Tab audio recorder
This tab audio recorder captures the sound coming out of another browser tab. The browser's own sharing picker handles the selection, so no extension is required and you can see exactly what is being shared.
Ready. Press Record and allow microphone access when your browser asks.
Before you record
Recording audio you did not create raises questions the software cannot answer for you. Most music, video and streamed content is copyrighted, and recording it is often prohibited by the platform's terms regardless of what you intend to do with the file. Recording other people speaking — on a call, in a meeting — is regulated by law in many places, and in some jurisdictions every participant must consent. Please make sure you have the right to record whatever you are capturing.
The legitimate uses are real and common: capturing your own recorded presentation, saving audio you own or licensed, archiving a call you are hosting with everyone's agreement, or capturing your own voice through a browser-based application.
How tab capture works
- Start playback in the tab you want to record, then come back here.
- Press Record. Your browser shows its own sharing picker.
- Choose the Chrome Tab option, pick the tab, and — this is the step people miss — tick Share tab audio before confirming.
- The recording begins. A sharing indicator appears in the browser so it is always visible that capture is active.
- Press Stop, then Download.
If you forget to tick the audio checkbox you will get a silent file. There is no way for the page to enable it on your behalf, which is deliberate on the browser's part.
Browser support
| Browser | Tab audio | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome (desktop) | Yes | Full support, the most reliable option |
| Edge (desktop) | Yes | Same engine, same behaviour |
| Firefox (desktop) | Partial | Screen sharing works; tab audio capture is not offered |
| Safari (desktop) | No | Does not expose audio through screen capture |
| Any mobile browser | No | Screen capture with audio is not available on mobile |
This is a desktop Chrome and Edge feature in practice. Full details are on the browser support page.
- Voice recorderFor recording your own microphone instead.
- Recording meetingsConsent, participants and practicalities.
- Recording in ChromeChrome-specific permissions and behaviour.
- Audio trimmerTrim the setup off the front of the capture.
Questions
Why is my recording silent?
Almost always the Share tab audio checkbox in the sharing picker. It is unticked by default and has to be enabled before you confirm. Start over and check it this time.
Can I record my whole system's audio rather than one tab?
Not reliably from a browser. Chrome on Windows can sometimes capture system audio when sharing an entire screen, but it is inconsistent and unavailable on macOS. Desktop software is the right tool for whole-system capture.
Does this work on a phone?
No. Screen capture with audio is not available in mobile browsers on either iOS or Android.
Is it legal to record a call this way?
It depends entirely on where you and the other participants are. Some jurisdictions require only one party to consent, others require everyone. This is a legal question rather than a technical one — check the rules that apply to you, and telling people they are being recorded is good practice regardless.
Can I record Spotify, YouTube or Netflix?
Streaming services generally prohibit recording in their terms of service, and much of that content is protected in ways that produce silent or blank captures. We would not recommend trying, and this page is not built for it.
Can I record the tab and my microphone at the same time?
Not on this page — it captures one source at a time. Mixing a tab feed with a microphone feed is a job for desktop software such as OBS or Audacity.