How to record your screen with your face in the corner

To record your screen with your face in the corner, use a screen recorder that captures both the display and your camera at the same time. You can show a presentation, app, or browser page while a small video of you stays visible in the recording.

TooLab's Screen Recorder records a screen, window, or browser tab, with sound, microphone, and camera. It runs in a computer browser, not on phones. Follow these steps to set up the capture, check the picture and sound, and avoid recording private information.

Record your screen and camera together

Open the Screen Recorder on a computer. Decide what you want to show before recording: one browser tab, a single app window, or the whole screen.
Allow the browser to use your camera and microphone when prompted. If the browser asks to share your screen, choose the tab, window, or screen you intend to record. For a browser tab, enable its audio option in the sharing prompt if you need to capture sound from that tab.
Enable the camera in the recorder's camera controls. Check that the live preview shows your face. Position the camera inset in a corner where it does not cover important text or controls. If the recorder provides options to move or resize the inset, adjust it before starting.
Choose whether to include your microphone, the shared tab's sound, or both, depending on what the recording needs. Speak a test sentence and check the microphone level or preview if available. Make sure your computer's output volume is audible if you are capturing sound from a video or presentation.
Set up your shot. Place a light in front of you rather than behind you, keep your face within the camera frame, and move the camera preview away from buttons, captions, or other content viewers need to see.
Start recording, then perform the actions you want to show at a steady pace. Pause briefly before changing screens or opening menus so viewers can follow what changed.
Stop the recording when you are finished and review the saved video. Check that the screen is readable, your face is visible, and the audio includes the narration or system sound you intended.

Before sharing the video, watch the beginning and end too. Recordings often include a moment before the demonstration starts or after it ends, when private tabs, desktop notifications, or other personal details may appear.

Choose what to capture

A browser tab

Choose a tab when you only need to demonstrate a website or browser-based app. It keeps unrelated windows and desktop notifications out of the recording. If you need sound from the tab, select the tab's audio option in the browser's screen-sharing prompt. Browser support for capturing sound can vary, so confirm it in a short test recording.

An app window

Choose a window to show one desktop app while keeping other open windows private. This works well for a focused walkthrough, but menus or dialogs that appear outside the selected window might not be included. Check the preview and test any menus you need to show.

The full screen

Choose the full screen when your demonstration moves between apps or windows. This captures more of your desktop, so close anything you do not want viewers to see. Turn off notifications or use a focus setting before recording if alerts could reveal messages or personal information.

Get a clear face camera and usable sound

Your face does not need to fill the corner inset. Keep your head and shoulders in frame, look toward the camera when speaking, and leave enough space around your face that the picture does not feel cramped. A plain background makes the inset easier to read. Avoid placing it over subtitles, important text, or controls the viewer must see.

Use the microphone you want viewers to hear, and speak at a normal distance. If you use a headset, check that its microphone is selected rather than the computer's built-in input. For screen sound, verify that you are sharing the correct tab or screen and that its audio is included. Some browsers or operating systems may limit which sound sources can be captured.

Camera and microphone access require permission. On Windows 11, check Settings › Privacy & security › Camera and Settings › Privacy & security › Microphone. Make sure access is allowed for desktop apps, including your browser. On macOS, check System Settings › Privacy & Security › Camera and System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone for your browser. If screen sharing is blocked on a Mac, check System Settings › Privacy & Security › Screen & System Audio Recording, then reopen the browser if requested.

Fix common recording problems

The camera inset is missing

Check that the camera is enabled in the recorder and that you allowed camera access in the browser prompt. If the preview is still blank, check the operating system's camera privacy setting and close other apps that may be using the camera. Then reload the recorder and grant permission again if asked.

Your face appears, but the video has no sound

Check microphone permission and make sure the right input device is selected in the recorder or system sound settings. If you also want sound from a browser tab, choose that tab in the sharing prompt and allow tab audio. A working microphone does not automatically mean the tab's audio is being recorded, and the reverse is also true.

The screen is black or the wrong window is shown

Stop and start a new capture, then choose the intended tab, window, or screen in the browser prompt. On macOS, confirm that the browser has screen recording permission. Some protected video or app content may not be available to screen capture, even when other parts of the screen record normally.

The file is large or the recording stops

Long recordings and high-resolution screens create large video files. Check that the computer has enough free storage before you begin, and keep the device plugged in for a long session. If the recording ends unexpectedly, try a shorter test and close other apps to reduce the load.

The Screen Recorder works on the file in your browser. The recording stays on your device and is not uploaded, so save the result somewhere you can find it and share it only with the people who should see it.