To record your whole desktop from a browser extension, install and pin a recorder such as Loom or Screencastify, choose Full Screen or Desktop, select the entire display in Chrome’s sharing dialog, enable the microphone and system-audio options you need, then start and stop the capture from the extension. The exact audio choices depend on your operating system, browser and extension.
What “entire screen” means
A browser recorder normally offers three scopes: the current tab, a browser window, or the entire screen (sometimes labeled Full Screen, Desktop or Screen). Full-screen capture includes applications and windows outside Chrome, so it is the correct choice for a software demonstration, support video or presentation that moves between apps.
Chrome’s display-capture APIs distinguish screen, window, tab and audio sources. The browser always opens a visible picker so you can explicitly choose what is shared; an extension cannot silently select a display for you.
Before you start
- Install the recorder from its official browser-store listing and review its host, microphone and camera permissions.
- Pin its toolbar icon so the controls remain easy to find.
- Close private windows, notifications and unrelated documents. Everything on the selected display can appear in the video.
- If you need narration, connect and test the intended microphone. If you need computer sound, check whether your operating system and recorder support it.
- Use headphones when recording microphone and system audio together. Screencastify warns that speakers can feed computer audio back into the microphone and create an echo.
Record your whole desktop step by step
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Open the extension
Click the pinned Loom or Screencastify icon. Sign in if the product requires an account, and allow microphone or camera access only if you plan to use those sources.
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Choose the full-screen mode
Select Full Screen, Desktop or Screen. Do not choose Current Tab or Window if the recording must include other applications. Loom documents Full Screen, Window and Current Tab choices; Screencastify documents Full Screen.
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Select the display in Chrome’s picker
Chrome presents a sharing dialog. Select the thumbnail for the entire screen or display you intend to record, not an individual window or tab. On systems with multiple monitors, verify the monitor name before clicking Share.
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Choose audio sources
If the dialog provides Share system audio, enable it for computer sound. Chrome treats audio as a separate capture source, so selecting a screen does not guarantee that application audio is included. Turn on the extension’s microphone toggle for narration. Enable the camera only when you want a webcam overlay.
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Start the recording
Confirm the preview and click the recorder’s start button. Loom uses a three-second countdown. Perform the demonstration at a steady pace, pausing briefly before important actions so viewers can follow.
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Stop from the extension
Use the floating recorder control or toolbar icon to stop. If you close the browser or revoke the shared surface first, the product may end the capture without completing its normal save workflow.
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Review before sharing
Watch the beginning, a representative section with narration and computer sound, and the final seconds. Confirm that the intended display, microphone, system audio and camera overlay were captured. Loom copies a video link after capture; Screencastify documents Google Drive autosave. Editing, privacy and sharing options vary by product and account.
Loom and Screencastify: practical differences
| Capability | Loom Chrome extension | Screencastify extension |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-screen mode | Full Screen | Full Screen |
| Other scopes | Window and Current Tab | Chrome sharing dialog offers the selected surface |
| Webcam | Camera mode can add an overlay | Webcam option with permission |
| Microphone | Permission and toggle available | Permission and toggle available |
| System or computer audio | Extension internal audio is limited to one tab | Chrome dialog includes Share system audio; documented desktop flow says computer audio is automatic but unavailable for Mac in that workflow |
| After capture | Review, edit, privacy and sharing; link is copied after capture | Review and sharing, with documented Google Drive autosave |
These behaviors are product workflows, not a guarantee that every browser or operating-system combination exposes the same controls. Check the picker and the recorder’s current help text when your setup differs.
Microphone, system audio and webcam explained
Microphone narration
Microphone access records your voice independently of the screen. In Chrome’s site settings, allow the selected microphone for the recorder, then choose the correct input in the extension if it offers a device menu. Make a short test recording and listen for clipping, fan noise or an unexpectedly quiet voice.
System audio
System audio is the sound produced by the computer or a shared tab. Enable Share system audio when Chrome shows it. Screencastify says its documented computer-audio flow is not available for Mac computers, while Loom states that its Chrome extension can record internal audio from only one tab. Therefore, a Loom extension capture should not be expected to include audio from Zoom, a desktop media player or several applications at once. Loom’s desktop app can capture system audio from applications, so that app may be required for cross-application sound.
Webcam overlay
Camera mode places your webcam feed over the screen recording. Grant camera permission only when you want that overlay. Position the bubble so it does not cover menus, text or the area you are demonstrating.
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Why the recording has no audio
- The wrong source was chosen: selecting a screen does not automatically select audio. Reopen the share picker and enable Share system audio when available.
- Microphone permission is blocked: open Chrome’s site-permission controls for the recorder, allow Microphone, reload the extension and select the intended input.
- macOS limitation: Screencastify’s documented desktop flow does not provide computer audio on Mac. Use a supported workflow or a desktop application that supplies system-audio capture.
- One-tab limitation: Loom’s extension records internal audio from one tab only. Audio from another tab or a separate desktop application requires a different capture scope or Loom’s desktop app.
- Echo: monitoring through speakers while recording the microphone and system audio can create feedback. Wear headphones and make another short test.
- Muted application: verify that the source tab or application is not muted and that the operating system’s output device is the one you expect.
Common failures and fixes
The extension records Chrome but not another app
You selected Current Tab or Window. Stop, restart the recorder, choose Full Screen/Desktop and select the complete display in the picker.
The wrong monitor is captured
With multiple displays, the share dialog lists separate thumbnails. Stop and repeat the selection, checking the monitor label and its visible preview before sharing.
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Another application may be using the device, or Chrome may have a blocked permission. Quit competing applications, check the extension’s permissions and reload the page.
The video stops when you switch apps
That usually indicates a tab or window capture rather than a screen capture. Restart with Full Screen/Desktop. Keep the browser’s sharing indicator visible until you stop.
The saved video is incomplete
Allow the recorder to finish its upload or autosave after pressing Stop. Avoid closing the browser immediately; confirm that the review page or saved file has loaded.
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Quality, privacy and reliability checklist
- Record a ten-second test that includes voice, computer sound and an app switch.
- Use headphones and a stable microphone position.
- Set notifications to Do Not Disturb and remove confidential tabs from the selected display.
- Explain to other participants that their screen or voice may be recorded, and follow your organization’s consent rules.
- Keep the browser and extension updated, but verify a short test after updates because permission labels and audio support can change.
- For long recordings, keep the device plugged in and prevent sleep. Save a local copy when the product offers download as well as cloud sharing.
Or skip the browser setup
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Frequently asked questions
Can an extension record a whole desktop without installing a desktop app?
Yes, when the extension exposes Full Screen or Desktop and Chrome’s picker lets you share a display. Audio support may still require a desktop app or a different operating-system workflow.
Will the viewer see every monitor?
No. You select one display, window or tab in the share dialog. Choose the correct display explicitly; other monitors are not included by that selection.
Can I change the selected screen while recording?
Generally you should stop and start a new capture. Chrome’s permission applies to the surface chosen in the picker, and extensions commonly do not provide seamless monitor switching.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can an extension record a whole desktop without installing a desktop app?
Yes, when the extension exposes Full Screen or Desktop and Chrome’s picker lets you share a display. Audio support may still require a desktop app or a different operating-system workflow.
Will the viewer see every monitor?
No. You select one display, window or tab in the share dialog. Choose the correct display explicitly; other monitors are not included by that selection.
Can I change the selected screen while recording?
Generally you should stop and start a new capture. Chrome’s permission applies to the surface chosen in the picker, and extensions commonly do not provide seamless monitor switching.
Recommended Free Tools
The Bottom Line
Choose Full Screen/Desktop in the extension, select the intended display in Chrome’s picker, enable the appropriate audio sources, and test before sharing. For computer audio across multiple desktop applications, expect to need a desktop recorder rather than a Chrome extension alone.
Quick Recap
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