How to record a software setup walkthrough

Need to show coworkers how to install, configure, or use a piece of software? A short screen recording can be easier to follow than a long email, especially when it shows each click in order.

Use the Screen Recorder to record your screen, a single window, or a browser tab, with optional sound, microphone, and camera. It runs in your browser on a computer, not on a phone.

Record the walkthrough

Open the Screen Recorder and choose whether to record your screen, an application window, or a browser tab. Select the source that shows the software and settings your coworkers need to see.
Decide which audio to include. Turn on microphone recording if you want to explain the steps as you go. Include computer sound if the setup uses audio and the sharing options offer it. Allow microphone or camera access if your browser asks.
Start the recording, then move through the setup at a steady pace. Pause briefly before each important click, and explain what the setting does instead of clicking through menus silently.
When you reach the finished setup, stop the recording using the recorder's stop control. Save the video, then play it back and check that the opening, picture, and sound are clear.

Before recording, close unrelated windows and hide notifications. If the setup includes a password, access code, customer information, or private messages, keep it out of the capture area.

Choose what to include

Record a window for a focused tutorial

Choose one application window when coworkers only need to see that program. It keeps other open windows out of the video and makes the important controls easier to follow. If the walkthrough needs to show a file picker, installer, or another app, a full-screen recording may be more reliable because some dialogs appear outside the original window.

Record the whole screen for a multi-app setup

Choose the full screen if you need to move between an installer, system settings, and the software itself. This shows the complete sequence, but it can also capture email, chat notifications, and other open material. Close or minimize anything coworkers should not see before you begin.

Add narration when steps need explanation

A microphone recording lets you describe why you are changing a setting and what coworkers should expect to see. Speak close to the microphone and test your volume before doing the full walkthrough. If you would rather record silently, add short explanations in a message alongside the video.

Include camera video only when it helps

A camera view can make a personal introduction feel more direct, but it is not necessary for most software instructions. A screen recording with clear narration is usually easier to watch when coworkers need to see small controls. The Screen Recorder supports a camera option, but your browser will ask permission before using it.

Fix common recording problems

Choose the right capture source. If the video shows the wrong window or misses a settings dialog, stop and start again with the full screen or the correct window. In the browser's screen-sharing dialog, select the source you want coworkers to see.
Allow screen, microphone, or camera access. Use the permission prompt when it appears. If you previously blocked access, click the site information icon beside the address bar, change the relevant permission, and reload the page.
Check system privacy settings. On Windows 11, open Settings › Privacy & security › Microphone or Settings › Privacy & security › Camera, then allow access for the browser as needed. On macOS, open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Screen & System Audio Recording and allow the browser if it is listed. For narration, check System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone too.
Select the correct microphone. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › Sound and choose the intended device under Input. On macOS, open System Settings › Sound › Input. Speak and check that the input level responds before recording again.
Check the audio source. If your voice is missing, enable microphone recording and confirm the browser can use the mic. If software sounds are missing, check whether the screen-sharing options let you include audio for the selected source. Some browsers or apps may not provide that audio.
Use a computer and a supported browser. Screen Recorder does not work on phones. If screen sharing fails on a computer, close other recording or meeting apps, reload the page, and try again.

Make the video easy to follow

Plan the route before you record. Write down the order of the steps, including any restart or sign-in that coworkers must complete. If you need to look up a detail, pause the recording rather than leaving a long stretch of silence in the final video.

Show the starting point. Begin with the app or installer open and briefly name the version or setup task.
Keep the cursor deliberate. Move it to a control, pause, and click. Fast cursor movement makes small buttons hard to track.
Wait for changes to finish. Give downloads, installs, and restarts time to complete. Mention what the screen should look like when each step is done.
End on a useful result. Show the completed setup or a quick test that confirms it worked. Avoid recording extra desktop activity after the instructions are finished.

The Screen Recorder works in your browser, and recordings stay on your device. Review the video before sharing it to make sure it does not show private information.