Installing the AI Screen Recorder extension
To get started, you’ll need to install the extension for your browser.
For Google Chrome:
For Google Chrome:
Open any Synthesia video.
Click Record, then select Install extension.
You’ll be redirected to the Chrome Web Store.
Click Add to Chrome and grant the requested permissions.
For Microsoft Edge:
For Microsoft Edge:
Open any Synthesia video.
Click Record, then select Install extension.
You’ll be redirected to the Edge Add-ons page.
Click Get and grant the requested permissions.
✍️ Why these permissions?
The extension asks to "read and change data on all websites" to:
Keep your recording controls visible while you switch tabs.
Show a list of tabs to record when you launch the recorder in Synthesia.
Starting a screen recording
Once the extension is installed, you can begin recording your screen from within Synthesia or directly via the extension.
From Synthesia:
From Synthesia:
Open or create a video.
Click Record at the top of the canvas.
Choose what to capture: Full Screen, Window, or Browser Tab.
Select your microphone if needed—or choose No Microphone if you're using a script-based voiceover.
Click Start recording, select the screen/tab, and then click Share.
A 3-second countdown appears, and the recording begins.
To stop, click the Stop icon.
From the browser extension:
From the browser extension:
Click the Synthesia icon in your browser toolbar.
Choose Record and follow the same screen/mic selection steps.
💡 Pro tip: Recordings launched outside of Synthesia automatically open the app and create a new video.
After you stop recording, Synthesia will:
Automatically create a new scene with your recording.
Allow trimming and editing of the video.
Transcribe your voiceover, remove filler words, and split it into logical scenes.
🚨 For screen recordings that include voiceover or are initiated from the extension, Synthesia applies a default video template. Your selected brand kit or video template will not be applied.
Blurring Sensitive Information in your recording
Before recording:
Before recording:
Open the browser tab you want to record.
Click the Synthesia extension.
Click Blur on the right-hand side.
Hover over the areas you want to hide.
When you're done, click Done, then Start recording.
During a recording:
During a recording:
Click Blur in the recorder toolbar.
This pauses your recording.
Hover and blur additional areas as needed.
Click Play to resume.
💡 The Blur feature only works when recording a browser tab, not full screen or window mode.
Screen Recorder keyboard shortcuts
Available shortcut actions
Activate the extension
Start or stop recording
Show/hide recording controls
Pause/resume recording
How to view or edit shortcuts
Click the puzzle icon (Extensions) in your browser.
Select Manage Extensions.
Click Keyboard shortcuts at the bottom.
Find Synthesia – AI Screen Recorder and adjust shortcuts as needed.
✍️ All shortcuts can be re-bound — perfect if a default command clashes with another browser extension.
Best practices for screen recording
Best practices for screen recording
Minimize or move the toolbar
Click the arrow on the left side of the toolbar to shrink it — or drag it anywhere on your screen to keep it out of the way.Avoid black bars in your final video
Maximize your browser window and hide the toolbar before recording to prevent unwanted black space.Keep recordings under 30 minutes
Shorter recordings ensure smoother performance and faster processing.Fine-tune timing after recording
For better control over pacing, check out our video asset timing article.
What's next?
📚 To see the AI Screen Recorder in action, check out our Tips & Tricks: Standard Size for Screen Recordings and Feature Fridays: AI Screen Recorder.