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How to Use Screencast on Chromebook: Complete Guide

by Ravi Teja KNTS
How to Use Screencast app on ChromeOS

The Screencast app is now available by default without enabling any flags on the latest ChromeOS 103 update. It is a screen recorder app but comes with a few additional features such as the ability to record yourself while recording the screen, transcription options, a marker feature to annotate while recording, sharing, and more. It’s a great tool for creating presentations, video lessons, etc. So let’s dive into how to access and use the screencast app on Chromebook, and share your screencasts from ChromeOS.

How to Access Screencast App on Chromebook

1. First, update the ChromeOS to its latest version or version 103 or above. To update, click on the clock at the bottom right corner and select the cog icon to open ChromeOS Settings.

Opening ChromeOS Settings

2. In the Settings app, click on the About ChromeOS option in the left sidebar. Here you should be able to check your ChromeOS version. If the version is 103 or above, you can use the Screencast app.

3. If not, click on Check for updates button beside it and then click on Update if any updates are available.

Updating ChromeOS

4. Now press the Search button on the keyboard or the Launcher icon at the bottom left corner of the screen to open the ChromeOS app drawer.

Opening Launcher on ChromeOS

5. In the app drawer, scroll down and open the Screencast app. Or, you can also search for a Screencast to find and open it.

Searching for Screencast app on Chromebook

How to Use Screencast App on Chromebook

1. Open the Screencast app from the app drawer. Click on the New screencast button at the top to start the recording Chromebook screen.

Creating your new screencast on chromebook

2. You will enter into ChromeOS’s screen recording mode. By default, it is set to record the entire screen. But you can set it to record only a portion of the selected screen or you can also select any window to record.

Selecting the mode for screencast in chromebook

4. By clicking on the cog icon, you can set the audio input device and webcam. You can record audio from the mic, but the audio from the Chromebook itself cannot be recorded as of now.

adjusting screencast settings on chromebook

5. By default, the screencast will also include the camera recording in a small circle, but you can also choose to turn it off here.

6. You can move the webcam view to either of the four corners before recording.

camera feed on screencast in chromebook

7. Once you have customized it to your need, click on the Record button to start recording.

8. After a three-second countdown, Screencast will begin recording Chromebook’s screen. If you want to record a longer video, you don’t have to worry about your Chromebook’s storage. The video will be uploaded to Google Drive as you record, you just need to make sure you are connected to the internet.

9. You can stop the recording by clicking on the stop icon (red circle) in the bottom dock.

stop recording button on screencast on chromebook

The Screencast video will be uploaded to Google Drive, so you cannot access the video in your local storage. But, you cannot access the video from Google Drive either. Instead, it will be only available on the Screencast app. But the videos will take up space in your Drive storage and you can access them on your other Chromebooks too.

Draw on Screen While Recording on Chromebook

1. Screencast also has a marker option that you can use for annotations while recording the screen. To annotate while recording with Screencast on your Chromebook, click on the pen icon in the dock beside the stop recording icon.

using marker tool in screencast on ChromeOS

2. Now you can start drawing on the screen. To erase, click on the pen icon again.

drawing with the help of marker tool using screencast

3. To change the color, right-click on the pen icon and select a color to change it.

changing color of marker in screencast

All these annotations will be recorded in the Screencast video you are recording. As of now, you can only use the marker feature while recording only.

How to Check and Edit Transcripts in Screencast Recordings

1. Open the video to see transcriptions automatically on the right side. By clicking on the transcript, the video will start playing from the chosen time and transcription.

transcription on screencast video on ChromeOS

2. In case any transcription isn’t accurate, click on the kebab menu (three-dot menu) beside it and select Edit text.

editing transcription on screencast on chromebook

3. Then you can edit the transcription and click on the Save button to change it.

editing transcription on screencast on ChromeOS

4. In the Kebab menu (three-dot menu), you will find the Skip section option. It will skip that part of the video while playing.

skipping section using transcription option

How to Share Your Screencasts on Chromebook

Sharing a screencast is as easy as sharing files on your Google Drive.

1. On the home page of the Screencasts app, click on the kebab menu (three-dot menu) and select the Share option.

sharing screencast on Chromebook

2. Alternatively, you can click on the Share button at the top while playing the video in the app.

sharing screencast on Chromebook

3. In the pop-up, give a name for your Screencast video and click on Continue.

Giving a name to the screencast

4. By default, it is set to keep it private, so change it to Share with others.

sharing screencast with others on chromebook

5. Now click on the Copy link option and share it with other Chromebook users.

copying link of shared screencast

As these videos can be viewed only on the Screencast app and available on ChromeOS devices, people with Windows, Mac, or Linux cannot view these screen recordings. Also, people with the previous versions of ChromeOS cannot access it either.

Using Screencast on ChromeOS

Chromebook is mostly popular in schools and offices. Features like these can make it so much easier to record a lecture, presentation, or any video. It records the screen and also the camera at the same time. As it uploads to your Google Drive, even the file size isn’t an issue. But you need to make sure there is enough space on your Google Drive.

Later you can share with other ChromeOS users by just sharing a link. Screencast is a unique feature on ChromeOS that isn’t available on Windows and Mac.

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