Quick Start
This guide will help you record your first video with Cap in just a few minutes.Choose Your Platform
Cap offers two ways to get started:
- Cap Desktop - Native app for macOS and Windows (recommended for recording)
- Cap Web - Browser-based platform for uploading, sharing, and viewing videos
Install Cap Desktop
Download and install the Cap Desktop app for your operating system:System Requirements:
Download Cap Desktop
Download for macOS or Windows
- macOS 11+ or Windows 10+
- 4GB RAM minimum (8GB recommended)
- 500MB free disk space
Set Up Permissions
On first launch, Cap will request permissions:macOS:
- Screen Recording permission
- Microphone access (if recording audio)
- Camera access (if using webcam)
- Windows will prompt for necessary permissions
- Grant access when prompted
On macOS, if running from terminal during development, grant permissions to the terminal app instead of Cap.
Configure Recording
Choose your recording options:
- Recording Mode:
- Full screen
- Specific window
- Custom area
- Camera only
- Audio Settings:
- System audio
- Microphone
- Both
- None
- Camera Settings:
- Enable/disable webcam
- Choose camera device
- Select preview shape and size
Start Recording
Click the Record button to start:
- A countdown will begin (3 seconds by default)
- Recording starts automatically
- Use the controls to:
- Pause/resume recording
- Stop recording
- Cancel recording
Edit Your Video (Optional)
After recording in Studio Mode:
- Trim the beginning and end
- Add visual effects (blur, backgrounds)
- Add text overlays
- Configure export settings
Share Your Recording
Choose how to share:Upload to Cap Web:
- Automatic upload after recording (default)
- Get a shareable link instantly
- Track views and engagement
- Save as MP4 file
- Use for other platforms
- No upload required
Sharing Guide
Learn about sharing options
Analytics
Track video performance
Recording Locations
Your recordings are stored locally before upload:- macOS:
~/Library/Application Support/so.cap.desktop.dev/recordings - Windows:
%programfiles%/so.cap.desktop.dev/recordings
Common Issues
Permissions not working on macOS
Permissions not working on macOS
If recording doesn’t work after granting permissions:
- Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security
- Find Screen Recording
- Ensure Cap is checked
- Restart Cap Desktop
No audio in recordings
No audio in recordings
Make sure to:
- Enable system audio in recording settings
- Check audio device selection
- Test audio levels before recording
- Ensure apps you’re recording have audio output
Video upload failing
Video upload failing
If uploads fail:
- Check your internet connection
- Verify Cap server URL in Settings
- Check server logs if self-hosting
- Try exporting locally as backup
Recording is laggy
Recording is laggy
To improve performance:
- Close unnecessary applications
- Reduce recording resolution if available
- Ensure sufficient disk space
- Check system resource usage
Next Steps
Desktop Features
Explore all recording features
Web Platform
Learn about Cap Web features
Self-Hosting
Host Cap on your infrastructure
Troubleshooting
Get help with common issues
Getting Help
Need assistance?- Check our FAQ
- Visit Troubleshooting Guide
- Join our Discord Community
- Report bugs on GitHub