Use the Screencast app to record and share on your ChromeOS devices

This page is for users. If you are an administrator and want to learn more, see Screencast.

Using the Screencast app, you can record and share lessons and demos with a transcript. You can use the transcript to search, edit, and translate screencasts.

When you have an idea to share, Screencast it

Access

The Screencast app is available on all ChromeOS devices with Chrome version 104 or later. If you don’t see the app in the launcher, upgrade your device. For details, see Update your Chromebook's operating system.

Admins can disable the app for managed users. If you are using a managed Google Account on a device with ChromeOS 103 or later, but do not see the app in the launcher, contact your IT administrator to enable the app for your account.

To view a screencast, click the link shared with you on any device with a compatible web browser. On ChromeOS, the app opens automatically for playback.

Editing a screencast

You can use the built-in editing tools to trim, mute, and add text overlays (titles) to your recordings.

1. To enter editing mode, open a screencast and, on the top right corner of the screencast, click Edit or right-click a sentence in the transcript.
2. Select the sentence you want to edit.
3. Select the editing function you want to use.
4. Make your changes and click Save.

To restore edited content, click Undo at the top of the transcript in editing mode.

Note: Because the original recording remains on Google Drive, users with access to the screencast and the link can still see the original video and transcript.

Edit text

If there’s any mistake in the auto-generated transcript, you can edit sentences directly in the textbox.

1. Click the sentence in the transcript.
2. Edit the sentence in the text box.
3. Click Save.

Trim the screencast

You can trim selected content from a recording.

1. Select the content you want to trim.
2. Click Trim from Screencast. 
3. Click Save.

Mute a sentence

You can keep the video clip associated with a selected sentence but mute the audio when playing the screencast.

1. Select the content you want to mute.
2. Click Mute sentence. 
3. Click Save.

Note: If you mute a sentence, it is not shown in the transcript in viewing mode.

Add sections and section titles

You can reorganize the transcript paragraphs by adding a section break below a selected sentence. The sentence below the selected sentence becomes the starting point of a new section. 

To make it easier for the viewer to scan through the content in the transcript, you can also add section titles.

Add a section below

1. Select the sentence below which you want to add a section.
2. Click Add section below. 
3. Click Save.

To remove section breaks, in the section click Remove section breakSave.

Add a section title

1. In the section click Add section title.
2. Enter the section name. 
3. (Optional) Turn on Show as an overlay in screencast.
4. Click Save.

 To remove section title, in the required section click Remove section title Save.

Transcription

Screencast transcribes your narration into text so you can easily edit your recording and viewers can search, navigate, and translate screencasts via the transcript. Transcriptions can be processed on the device or sent to Google for processing depending on your device and device language.

To create a new recording, your device language must be set to one of the following:

• English (US)
• English (Australian)
• English (UK)
• French
• German
• Indonesian
• Italian
• Japanese
• Korean
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Spanish (US)
• Spanish (Spain)
• Swedish
• Turkish

Users with their device set to another language can view screencasts created by others, but cannot record their own.

Troubleshooting

How do I get the app?

Screencast is included in ChromeOS 104 or later. To find the app, click Launcher on the taskbar, typically in the lower left corner. If it’s not already there, you can also pin the app to your shelf for easy access by right-clicking on the icon and selecting Pin to shelf.

If you are using a managed Google Account on a device with ChromeOS 104 or later, but do not see the app in the launcher, contact your IT administrator to enable the app for your account.

Is Screencast covered by my schools' Workspace for Education agreement?

Screencast recordings are stored in Google Drive and are covered by the Workspace for Education agreement which includes the Workspace Data Processing Amendment and Google Cloud Privacy Notice.

The link isn’t working - what should I do?

Screencast links are only visible to others if they’re set to Shared with others.

To change the sharing setting, on the viewer page or the More Options menu, click Share for your screencast and select Shared with others.

How do I draw on my screen during recording?

• To draw on the screen, click or tap Marker on the shelf during recording. You can then draw over on-screen content using the mouse, stylus, or touchscreen. On-screen navigation is disabled when the Marker is on.
• Right-click or double-tap the screen with two fingers to clear your drawings.
• Right-click or long-press Marker on the shelf to switch pen colors.
• Click or tap Marker again to turn it off and re-enable on-screen navigation.

How do I record a portion of my screen?

After you click + New screencast in the app, you can select which parts of your screen to record before you begin your screencast.

• Screencast is set to record your entire screen by default, but you can choose to record a partial screen or record a window by selecting those icons on the toolbar.
• If you choose to record a window, click on the window you want to record.
• If you choose to record a partial screen, click and drag your cursor over the region of your screen you want to record.

How do I disable or switch cameras for a recording?

Before you start recording, you can disable or switch cameras by clicking Settings on the toolbar and selecting a different option under Camera.

Will users outside of my organization be able to see recordings?

If you are a managed user for either a school or work account, and you share a recording using the Screencast app, it is only visible to other users with the link in your managed domain.

If you create and share a screencast using your personal account, it is visible to anyone with the link.

How do I stop a recording once I’ve started?

You can stop a recording by clicking Stop on the shelf. Stop is next to the date and time, typically in the lower right corner of your screen.

How do I search within a screencast?

In the top-right above the transcript, click Search or press CTRL+F. Click the up or down arrows next to Search to skip through results.