Whether you’re trying to show a teammate a bug, onboard a new hire, or walk a client through a product, sometimes words and screenshots just don’t cut it. Screen capture videos are quicker, clearer, and way less hassle than writing a novella in Slack. If you’re looking for a dead-simple way to record and share your screen, the Vidyard Chrome extension is one of the most popular options out there. This guide is for anyone who wants to make clean, shareable screen demos—without becoming a video editor.
Let’s walk through everything you need to know, from installing Vidyard to actually getting that video in front of someone else. Along the way, I’ll point out what works well, what can trip you up, and what you can safely ignore.
1. What is Vidyard, and Why Use the Chrome Extension?
Vidyard is a video platform built for business. The Chrome extension basically lets you record your browser tab or entire screen, plus your webcam if you want, then spits out a link you can share. You don’t have to fuss with big video files or YouTube uploads.
Why bother with Vidyard instead of Loom or just using Zoom’s recorder? - Fast sharing: Instant shareable links—no file downloading, uploading, or wrangling with permissions. - Simple setup: The Chrome extension is lightweight. You don’t need admin rights or to install a desktop app. - Good enough editing: Basic trimming and thumbnail options, nothing fancy. For demos, that’s usually all you need. - Viewer analytics: See who watched your video and for how long (if you care).
What it’s not great for: - Recording long videos (over 30-60 minutes). - Fancy editing, annotations, or multi-track audio. - Anything that needs high security or privacy—your videos are hosted online.
If you need simple, quick-and-dirty screen demos, Vidyard’s Chrome extension is hard to beat. Let’s get it set up.
2. Installing the Vidyard Chrome Extension
Step 1. Get the Extension
- Open Chrome and head to the Chrome Web Store.
- Search for “Vidyard.”
- Click “Add to Chrome,” then “Add extension.”
Pro tip: You don’t need to pay or even create an account just to test it out, but you will need to sign up to save and share videos.
Step 2. Pin the Extension
- After install, click the puzzle piece icon (Extensions menu) in Chrome’s top bar.
- Find Vidyard and click the pin icon so it’s always visible.
You’re ready to roll.
3. Recording Your First Screen Capture Demo
Step 1. Sign in or Create a Free Account
- Click the Vidyard icon in your browser.
- Pick “Sign up with Google” or use your email. No credit card needed.
- If you’re just testing, use a burner or work email—the free plan is fine for basic demos.
Step 2. Pick What to Record
When you click the Vidyard extension, you’ll see three options:
- Screen (Desktop): Record your entire display. Use this if you’re flipping between apps.
- Tab: Only records the current browser tab. Cleaner, less risk of accidentally sharing sensitive info.
- Camera Only: Just your webcam—skip this unless you want to be on camera.
You can also toggle your webcam on/off for a picture-in-picture effect. This is great if you want to add a personal touch, but not necessary for most demos.
What to ignore: Don’t stress about the “Audio Only” option unless you’re making a podcast.
Step 3. Set Permissions
The first time you use it, Chrome will ask for permission to record your screen and use your mic/camera. Say yes—or it won’t work.
Step 4. Hit Record
- Pick your audio source (usually default mic).
- Click “Start Recording.”
- If recording your screen or tab, Chrome will make you pick exactly what to share. Select, then hit “Share.”
- Do your thing. Keep it short and sweet—rambling loses viewers fast.
Pro tip: If you mess up, don’t panic. Finish your thought, then use Vidyard’s basic trim tool later to cut the mistake.
Step 5. Stop Recording
- Click the Vidyard Chrome extension again and hit “Stop.”
- Or, find the small Vidyard control bar (usually bottom left) and hit the stop square.
Vidyard will automatically upload the video and open a new browser tab with your recording.
4. Editing and Polishing Your Video
Vidyard’s editing is basic by design—which is both good and bad.
What you can do: - Trim the ends: Cut dead air at the start or end. - Change thumbnail: Pick a frame or upload an image. - Add a title: Make it clear what the video is about.
What you can’t do (and should ignore): - No adding text, arrows, or highlights (use something else if you need this). - No merging multiple clips. - No background noise removal.
Pro tip: If you need more than basic trimming or want to blur sensitive info, you’ll need to download the video and edit elsewhere (like in Clipchamp or iMovie), then re-upload to Vidyard or another platform.
5. Sharing Your Screen Capture Demo
Now, the whole point of Vidyard: sharing your video quickly and painlessly.
Step 1. Copy the Link
- On the video page, click “Copy Link.”
- The link is public (unless you change the privacy settings).
Step 2. Paste Wherever
- Drop the link in Slack, Teams, an email, or wherever your audience lives.
- You can also embed the video in websites or wikis using the “Embed” option, but most people just share the link.
Step 3. (Optional) Check Views
- Vidyard tells you if/when someone watches your video, but only if they click your unique link.
- Don’t read too much into the analytics—the free plan gives you basic stats, nothing more.
What About Privacy?
- By default, anyone with the link can watch your video. This is fine for most work stuff, but don’t use it for sensitive data.
- You can set videos to “Private” or “Anyone with the link can view,” but the controls are a little buried.
- If you need strict privacy, Vidyard isn’t your tool. Use a secure enterprise video platform.
6. Pro Tips, Pitfalls, and Real-World Advice
What Works Well
- Speed: It’s hard to beat the time from “I need to show this” to “Here’s a video.”
- No file management: No giant .mp4s clogging up your downloads folder.
- Easy for viewers: No logins or downloads needed to watch.
What Doesn’t (and Workarounds)
- Limited editing: Trim, yes. Anything else, no. If you need to annotate, try Loom, or record your screen with a desktop tool and upload.
- Browser-only: You can only record in Chrome. If you need to capture non-browser apps, select “Desktop” option, but it’s still tied to Chrome.
- Audio quality: External mics help, but Chrome can sometimes mess with levels. Do a quick test recording first.
Things to Ignore
- The “Analytics” tab if you’re just sharing internally. It’s overkill unless you’re sending sales videos.
- The “Upgrade” pitch—unless you hit the free plan’s limits, there’s no rush.
Small Annoyances
- If you have multiple monitors, Chrome’s screen picker can get confusing.
- Sometimes the extension crashes or logs you out—just refresh and log back in.
- Embeds occasionally break in old versions of Outlook or Teams. Stick to sharing the link.
7. Keeping It Simple (and Sane)
Screen capture demos are about speed, not perfection. The Vidyard Chrome extension nails the basics: quick setup, easy recording, instant sharing. Don’t overthink it—record, trim, share. If you need Hollywood-level editing, look elsewhere. Otherwise, get your point across and move on. Every time you make a video, you’ll get a little faster—and honestly, most people are just happy not to read a 10-paragraph email.
Keep it simple. Hit record, share, and spend your energy where it counts.