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Video Tools

Screen Recorder

Record your screen, a window, or a tab — with optional microphone audio — straight to a downloadable video.

Also known as: Screen capture tool, Browser screen recorder, Online screen recorder

100% FreeNo Signup RequiredOptional Mic AudioPause & Resume
100% local — nothing you enter here ever leaves this browser tab
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Step by step

How it works

  1. 1Optionally enable "Include microphone audio," then click Start Recording.
  2. 2Choose your screen, a window, or a browser tab in your browser's own picker.
  3. 3Pause and resume as needed, and watch the live preview while you record.
  4. 4Click Stop, then download the finished video.
Why OTL

Why use Screen Recorder

No software install

Uses your browser's own screen-capture and recording engine — nothing to download or install.

Optional microphone narration

Mix in mic audio for voiceovers, walkthroughs, or narrated bug reports.

Pause and resume

Stop and continue a recording without losing what's already been captured.

Live preview while recording

See exactly what's being captured in real time, not just after you stop.

Record a tab, window, or full screen

Choose exactly what to capture using your browser's own built-in picker.

Nothing uploaded

Recording and audio mixing both happen locally — nothing is sent to a server.

Real-world use

Who uses Screen Recorder

Recording a bug report

Capture exactly what's going wrong on screen, with narration explaining the steps, for a clear bug report.

Making a quick how-to clip

Record a short walkthrough of a process without installing screen-recording software.

Demoing a product or feature

Record a live demo of an app or website, narrated in real time.

Capturing a video call or presentation

Record a browser tab showing a presentation or call for later reference (with participants' consent).

Recording gameplay or a web app

Capture a specific window or tab in action for sharing or review.

Creating course or training content

Record a narrated walkthrough of software for a tutorial or internal training video.

Deep dive

About Screen Recorder

Recording your screen usually means installing dedicated software, which is overkill for a quick bug report, a short how-to clip, or a one-off demo. Modern browsers already have everything needed built in — this tool is a clean interface on top of that existing capability, not a new engine.

When you click Start, your browser's own screen-picker opens, letting you choose exactly what to record: your entire screen, a single application window, or just one browser tab. That choice, and the security prompt behind it, comes directly from the browser — this tool never has broader access than what you explicitly grant for that recording.

Optional microphone audio is mixed into the recording using the Web Audio API, so a voiceover can be layered over whatever's happening on screen — useful for walkthroughs, bug reports, or quick tutorials where narration matters. Recording can be paused and resumed at any point without losing what's already been captured, and a live preview shows exactly what's being recorded in real time.

The finished recording is a standard WebM video file, ready to download and share, play back, or upload anywhere else. Recording, mixing, and encoding all happen locally in your browser using the MediaRecorder API — nothing about your screen or audio is ever sent to a server.

Compare

Screen Recorder vs. other options

How Open Tools Library compares to desktop software and other online tools.

FeatureOpen Tools LibraryDesktop softwareOther online tools
PriceFree, unlimitedVariesOften free with watermarks
Install requiredNoneRequiredSometimes a browser extension
Mic audio mixingBuilt inVariesSometimes limited
Pause/resumeYesVariesOften missing
Data privacyNever leaves your deviceN/AVaries, sometimes cloud-based
Pro tips

Pro tips

  • Choosing "tab" instead of your full screen in the picker also lets some browsers capture that tab's own audio automatically, without needing a separate audio setup.
  • If the microphone permission prompt is denied, the recording still proceeds — just without mic audio — rather than failing entirely.
  • Stopping the browser's own screen-share (via its native "Stop sharing" control) automatically stops and finalizes the recording here too.
  • Recordings are saved as WebM, a widely supported format for web playback — convert it elsewhere first if you specifically need MP4 for an older editing tool.
  • For narration-heavy recordings, a quiet environment makes a bigger difference to clarity than any setting in this tool.
Under the hood

Technical specs

Engine
Browser MediaRecorder + getDisplayMedia APIs — no server involved
Audio
Optional microphone, mixed via Web Audio API
Controls
Start, Pause, Resume, Stop, live preview
Output format
WebM video
Processing location
100% local, in your browser

Privacy & security

Recording your screen means capturing potentially sensitive information — here's exactly where that recording goes.

Recording and any microphone audio mixing happen entirely in your browser using the MediaRecorder API.

Your recording is never uploaded to a server — it exists only in your browser tab until you download it.

No account, email, or login required.

You explicitly choose what to share (screen, window, or tab) through your browser's own permission prompt every time.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is this tool free to use?

Yes, completely free with no limits, and no account needed.

How is my data handled?

Recording and audio mixing happen entirely in your browser using the MediaRecorder API — nothing is uploaded to a server at any point.

Do I need to install anything?

No — this uses your browser's own built-in screen-capture and recording capabilities.

Can I record just one browser tab instead of my whole screen?

Yes — your browser's screen-picker lets you choose a specific tab, window, or your entire screen each time you start a recording.

Is there a maximum recording length?

No hard limit is enforced by this tool, though very long recordings will produce a larger file and use more memory in your browser tab.

Stuck?

Troubleshooting

The screen-share picker isn't appearing

This is controlled entirely by your browser — make sure you're using a recent version of Chrome, Edge, or Firefox on desktop, since screen recording isn't supported the same way on all mobile browsers.

There's no audio in my recording

If you didn't enable "Include microphone audio" and your chosen screen/window/tab doesn't produce sound, the recording will be silent — some browsers also only capture tab audio specifically when you choose "tab" in the picker rather than a full screen or window.

My recording stopped unexpectedly

This happens if you click your browser's own "Stop sharing" control (shown in the tab bar or a floating indicator) — that's treated the same as clicking Stop here, and the recording is finalized automatically.

The download is a .webm file — can I get an MP4 instead?

Recordings are saved as WebM, which plays natively in every modern browser and most media players; convert it separately if a specific tool requires MP4.

Ready to use Screen Recorder?

Free, private, and ready right now — no signup required.

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