What to check before sending a recording to a contractor

A screen recording can help a contractor see a problem that is hard to explain. But a clip with missing steps, no sound, or private details can create more questions than it answers.

Use the Screen Recorder to capture a screen, window, or browser tab, with sound, a microphone, or a camera if needed. Before you send the file, check that it shows the issue clearly and contains only what the contractor needs.

Record and check the issue

1. Open the Screen Recorder on a computer. It does not work on phones. If the issue is on a phone, use the phone's built-in screen recorder, then review the saved file before sharing it.
2. Choose the smallest useful capture area: a browser tab or app window if that is enough, or the full screen if the issue involves switching between windows. Include sound only if it helps explain the problem. Turn on the microphone only if your spoken explanation adds useful context.
3. Close unrelated windows and notifications, and get the page or app ready. Start recording before the first step the contractor needs to see. Reproduce the problem once, slowly, and leave a few seconds at the end so the final result is visible.
4. Stop the recording and save the file on your device. If the browser asks for screen, window, microphone, or camera access, allow only what you need for this capture.
5. Open the saved file and watch it from beginning to end. Check the picture, any required sound, and the final seconds. Confirm the file opens and that the problem is visible without you having to explain what happened off camera.

For a short bug report, one focused clip is usually easier to review than a long recording of unrelated work. If the problem takes several steps, show the starting state, the actions that trigger it, and the result. Avoid repeating the same failure many times unless the contractor asks for that.

What the recording tells you

The problem is clear from start to finish

The contractor can see the starting point, the steps, and the result. Send the clip with a brief note that names the device or app, what you expected, and what happened instead. Include the time of the issue if it only happens intermittently.

The screen is blank or shows the wrong content

The selected source may not be the one where the issue occurs, or the app may restrict screen capture. Make another short recording and choose the specific window or tab that contains the problem. Some protected content can appear black in a capture. If that happens, describe the visible symptom instead of trying to bypass the protection. See why a screen recording may show a black window.

The picture is clear, but the sound is missing

Check whether sound matters to the issue. If it does, play the relevant audio while recording and select a source that includes it. Tab audio, system audio, and microphone audio are different sources, and the browser may offer different options depending on what you choose to capture.

The file is too large or difficult to send

Long clips and high-resolution captures can make large files. First remove unrelated footage by making a shorter recording. If you still need a smaller file, ask the contractor which format or sharing method they accept before converting it. Changing formats can affect picture or sound quality. For more options, see how to reduce a large screen recording file.

The recording includes information the contractor does not need

Pause before sending if the clip shows customer names, messages, passwords, account numbers, private notifications, or unrelated browser tabs. Make a new recording with that information closed or hidden. Do not rely on a note asking the contractor to ignore sensitive details that are already visible.

Fix common recording problems

1. Choose the correct capture source. If the issue appears in one app, select its window; if it happens in a web page, try capturing that tab. If the wrong area appears, stop and record again with the right source.
2. Allow screen capture in the browser. Use the browser's screen-sharing prompt to choose a screen, window, or tab. On macOS, check System Settings › Privacy & Security › Screen & System Audio Recording, then allow the browser and restart it if you changed access. The exact setting name can vary by macOS version.
3. Allow microphone access only if you need narration. In Windows 11, open Settings › Privacy & security › Microphone and enable microphone access and access for desktop apps. On macOS, open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone and allow the browser. Also check the browser's permission for this site.
4. Include the sound source you need. When choosing what to share, look for an option to include the tab or system sound if the problem is audio playback. Speak near the microphone if you are explaining the steps, then listen to the saved clip before sending it.
5. Make a fresh, shorter capture. If the file is very long, has pauses, or includes unrelated activity, record only the sequence needed to show the issue. A short clear clip is easier to upload and review.
6. Check the recipient and sharing method. Send the file only through a channel the contractor has approved. If the recording contains work or personal information, confirm who can access the shared link and how long it will remain available.

Keep private information out of the clip

Before recording, turn off notifications or close messaging apps, hide unrelated tabs, and sign out of accounts that are not part of the problem. Use a test account or sample data when possible. If another person appears or can be heard, get their permission when appropriate. These checks are especially important for recordings made at work or for a customer.

Screen Recorder runs in your browser, and recordings stay on your device until you choose to share them. After sending a file, keep your local copy until the contractor confirms they received and can open it. Then follow your normal retention rules for deleting recordings you no longer need.