Screen recording
Also called screencast, screen capture video
What is a screen recording?
A screen recording is a video of what appears on a computer, tablet or phone screen, captured as it happens. It can include the mouse pointer, clicks, typing and a narration or webcam overlay. Screen recordings are the backbone of software tutorials, product demos, bug reports and walkthroughs.
Most operating systems now include a basic recorder: macOS, Windows, iOS and Android all ship one. Dedicated tools add features such as zooming in on clicks, hiding notifications, trimming, a picture-in-picture webcam and exporting at a set aspect ratio.
A screencast usually means a screen recording made for teaching, with narration. For marketing, raw recordings are often edited: cut down to the key steps, zoomed in so text is readable on a phone, and paired with captions. Screenshots shown step by step are an alternative when a live recording is not needed.
Why a screen recording matters
For software and online businesses, screen recordings show the product exactly as it is. A buyer can see how something works before they sign up, which answers questions and reduces support requests.
They also power the formats that sell software: product demo videos, tutorial videos and onboarding clips. A short, clear recording of one task often does more than a long feature list.
How to make a good screen recording
- Clean up first: close other tabs, hide notifications and use a demo account with tidy sample data.
- Write the steps you will show, and practise the clicks once.
- Record at a high resolution and zoom the browser so text stays readable on small screens.
- Move the mouse slowly and pause briefly after each click.
- Trim dead time, zoom in on key areas and add captions or narration explaining each step.
Screen recording FAQ
How do I record my screen with sound?
Most built-in recorders can capture your microphone; some can also capture system audio. Check the recorder's audio settings before you start, and do a short test clip.
Can screen recordings work on vertical platforms?
Yes, but a full desktop screen is too small in 9:16. Crop or zoom to the part of the screen that matters, or record a phone app directly, and add large captions.
Related terms
A product demo video shows a product being used to explain its main features and how it solves a problem, so buyers can see it before they buy.
A tutorial video teaches viewers how to do a specific task step by step, such as setting up a product, using a feature or making something.
An explainer video is a short video that explains what a product, service or idea is, the problem it solves and how it works.
A voiceover is narration recorded separately from the picture and laid over a video to explain, tell a story or guide the viewer.
Aspect ratio is the shape of an image or video, written as width to height, such as 16:9 for widescreen or 9:16 for vertical video.