How to Screen Record on a Chromebook (With Audio)
Use the built-in Chromebook screen recorder to capture your whole screen or a region with sound, find the saved file, and know when to record on a bigger tool.
Short version: Press Shift+Ctrl+Show-windows to open the capture toolbar, click the video-camera icon, choose full screen / window / region, enable the Microphone in the gear menu if you’re narrating, then Record. The video saves to Downloads as a WebM.
Chrome OS has a screen recorder built right in — no extension, no download. It’s simple and works well for quick captures. Here’s how to use it and where it fits.
Step 1 — Open the capture tool
Press Shift+Ctrl+Show-windows — the Show-windows key looks like a rectangle with two lines beside it and usually sits above the 6. (No such key on an external keyboard? Open Quick Settings from the shelf clock and tap Screen capture.)
A small toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2 — Switch to recording
The toolbar opens in screenshot mode. Click the video-camera icon to switch to screen recording.
Step 3 — Choose what to capture
Pick one of:
- Full screen — click anywhere to start.
- Window — click a specific window.
- Partial — drag a box around the region you want.
Step 4 — Turn on the microphone
Click the gear / settings icon in the toolbar and toggle Microphone on if you want your voice in the recording. Then click Record — a countdown runs and capture begins.
Step 5 — Stop and find it
Click the red stop button in the shelf (bottom-right). The video saves to Downloads as a WebM file and previews in Tote. From there you can rename it, move it, or upload it.
What the Chromebook recorder can’t do
The built-in tool is deliberately basic: it records your microphone but doesn’t cleanly separate and mix system/tab audio, there’s no built-in trimming or zoom, and the output is WebM rather than the more universal MP4. For a quick clip that’s fine; for a polished tutorial it’s limiting.
When you outgrow it
If you need system audio and mic mixed together, zoom to highlight detail, silence removal, or a real editor, a desktop recorder is the step up.
KeepCast is a local-first screen recorder for Windows that captures your screen, system audio, and mic into one MP4 — with zoom, a teleprompter, and a built-in editor — all stored on your own machine, no upload, no watermark. It’s Windows today; other platforms are on the roadmap. If you also use a Windows PC, join the waitlist. Curious why “stays on your machine” matters? See local-first vs cloud screen recorders.
The bottom line
Chromebooks record the screen natively — Shift+Ctrl+Show-windows, camera icon, pick your area, enable the mic, record. It saves a WebM to Downloads. It’s perfect for quick captures; step up to a desktop recorder when you need mixed audio, zoom, and editing.
Frequently asked questions
Do Chromebooks have a built-in screen recorder?＋
Yes. Press Shift+Ctrl+Show-windows (the key that looks like a rectangle with two lines, above 6) to open the screen-capture toolbar, switch to the video-camera mode, choose your area, and record. No app or extension is needed.
How do I record audio on a Chromebook screen recording?＋
The built-in recorder captures your microphone if you enable it: open the capture toolbar, click the settings gear, and turn on Microphone. Note that Chrome OS records mic audio; to capture a tab's sound cleanly, record within that tab or use a tool that captures system audio.
Where do Chromebook screen recordings save?＋
They save as a WebM video to your Downloads folder and appear in Tote (the shelf preview). You can then move, rename, or upload the file like any other download.
How do I record just part of the Chromebook screen?＋
In the capture toolbar, choose the Partial (region) option and drag to select the exact area, then press Record. This keeps the file smaller and focuses the viewer on one part of the screen.