How to Use Loom (Record Your Screen and Share a Link)

Loom is the quickest way to explain something you'd otherwise have to type in a long email: show your screen, talk through it and send a link. It's popular for walkthroughs, feedback on designs and training. The tool is simple. The skill is in the preparation, which decides whether people watch to the end. Here's how to record, the extension limits that catch people out, and how to make short, useful videos.

Record with the Loom Chrome extension

1. Select the Loom extension in Chrome.
2. Choose what to capture: Full Screen, Window or Current Tab. Choose Camera only if you don't want to show a screen at all.
3. Toggle your camera on or off if you want your face in the corner.
4. Select a microphone, or turn it off.
5. Watch the audio indicator. It shows sound is being picked up before you start, which saves you recording a silent video.
6. Select Start Recording.

Loom remembers your last settings, so next time you open it the choices are already set. If you need to adjust for low light or remove the recording controls from the recording, open the three-dot menu in Settings.

What the camera bubble does

In Camera only mode you'll see a small camera bubble while you record. Don't worry about it: the final video captures only your camera stream. When you record both screen and camera, the bubble appears over your screen recording so viewers can see you as you talk. People respond to a human face, and a short intro with your camera on makes a video feel personal.

The Chrome extension's limits

Limit	What to do
Some features only exist in the desktop app	Install the Loom desktop app as well
No camera bubble on PDFs inside Chrome	Use the desktop app, or record without the bubble
No camera bubble when recording another application	Use the desktop app for non-browser recordings

Loom's own suggestion is to have both the Chrome extension and the desktop app installed. Use the extension for quick browser recordings and the desktop app when you need to capture something outside the browser.

The pinned tab isn't a problem

When you start recording you might see a pinned tab appear and wonder whether something's wrong. It's not. Loom says the pinned tab is required by Google's Manifest Version 3 architecture, and it disappears when you finish recording. You can ignore it.

Record, pause, restart

Loom's help topics for your first recording cover the controls you'll want next: restarting a recording, pausing and resuming (including with keyboard shortcuts), recording a custom-size area of your screen, taking and editing a screenshot, uploading or importing existing videos and downloading your finished video. Learn the pause shortcut first. It lets you gather your thoughts mid-recording without leaving a long silence.

How to make a Loom people watch

1. Decide the point first. Write one sentence saying what the viewer should know or do afterwards.
2. Close the clutter. Hide private tabs, notifications and unrelated windows before you record.
3. Start with the answer. 'Here's the change I made and why' beats a long preamble.
4. Keep it short. Aim to cover one topic. If it's turning into several, record several.
5. End with what you need. A clear next step makes the video worth sending.

Before you share

• Play it back and check the sound.
• Look for anything private that appeared on screen.
• Consider who can open the link and set the privacy to match.
• Add a sentence of context in the message you send with it.

When Loom isn't the best tool

For long tutorials or videos you want to edit heavily, a dedicated screen recorder or video editor gives you more control. My guides to choosing screen recording software for tutorials and picking video editing software compare the options.

A worked example: giving feedback on a design

Say a colleague sends you a draft web page. Open the page in one tab, start a Loom in Current Tab mode with your camera on, and say 'Hi, here are three things I'd change.' Work down the page, pointing with your cursor. Stop, check the sound and send the link. The whole thing might take a few minutes, and your colleague hears your tone, which a block of written comments can't convey. If you spot a mistake, restart the recording instead of struggling on. It's quicker than editing.

Record in a way that sounds good

• Use headphones with a microphone, or sit close to your computer's mic, and check the audio indicator before you start.
• Record in a quiet room and close the window if there's noise outside.
• Speak a little slower than you think you need to. Screen videos are often watched at speed anyway.
• Pause the recording when you need to find a file or think, instead of leaving a gap.
• Look at the camera when you introduce yourself and when you give the final request.

Good audio matters more than good video. People will forgive a plain screen, but not a muffled voice.

My verdict

Use the extension for quick recordings, keep the desktop app for anything outside the browser and check your audio indicator every time. Plan one point per video and keep it short.

Frequently asked questions

How do I record with Loom?

Select the Loom extension, choose Full Screen, Window, Current Tab or Camera only, pick a microphone and select Start Recording.

Can I record only my camera?

Yes. Choose Camera only. A small bubble appears while you record, but the final video captures only your camera stream.

Why can't I record my camera bubble on a PDF?

The Chrome extension can't record the camera bubble on PDF documents in Chrome or when you record an application other than Chrome. Use the desktop app.

What is the pinned tab that appears when I record?

Loom says it's required by Google's Manifest Version 3 architecture and goes away when you finish recording.

Does Loom remember my settings?

Yes. Recording settings default to those you set previously.