RecBeamA free Chrome screen recorder with audio
RecBeam's Chrome extension lets you record your browser with audio and camera, capture screenshots, and share recordings directly from Chrome. Install it, sign in, and it's ready from your toolbar. To record desktop apps, RecBeam is also available as a Windows app.
Why use a Chrome extension
Running as an extension means RecBeam is always one click away in your toolbar, uses Chrome's own screen-capture and camera/microphone permission prompts, and installs from the Chrome Web Store with nothing extra to download. If you'd rather record outside the browser, RecBeam for Windows is a separate desktop app that uses the same account.
A Chrome extension to record your screen and audio
RecBeam records your screen with sound from inside Chrome. Choose a tab, a window or your entire screen, add your microphone, and tick Chrome's share-audio option to include the sound playing in a tab, or system audio on Windows when you share the entire screen. When you stop, the recording uploads and you get a private share link.
- Screen and microphone: narrate while you record, with a mic picker and a mute button on the recording controls.
- Tab audio: capture the sound of a video, a demo or a meeting tab by ticking Also share tab audio in Chrome's picker.
- Camera: add a camera bubble in Screen + Camera mode, or record Camera only.
- Free to start: the Starter plan records 5 minutes at 720p with a share link, and Business removes the length limit. See why teams upgrade.
New to it? Follow how to screen record in Chrome, with audio, learn which sounds Chrome can record, or compare options in the best screen recorder extension for Chrome. On a Chromebook, see how to screen record on a Chromebook.
Quick installation
See the full Download page for current installation steps. In short: install the extension, sign in with Google, and start recording.
What the extension does
Screen and camera recording
Record your screen, a tab, or your camera, right from the toolbar popup.
Automatic cloud upload
Every finished recording uploads to your account automatically.
Shareable links
Get a private, unlisted link the moment your upload is verified.
Cloud video management
Search, sort, rename, archive, download or delete from your library.
Screenshot capture
Capture your current tab or a chosen window/screen, then annotate it.
Narrow permissions
No broad host access, no content scripts, no access to all your sites.
Permissions, explained accurately
| Permission | What it's for |
|---|---|
identity | Google Sign-In, to establish your RecBeam account session. |
storage | Settings and temporary recovery state, kept inside your Chrome profile. |
clipboardWrite | Copying sharing links and images when you choose to. |
activeTab | Capturing the current tab only after you explicitly choose "Capture this tab" — never in the background. |
api.recbeam.com | RecBeam's own authenticated API: uploads, your library, and account access. The only host RecBeam can reach. |
RecBeam does not request access to all websites, does not use content scripts, and screen/camera/microphone capture always go through Chrome's own permission pickers.
Troubleshooting
- Sign-in isn't working: remove and re-add RecBeam's Google account permission from Chrome settings, then sign in again.
- Upload seems stuck: check your connection; a failed upload keeps your recording safely under "Uploads needing attention" for retry.
- Can't find the RecBeam icon: pin it from Chrome's puzzle-piece extensions menu.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Chrome extension that records my screen and audio?
Yes. RecBeam records a tab, a window or your entire screen with your microphone, and can include the sound of a tab through Chrome's share-audio option. Recordings upload to a private share link.
Is RecBeam a free Chrome screen recorder?
Yes, to start. The Starter plan is free and records up to 5 minutes at 720p with a share link. Business removes the recording length limit. See the pricing page.
Why does RecBeam need the Active Tab permission?
Only for the toolbar popup's "Capture this tab" action, which takes a screenshot of the tab you're currently viewing. Chrome grants this solely in response to that click, for that one tab, and it lapses on navigation.
Does RecBeam read the pages I visit?
No. RecBeam has no content scripts and does not read page content or inject scripts into websites.
Does RecBeam need access to all my sites?
No. RecBeam's only host permission is its own API at api.recbeam.com. It does not request
My recording isn't uploading — what do I check?
Confirm you're signed in and connected to the internet. If an upload fails, your recording stays safely on your device under "Uploads needing attention" so you can retry.
The extension icon doesn't appear in my toolbar.
Pin RecBeam from Chrome's puzzle-piece extensions menu, then it stays visible in the toolbar.