Do you find that you struggle to articulate business processes or software tutorials in documents or emails? You’re not alone. Manually typing out instructions takes a lot of time and energy that could otherwise be spent on more productive tasks.
This is where screen recording can help. Instead of switching between apps to gather information or demonstrate something to colleagues, you can easily record how-to videos by capturing your screen or window.
A screen recording, or screen capture, is a video of what is happening on your computer, phone or tablet. It’s an easy way to share a tutorial, explain a project, or make a point without having to write out each step.
In this guide, we’ll explain how to record your computer screen on different devices, both using basic built-in tools and dedicated apps like Dropbox Capture.
Why are screen recordings useful?
By capturing what’s visible on your screen, you can share more information in less time.
Let’s say you need to show a colleague how to create a chart from a data set, for example. You could write a really long email or share a bunch of annotated screenshots that show each step. With either of these methods, you’ll have to jump between your data set, chart creation tool and communication platform. It’s a frustrating and time-consuming process.
But with a screen recording, you can show the entire process in a few clicks, saving you valuable time. Screen recordings can also add flexibility and efficiency to remote working. By replacing the need for live demonstrations or video meetings, your colleagues can watch the video in their own time and replay it whenever they need to.
Introducing a purpose-built tool to make screen recording easier
With Dropbox Capture, it’s easy to record your screen, take screenshots or create GIFs, and share them instantly with a link.
You can even add a voiceover using your microphone and webcam, or draw on the screen in real time during recording to point out areas of interest.
Finished recording? In a few clicks, you can trim out unwanted sections, transcribe your voiceover, automatically remove those pesky “ums” and “ahs” from the audio, and convert your recording into a GIF – all without leaving Dropbox.
How to record your screen on different devices
Of course, we recommend Capture for its ease of use and flexibility. It’s compatible with a range of devices and you can watch your recordings from wherever you access your Dropbox account.
However, modern laptops and computers typically come with built-in recording tools, so here are a few other options for recording your screen.
How to screen record on Mac
When it comes to screen recording on a Mac, you can use the built-in tool (for macOS Mojave or later) or QuickTime, or Dropbox Capture if you’d rather keep everything in one place!
How to screen record on Windows PC
Windows 11 has a built-in screen recorder tool. But for Windows 10, you’ll have to use the preloaded Xbox Game Bar to record your screen with audio.
For a simpler screen recording experience on Windows 10 and 11, look to Dropbox Capture.
How to screen record on Chromebook
Chromebooks come with a built-in screen recorder. But, the tool doesn’t offer editing capabilities. Dropbox Capture makes it easy to record your Chromebook screen, edit your clip and share the final video – all from within Dropbox.
How to record your screen with Dropbox
To get started, simply download Dropbox Capture to your device and follow the steps below.
Step 1: Record your video
To record your screen, open the app on your device and select the type of recording you’d like to create from the list of recording options in the menu:
- Click Screen + camera recording to record your screen, webcam and microphone simultaneously
- Click Screen recording to record your screen and microphone only
- Click GIF to record your screen as a GIF file
- Alternatively, click Audio recording to record your microphone only
The screen recorder dialogue will then open on the screen.
With the screen recorder open, choose your recording settings and click the Record button (a red circle) to start recording. You can capture your full screen, a specific part of your screen or a specific window.
You can then stop recording by clicking the stop icon (a white square in a red circle). After you've finished your recording, the video will automatically open in a new browser tab. From here, you can watch your screen recording, make any edits or, if you’re happy with it, share the clip right away.
Step 2: Edit or trim your video
Once the recorded clip has opened in a browser tab, click Edit video on the right-hand side of the window to start editing your clip.
While editing your video, you have three main tools available:
- Trim video – adjust the slider and click Keep selection or Delete selection to remove an unwanted pause at the start or finish
- Remove filler words – if you have a habit of saying ‘um’ and ‘ah’ between words, Dropbox Capture can automatically identify these and remove them
- Convert to GIF – if you don’t need audio, you might prefer to convert your recorded clip into a looping animated GIF
Top tip: if you’ve recorded a longer video that provides a full tutorial but need to share a specific part, you can use the Trim and Convert to GIF tools to create a shorter clip for sharing.
Once you have finished editing your video, click Save changes to save your finished clip.
Step 3: Share your screen recording
With your video recorded and the final clip edited, there are two ways to share it:
- Download the clip and share the file itself
- Copy a link to the file and share it
When sharing a link to the video, viewers will be able to provide feedback and you’ll be able to see the total view count for the clip. You can change your sharing settings at any time to allow viewing by anyone with the link, only team members or even just yourself.
Screen recording tips
Here are a few tricks of the trade to create a great video:
- Don’t overlook video or audio quality – a high-quality external webcam or microphone can make a huge difference in the overall presentation of your finished clip.
- Keep it simple – rather than combining multiple things in a single clip, ask yourself whether it makes more sense to create a series of individual clips that can be linked separately.
- Draw attention to important information–make use of our built-in annotation tool, allowing you to write over your screen recording and highlight key details.
- Remove clutter – only record what your viewers need to see. For example, record a single necessary window rather than an entire screen with additional and unrelated windows open.
Record your screen in style with Dropbox
Whether you’re looking for advanced customization features, hassle-free sharing, or simply a way to save yourself time, there’s no better way to record your screen than with Dropbox Capture.