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

# Record a desktop window or screen

> Capture a browser window, desktop application, or screen when a tab recording does not show the whole problem.

Use desktop recording when the reproduction crosses windows or includes a native application. Close unrelated windows and notifications first. Desktop video can reveal everything visible in the selected source, so use test data and check the final recording.

## From the extension

1. Open the connected extension and choose **Record screen/window**.
2. In the browser picker, choose the intended window or screen and approve sharing.
3. Select microphone or shared audio only when needed.
4. Use **Pause**, **Resume**, and **Stop** from the recording controls. A three-second countdown starts the capture.
5. Review the video in the composer, trim its start or end, add a title and description, and choose **Create report**.

The extension recording limit is 15 minutes. The compositor caps dimensions at 1920 × 1080 and does not upscale a smaller source. Fixed-region and protected-source features depend on the browser and surface; do not assume every native window supports them.

## From the CLI

The CLI has a separate desktop command and enumerates available sources on the machine. Run `tekma record desktop --help` to see the current platform options and source flags, then keep the output local until you have selected the correct window. Desktop recording needs a signed-in upload or recording-link token; local mode is available where the command reports it.

## Troubleshoot

If the picker is empty, grant the operating system's screen-recording permission to the browser or terminal and restart it. If the result contains the wrong window, stop and repeat with a single selected source. For a narrow browser-only reproduction, [tab recording](/recording/capture) usually produces more focused evidence.