Google Drive, useful for Chromebooks used mainly for video calls. Main catch: it's built specifically for Meet, not general screen recording.
-
Awesome ScreenshotFreemium
Screenshots & Recording
Captures and annotates screen recordings alongside full-page screenshots, handy if you switch between still captures and video in the same workflow. Main catch: the heavier annotation toolset adds a learning curve if you only need quick clips.
-
Productivity
Saves any webpage or screen capture straight to Google Drive in one click, which pairs well with the built-in recorder if you just need automatic cloud backup. Main catch: it saves files, it doesn't record video itself.
-
CaffeineFree
Productivity
Stops your screen from dimming or sleeping mid-recording by overriding ChromeOS's power-saving timeout. Main catch: remember to turn it back off afterward so your battery drains normally.
| Extension | Best for | Main catch |
|---|---|---|
| Loom | Webcam overlay and a shareable link instead of a raw file | Longer recordings and editing sit behind the paid plan |
| Google Meet Recorder | Auto-recording Google Meet calls straight to Drive | Built specifically for Meet, not general screen recording |
| Awesome Screenshot | Switching between annotated screenshots and video in one tool | The heavier annotation toolset adds a learning curve |
| Save to Google Drive | Automatic cloud backup alongside the built-in recorder | Saves files; it doesn't record video itself |
| Caffeine | Keeping the screen awake during a long recording | Remember to turn it back off afterward |
How do I stop my Chromebook screen from sleeping mid-recording?
A long recording can get cut off if your Chromebook dims or locks the screen partway through, since ChromeOS's default sleep timers don't know a recording is in progress. Caffeine or ScreenAwake override that timeout for exactly as long as you need.
- Install Caffeine or ScreenAwake from the Chrome Web Store.
- Click the extension icon before you start recording.
- Confirm the toggle shows it's active (usually a filled-in icon or a coffee cup graphic).
- Turn it back off once you've finished, so normal power-saving resumes.
Where does my Chromebook save the screen recording after I stop it?
When you stop a built-in ChromeOS recording, a notification appears in the bottom-right corner with a thumbnail — click it to open the file directly, or find it later in the Files app under Downloads > Screen recordings.
- Notification thumbnail: click within a few seconds to jump straight to the file
- Files app: Downloads > Screen recordings holds every past recording by default
- Extension-based recordings: check that extension's own destination, such as Google Drive for Google Meet Recorder or a shareable link for Loom
How do I record a Google Meet call on a Chromebook?
Google Meet Recorder auto-starts recording when a Meet call begins and saves the finished file straight to your Google Drive, which is more reliable for calls than remembering to open the built-in Screen Capture tool before every meeting.
- Install Google Meet Recorder from the Chrome Web Store.
- Join or start a Google Meet call.
- Confirm the extension's recording indicator is active by checking its icon in the toolbar.
- End the call; the recording uploads to a designated Google Drive folder automatically.
Tell participants you're recording
Whether you use the built-in recorder or an extension, let everyone on the call know it's being recorded — most workplaces and some jurisdictions expect it, and Google Meet also shows its own recording indicator to participants.
Why is part of my Chromebook screen recording black or not working?
A black or blank rectangle where a video should be usually means the content has copy protection (DRM), which ChromeOS deliberately blocks from being recorded — this affects some streaming services and paid video content by design, not a bug you can fix.
- Black screen on part of the recording: the source is DRM-protected and can't be captured; this is expected behavior, not something to troubleshoot further
- No microphone audio: check the built-in recorder's microphone toggle was on before you clicked Record, and confirm the correct mic is selected in ChromeOS's audio settings
- Extension won't start recording: check its permissions weren't blocked, and that it has access to the site or tab you're trying to capture
- Recording stops early: the screen dimmed or slept mid-recording; use Caffeine or ScreenAwake next time
- File won't play back: try opening it in the Files app's built-in preview first before assuming the recording itself failed
Can I trim or edit a Chromebook screen recording afterward?
ChromeOS's built-in Screen Capture tool doesn't include a trimming or editing feature — what you record is the finished file. If you need to cut the start or end, or add captions, you'll either use a full video editor or a recording extension with built-in editing, like Loom's trim tool.
- Quick trims: Loom's web player lets you cut the start and end of a recording after uploading
- Basic edits: import the file into any general video editor if you need more than a trim
- No native trimming: the built-in ChromeOS recorder saves the raw file with no in-app editing step
For more Chromebook-specific picks beyond recording, see the best Chromebook extensions or check our methodology for how extensions are evaluated before being listed.
Extensions mentioned in this guide
- LoomRecord your screen and camera, share a link.
- Google Meet RecorderAuto-record Google Meet calls and save them straight to Google Drive
- Awesome ScreenshotCapture, annotate and share full-page or region screenshots and screen recordings
- Save to Google DriveSave any webpage or screen capture straight to your Google Drive in one click.
- CaffeineStops your screen from dimming or sleeping by overriding power-saving settings
Frequently asked
What is the keyboard shortcut to screen record on a Chromebook?
Press Shift+Ctrl+Show windows to open the built-in Screen Capture toolbar, then choose the video camera icon to switch from screenshot to recording mode.
Does every Chromebook have a built-in screen recorder?
Yes, ChromeOS's Screen Capture tool with recording is built into modern ChromeOS versions; very old Chromebooks that no longer receive updates may lack it.
Can I record my webcam along with my Chromebook screen?
Not with the built-in tool; you need an extension like Loom, which overlays a webcam bubble on top of the screen recording.
Where do Chromebook screen recordings get saved?
By default, in the Files app under Downloads > Screen recordings, unless an extension routes them somewhere else, like Google Drive.
Why is part of my screen recording black?
The content is DRM-protected, which ChromeOS deliberately excludes from screen recordings; this happens with some streaming video and paid content.
Can I record just one browser tab instead of the whole screen?
Yes, choose Window in the Screen Capture toolbar to record a single app or tab instead of Full screen.
How do I record a Google Meet call automatically on a Chromebook?
Install Google Meet Recorder, join the call, and it auto-records and saves the file to your Google Drive without you needing to start a separate recorder.
Does screen recording drain a Chromebook's battery faster?
Yes, active recording uses more processing power and keeps the screen on, both of which increase battery drain compared to normal browsing.
Can I trim a Chromebook screen recording without extra software?
The built-in recorder has no trim feature; use a recording extension with an editor, like Loom, or a separate video editor for cuts.
Why does my screen keep sleeping while I'm recording?
ChromeOS's default power settings don't pause for recordings; install Caffeine or ScreenAwake and enable it before you start recording.
Is there a time limit on Chromebook screen recordings?
The built-in recorder has no fixed time limit beyond available storage; extensions may impose their own limits, especially on free plans.
Can I screen record on a Chromebook without installing anything?
Yes, ChromeOS's built-in Screen Capture tool needs no extension or app install; it's available from the keyboard shortcut on every supported ChromeOS version.