How to record a fullscreen tutorial on a shared computer

You need to show a teammate how to use a program, but the computer belongs to the whole team. A full-screen recording can capture menus and app changes clearly, but it may also reveal notifications, open files, or account details.

Use the Screen Recorder to record the screen, a window, or a browser tab with sound, microphone, and camera. It runs in your browser on a computer, not a phone. Prepare the shared computer first, then check the recording before you give it to anyone.

Record a fullscreen tutorial

1. Open the Screen Recorder and decide what the tutorial needs to show. Choose the full screen if you need to demonstrate switching between programs or changing system settings. A single window or browser tab is safer if the lesson stays in one place.
2. Close unrelated windows and files, sign out of personal accounts, and hide private messages. If possible, use a team-approved account or a separate browser profile with only the materials needed for the lesson.
3. Choose the screen, window, or tab in the browser's screen-sharing picker. For a full desktop demonstration, select the entire screen. If the picker offers an option to share audio, enable it only if you need computer sound, such as a notification or a video playing during the tutorial.
4. Choose whether to include your microphone or camera. Speak a short test sentence and check that the microphone is the one you intend to use. Keep the camera off if your face is not part of the lesson.
5. Start recording, wait a moment, then perform the tutorial at a steady pace. Stop the recording when you finish, and play the video back before sharing it.

Screen sharing starts only after you grant the browser permission. What audio the browser can capture depends on the browser, operating system, and selected source. If sound matters, make a short test recording first instead of assuming the full-screen capture includes it.

What the recording shows

The whole desktop appears

This is expected when you share the full screen. It also means the video can show anything that appears on that display, including app switching, desktop files, pop-up alerts, and other open windows. Review the whole clip before sending it, especially the first and last few seconds.

The app is visible, but computer sound is missing

Some browsers or operating systems do not provide system audio for every screen-sharing choice. Repeat a short test and check whether the sharing picker offers audio for the source you selected. If the sound is not essential, narrate what viewers need to hear. If it is essential, try sharing the specific browser tab or window that contains the audio.

Your voice is missing or too quiet

The recording may have used the wrong microphone, or the browser may not have microphone permission. Test the microphone separately and listen to a short clip before recording the full tutorial. If you do not need narration, leave the microphone out and add instructions another way.

How to fix common recording problems

1. Hide alerts before you share the screen. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › Notifications and turn on Do not disturb. On a Mac, open System Settings › Notifications and turn on a Focus mode such as Do Not Disturb. Remember that alerts may still appear inside an app.
2. Allow screen capture in the browser or system. If the screen picker does not appear, reload the recorder and try again. On macOS, check System Settings › Privacy & Security › Screen & System Audio Recording and allow the browser if it is listed. Quit and reopen the browser after changing access.
3. Allow the microphone if you are narrating. In the browser's site permissions, allow microphone access for the recorder page. On Windows 11, check Settings › Privacy & security › Microphone. On a Mac, check System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone and allow the browser.
4. Choose a smaller capture area when possible. If viewers only need to see one program, share its window rather than the full desktop. This reduces the chance that a private alert or unrelated document will appear. The browser may minimize or show a frame around a shared window, so test the result.
5. Make the demonstration easier to follow. Close extra tabs, enlarge small interface text, and move the pointer deliberately. Pause briefly before and after important actions so viewers can see what changed.
6. Check available storage and browser support. A long, high-resolution recording can create a large file and may stop if the computer runs low on memory or storage. Close unnecessary programs, record a short sample, and confirm it plays before making the full tutorial.

Protect the file on a shared computer

The recording stays on the device rather than being uploaded by the Screen Recorder. That does not automatically make it private on a shared computer. Other people who use the same account may be able to find local downloads, and anyone with access to the saved file may be able to play it.

Save the video in a team-approved folder with the right access controls, not on a shared desktop or in a public downloads folder. If you used a common login, remove the recording from that account after moving it to its approved location, and empty the trash if your organization permits that. Check the copy you are sharing for names, messages, account numbers, and other details that should not be distributed.

For more ways to keep private alerts out of a capture, see How to keep private notifications out of recordings.