> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.sendspark.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Record Screen and Computer Audio

> Learn how to record your screen with computer audio using Sendspark's Chrome extension, web app, or desktop application on Mac and Windows.

To record your screen with computer (system) audio in Sendspark's Chrome Extension or web app, start the app, select **Screen Only** or **Cam + Screen**, hit RECORD, then turn the audio toggle on in Chrome's share window. Which toggle you see depends on the pane you pick rather than on your operating system: **Chrome Tab** offers "Also share tab audio", and **Entire Screen** offers "Also share system audio". Both work on Mac and on Windows. The Desktop App captures system audio with no toggle at all.

## Key takeaways

* The audio toggle is named after the **pane you choose**, not your operating system. Chrome Tab gives you "Also share tab audio"; Entire Screen gives you "Also share system audio".
* Both panes capture computer audio on **Mac and Windows**.
* Choose **Entire Screen** if the recording needs to follow you between tabs and applications. A Chrome Tab recording stays on the single tab you picked.
* The **Desktop App** captures system audio without a per-recording toggle. On Mac, grant it screen recording permission first.

Recording your screen along with the audio of your system can be crucial when sharing certain content. Whether you're talking over a video, playing an audio file, or interacting with a website, you can record all of it by turning a single toggle on.

If you'd rather not think about the toggle at all, use our [Desktop App](https://www.sendspark.com/download-desktop-application), which records system audio by default. For everything else it can do, see [how to use the Sendspark desktop application](/how-to-use-the-sendspark-desktop-application).

## Chrome Extension and web app

If you don't have the extension yet, [install the Chrome Extension here](/install-sendspark-recorder).

1. Click the Sendspark icon to start the app.
2. Select **Screen Only** or **Cam + Screen**, then hit **RECORD**.
3. In Chrome's share window, pick a pane and turn its audio toggle on.

The share window is Chrome's own, titled "Choose what to share with Sendspark Video and Screen Recorder". It has three panes: Chrome Tab, Window, and Entire Screen. The audio toggle sits along the bottom.

### Chrome Tab

Pick a tab from the list, then turn **Also share tab audio** on. This captures the audio playing in that one tab.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/sendspark/s5dU4v067XiRwp4W/images/8513753/8a3002c2-image.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=s5dU4v067XiRwp4W&q=85&s=5fa02ceb7cc2b7f8110a624247fc88eb" alt="Chrome's share window on the Chrome Tab pane, with the Also share tab audio toggle turned on at the bottom" width="1348" height="1057" data-path="images/8513753/8a3002c2-image.png" />

The recording stays with the tab you selected, so it won't follow you if you switch tabs. If you need to move between tabs or applications mid-recording, use Entire Screen instead. See [recording missing when switching Chrome tabs](/recording-missing-when-switching-chrome-tabs) if you've already hit this.

### Entire Screen

Pick a screen, then turn **Also share system audio** on. This captures everything your computer plays, not just one tab.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/sendspark/s5dU4v067XiRwp4W/images/8513753/cb33672e-WhatsApp_Image_2023-10-25_at_16.52.41.jpeg?fit=max&auto=format&n=s5dU4v067XiRwp4W&q=85&s=a063fafe6ced67b0affd23cc0dff220d" alt="Chrome's share window on the Entire Screen pane, showing Screen 1 and Screen 2 with the Also share system audio toggle turned on" width="600" height="545" data-path="images/8513753/cb33672e-WhatsApp_Image_2023-10-25_at_16.52.41.jpeg" />

<Note>
  The **Window** pane has no audio toggle. If you need computer audio, record a Chrome Tab or your Entire Screen.
</Note>

To go the other way and record silently, [record a video without sound](/how-to-record-a-video-without-sound) covers turning each audio source off.

## Desktop App

The Desktop App captures system audio on its own, so there's no toggle to remember before each recording. [Download it for Mac or Windows](https://www.sendspark.com/download-desktop-application).

On Mac, grant the app screen recording permission before your first recording. If macOS blocks the app from opening at all, that's a separate setting: see [Mac app blocked by Apple security check](/mac-app-blocked-by-apple-security-check).

## Frequently asked questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How do I record system audio on Mac?">
    Start the app, select **Screen Only** or **Cam + Screen** and hit RECORD, then in Chrome's share window pick either pane and turn its audio toggle on. Chrome Tab shows "Also share tab audio" and Entire Screen shows "Also share system audio". Both work on Mac.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is recording system audio different on Windows?">
    No. The panes and toggles are the same on Windows as on Mac. Chrome Tab shows "Also share tab audio" and Entire Screen shows "Also share system audio".
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I record system audio with the Entire Screen option?">
    Yes, on both Mac and Windows. Select the Entire Screen pane and turn "Also share system audio" on. Entire Screen is also the option to use when the recording needs to follow you across tabs and applications.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why is there no audio toggle on the Window pane?">
    Chrome only offers an audio toggle on the Chrome Tab and Entire Screen panes. To capture computer audio, pick one of those two, or use the Desktop App.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is there an easier way that doesn't need a toggle?">
    Yes. The Desktop App captures system audio without a per-recording toggle. On Mac, grant it screen recording permission first.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Related articles

* [How to record system audio in Sendspark](/how-to-record-system-audio-in-sendspark)
* [How to record a video without sound](/how-to-record-a-video-without-sound)
* [Chrome Extension: Recording Options & Types](/chrome-extension-recording-options-types)
* [How to use the Sendspark desktop application](/how-to-use-the-sendspark-desktop-application)

*Updated August 2026.*