Screen sharing permission stops between recordings

Your browser asks you to choose a screen again when you start a second recording. That is usually normal, not a sign that permission has stopped working. Screen sharing is approved for each capture session, so the browser asks you to select a screen, window, or tab again.

Use the Screen Recorder to check what happens in a new session. This guide explains what to expect and what to try if the screen picker does not appear, or the recording is blank.

Test screen sharing between recordings

1. On a computer, open the Screen Recorder. Screen Recorder does not work on phones.
2. Start a recording and choose a screen, window, or browser tab in the browser's sharing picker. Confirm your choice in that picker.
3. Record a few seconds, then stop the recording using the recorder's controls.
4. Start another recording. If the browser shows the picker again, select the source you want to capture. This repeat prompt is expected.
5. If the picker does not appear or the result is black, try sharing a different source, such as a browser tab instead of the full screen.

The browser may show different wording in its sharing picker. The important step is to select the source and confirm it for each new recording session.

What the result means

The picker appears for every recording

This is normal behavior. A screen-sharing choice is generally temporary and applies to the current capture, not every future recording. Select the screen or window again when you start another take.

The picker does not appear

The browser may not be able to start screen capture in its current context. Check that you are using a desktop browser, reload the page, and start a new capture. Screen Recorder is not supported on phones, and some managed computers restrict screen sharing.

The recording is black or shows the wrong content

The browser may be capturing a different screen, window, or tab than you intended. Stop the recording and select the correct source in the picker. Some protected video content may also appear black even when screen sharing is working.

The browser says screen recording is blocked

This can happen when the operating system has not granted the browser access. On macOS, check the screen recording privacy setting below. On a work or school computer, an administrator may control whether screen capture is allowed.

How to fix screen sharing problems

1. Select the source again. Start a fresh recording and choose the screen, window, or tab you want in the browser's picker. The browser normally requires a new selection for each capture instead of saving approval for later.
2. Stop the previous capture cleanly. End the recording in the tool before starting another. If the browser still shows an active sharing indicator, stop sharing there too, then begin a new session.
3. Reload the page. Stop any active capture, reload TooLab, and try again. A page can lose track of a capture after a tab switch or a failed recording attempt.
4. Check macOS screen recording access. Open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Screen & System Audio Recording and allow your browser. On some macOS versions, this setting is called Screen Recording. Quit and reopen the browser after changing it.
5. Check how Windows handles the request. In Windows 11, screen selection is usually handled by the browser's sharing picker, not by a persistent screen-sharing permission for a website. If no picker appears, reload the page, fully close and reopen the browser, and try again.
6. Use a supported desktop browser. Update your browser and retry from a regular browser window. Screen Recorder does not work on phones. If the device belongs to an employer or school, ask its administrator whether screen capture is restricted.

Why permission does not carry over

A website cannot quietly keep watching your screen after you finish recording. The browser asks you to choose what to share, then gives the page access to that source while the capture is active. When you stop the capture, that access ends. A later recording needs a new selection and approval.

This is different from a microphone or camera permission, which some browsers let you remember for a site. Screen sharing is more sensitive because it can expose private messages, account details, or other open windows. Choosing a single tab or window can reduce what appears in the recording compared with sharing the entire screen.

Recordings made with the Screen Recorder stay on your device. Nothing you record is uploaded.