How to record your screen in a browser
Joseph HuLast reviewed September 4, 2026
Quick answer
Use your computer's built-in recorder for a private local file. For browser recording, Awesome Screen Recorder is the best default; compare Scrnli for a lighter option.
A useful screen recording is more than a video of your desktop. A bug report needs clear annotation, a tutorial may need webcam and voice, and a quick update needs a link that opens without downloading a large file. The right extension depends on what happens after you press stop.
Use your computer's recorder for a private local file
Built-in macOS and Windows recording tools are enough when you only need a local video and do not need browser-based editing or viewer analytics.
- 1Open the browser tab and close notifications or private windows you do not want recorded.
- 2Start the built-in screen recorder and select the window or recording area.
- 3Choose the microphone when narration is required.
- 4Stop the recording and review the saved file before sharing it.
The local method is simple but leaves editing, annotation, hosting, and link sharing to separate tools. Extensions combine those steps for repeat work.
Record tutorials and bug reports with annotations
Detailed explanations benefit from drawing tools, screenshots, and simple editing in the same workflow.
Awesome Screen Recorder & Screenshot
Awesome Screen Recorder is the practical choice when you will edit or explain the recording after capture. It handles screen, tab, window, and webcam sources and keeps screenshots and annotation in the same product.
- Users
- 4M
- Rating
- 4.7★
- Reviews
- 29.5K
It records locally or to the cloud, supports microphone and webcam input, saves WebM or MP4, and adds drawing, trimming, sharing, and screenshot tools.
- Records a tab, window, desktop, camera, or combined screen and webcam.
- Adds drawing tools during capture and editing after recording.
- Saves locally or creates a hosted link for sharing.
Trade-offs
- The broad toolset is more than you need for an occasional raw recording.
- Hosted workflows and advanced editing can require an account or paid plan.
Scrnli
Scrnli makes sense when you frequently switch between still screenshots and short recordings but do not need a full video-sales or team-hosting platform.
- Users
- 1M
- Rating
- 4.7★
- Reviews
- 10.9K
The extension combines visible-area and full-page screenshots, annotation, screen recording, and basic export and sharing tools.
- Captures screenshots and records browser or desktop activity.
- Adds text, arrows, shapes, and other visual annotations.
- Keeps common capture outputs in one browser tool.
Trade-offs
- Advanced video editing and team analytics are not its main strength.
- Recording results still depend on browser media permissions and device audio setup.
Send short screen videos as a link
For asynchronous updates, the useful result is a shareable page rather than a video file that the recipient must download.
Awesome Screen Recorder & Screenshot
Awesome Screen Recorder is the practical choice when you will edit or explain the recording after capture. It handles screen, tab, window, and webcam sources and keeps screenshots and annotation in the same product.
- Users
- 4M
- Rating
- 4.7★
- Reviews
- 29.5K
It records locally or to the cloud, supports microphone and webcam input, saves WebM or MP4, and adds drawing, trimming, sharing, and screenshot tools.
- Records a tab, window, desktop, camera, or combined screen and webcam.
- Adds drawing tools during capture and editing after recording.
- Saves locally or creates a hosted link for sharing.
Trade-offs
- The broad toolset is more than you need for an occasional raw recording.
- Hosted workflows and advanced editing can require an account or paid plan.
Scrnli
Scrnli makes sense when you frequently switch between still screenshots and short recordings but do not need a full video-sales or team-hosting platform.
- Users
- 1M
- Rating
- 4.7★
- Reviews
- 10.9K
The extension combines visible-area and full-page screenshots, annotation, screen recording, and basic export and sharing tools.
- Captures screenshots and records browser or desktop activity.
- Adds text, arrows, shapes, and other visual annotations.
- Keeps common capture outputs in one browser tool.
Trade-offs
- Advanced video editing and team analytics are not its main strength.
- Recording results still depend on browser media permissions and device audio setup.
Compare the solutions
Need
Recording, screenshots, and editing
- Recommendation
- Awesome Screen Recorder
- Why
- It combines tab, window, desktop, and webcam recording with image and video tools.
- Keep in mind
- Cloud sharing and advanced workflows introduce an account and plan boundary.
Need
Simpler screenshots and recording
- Recommendation
- Scrnli
- Why
- It keeps screenshot, drawing, and screen recording in one extension without centering a large video platform.
- Keep in mind
- It offers less mature team hosting and viewer analytics than dedicated video platforms.
Store data comes from a daily crawl of the Chrome Web Store; rating trends are computed from the public review history. Recommendations are editorial judgements, last reviewed on , with store figures from .
Sources & verification
Product details and availability are checked against the official websites and Chrome Web Store listings listed below. These sources support factual product information; the recommendation itself is an editorial judgement.
- Awesome Screen Recorder & Screenshot — Chrome Web Store listing · Checked September 4, 2026
- Awesome Screen Recorder & Screenshot — Official website · Checked September 4, 2026
- Scrnli — Chrome Web Store listing · Checked September 4, 2026
- Scrnli — Official website · Checked September 4, 2026
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