Quick Answer
Press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows, then select Screen record from the toolbar that appears. Choose full screen, a specific window, or a partial area, then click to start. Recordings save as MP4 files to your Downloads folder.
How to Record Your Screen
Step 1: Open the recording tool
Press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows (the same shortcut used for partial screenshots) to bring up the capture toolbar at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2: Choose what to record
Click the Screen record icon, then pick full screen, a single window, or a custom area by dragging a selection box.
Step 3: Decide whether to include audio
Before starting, toggle the microphone icon on if you want to narrate. System audio from the Chromebook itself can also be included depending on your ChromeOS version.
Step 4: Start and stop the recording
Click inside your selection to begin. A red timer appears in the corner while recording. Click the stop icon in the shelf, or press the same capture shortcut again, to end it.
Step 5: Find and edit your recording
The finished MP4 saves to Downloads and a preview pops up automatically — click it to play back, trim, or share the file directly.
Still Not Working?
If the Screen record option doesn’t appear in the toolbar, your ChromeOS version may be out of date — check how to update ChromeOS manually. If recordings come out choppy or your Chromebook slows down while recording, too many background tabs are likely competing for resources; see our guide on a Chromebook running slow. For quick single-frame captures instead of video, use our screenshot guide.
FAQ
Is there a time limit on screen recordings?
There’s no fixed cap, but recordings are limited by available storage — long recordings can produce large files that fill up Downloads quickly.
Can I record just one app instead of the whole screen?
Yes, choose the window-recording option in the capture toolbar to record a single app’s window even with other windows open behind it.
Does screen recording work with Android or Linux apps?
Yes, the built-in recorder captures anything on screen regardless of which environment the app is running in.
