What you need
A Chromebook and about a minute. ChromeOS already has a built-in recorder, and it is genuinely good at capturing pixels. The difference comes down to what you want at the end: a file saved on your device, or a link you can send someone.
The quick way, step by step
- Add Opivv to your Chromebook. Install the Opivv extension from the Chrome Web Store. It runs natively on ChromeOS, with no desktop installer and no admin rights.
- Open what you want to record. Bring up the page, app, or document you are going to show, so the recording starts on the right thing.
- Start Opivv and pick a source. Click the Opivv icon (or press Alt+Shift+R) and choose This tab, a Window, or your Entire screen.
- Turn on your mic and camera. Switch on your microphone to narrate, tab audio to capture what the page plays, and the camera bubble if you want your face in the corner.
- Record, then stop for a link. Hit Start recording. When you stop, the clip uploads and a shareable link is copied to your clipboard, ready to paste into Classroom, chat, or an email.
Method 1: the built-in ChromeOS recorder
Press Shift + Ctrl + Show windows (the key above 6 that looks like a rectangle with lines; on an external keyboard use Ctrl + Shift + F5). The Screen capture toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen.
Switch it from screenshot mode to Screen record (the video-camera icon), then choose whether to capture the full screen, a partial region you drag, or a single window. Click to start, and stop from the red button in the shelf. Your recording saves as a .webm file in your Downloads folder.
Audio options depend on your device, your ChromeOS version, and (on a school-managed Chromebook) your administrator’s policy, so microphone and system-audio toggles are not always available.
Method 2: record and get a shareable link
The built-in tool stops at the file. If the recording is meant for someone else, you still have to upload the .webm to Drive, wait for it, set the sharing permissions, and paste a link. That is the slow part, and it is where a browser extension helps.
Opivv records the same sources but uploads as you stop and copies a watch-in-browser link straight to your clipboard. Whoever you send it to just clicks and plays, with no account, no download, and no permission prompts. Follow the five steps above.
Why you can’t just install OBS or Loom’s desktop app
ChromeOS does not run Windows or macOS desktop software, so most “best screen recorder” guides recommend tools your Chromebook simply cannot install: OBS, Camtasia, and Loom’s desktop app are all off the table. Your real options are the built-in Screen capture tool or a Chrome extension, which is why extensions are the standard answer on ChromeOS.
Recording audio the right way
There are two separate, optional sound sources. Your microphone records your voice for narration. Tab or system audio records what your Chromebook is playing. For a narrated walkthrough of a quiet page, mic on and tab audio off is the cleanest mix. ChromeOS will ask for microphone permission the first time, which you only grant once.
Common questions
What is the screen record shortcut on a Chromebook?
Shift + Ctrl + Show windows opens the ChromeOS Screen capture toolbar, where you switch to Screen record. On an external keyboard without a Show windows key, use Ctrl + Shift + F5. With Opivv installed you can instead press Alt+Shift+R to start and stop.
Where do Chromebook screen recordings save?
The built-in recorder saves your recording as a .webm file in the Downloads folder unless you pick another location. Opivv instead uploads the clip and copies a shareable link, so there is no file to move around.
Can I record my screen and my face on a Chromebook?
Yes, with an extension. Turn on the Opivv camera bubble and your microphone before you start, and your webcam appears in a movable corner bubble over whatever you are recording.
Is there a time limit?
The built-in ChromeOS recorder does not impose a short cap, but large recordings mean large local files. Opivv’s free plan records up to 5 minutes per clip with unlimited share links; Pro ($5/month) raises that to 2 hours and adds transcripts and private links.
Related: Screen recorder for Chromebook · Record your screen with audio · How to share a screen recording