"Internal audio" means the sound your computer is actually playing — a YouTube video, a game, a Spotify track, the other side of a video call — as opposed to your microphone picking it up through the air. Capturing it cleanly is what separates a professional-looking recording from a tinny one with background noise.
The good news: in a modern browser you can record internal audio with a single checkbox. Here is exactly how, and how to fix it when the sound goes missing.
Why the browser is the easiest place to do this
On Windows, capturing system audio traditionally meant installing apps and fiddling with "Stereo Mix" drivers. Chromium browsers (Chrome and Edge) removed that friction: they can hand a screen recorder the raw audio stream from your screen or a specific tab. No drivers, no watermark, and the recording is processed locally.
Step-by-step: record internal audio
- Open Screen Recorder Pro in Chrome or Edge.
- Turn on System Audio. If you also want to narrate, turn on Microphone too.
- Click Start Recording. The browser shows a share dialog.
- Choose what to share:
- Entire Screen — then enable Share system audio (bottom-left of the dialog).
- Chrome Tab — then enable Share tab audio. This is the cleanest option for a single video or web app.
- Record your session, then click Stop and download as MP4 or WebM.
Fixing "no sound" — the three usual culprits
1. The audio toggle was off
It sounds obvious, but the most common cause is starting the recording with System Audio (or the in-dialog "Share audio" checkbox) left unticked. The checkbox in the browser's share dialog is easy to miss because it sits in the corner.
2. You shared the wrong source
If you pick Window instead of Tab or Entire Screen, some browsers will not offer audio sharing at all. When sound matters, share the whole screen or the specific tab.
3. Microphone permission is blocked
If your voice is missing, the site likely does not have microphone permission. Click the padlock icon in the address bar and set the microphone to Allow, then reload and try again.
Windows vs Mac
On Windows, everything above works out of the box. On macOS, the browser can still capture tab audio, but full system-audio capture may require a virtual audio device — we cover that in detail in our Mac screen recording guide. If you are on a PC, the Windows recording guide shows the native options too.
Quick reference
| You want to record… | Share this | Audio setting |
|---|---|---|
| One YouTube video / web app | Chrome Tab | Share tab audio |
| A desktop game or app | Entire Screen | Share system audio |
| A tutorial with narration | Entire Screen | System audio + Microphone |
Once your audio toggles are set correctly, recording internal sound is genuinely a one-click affair. Try it now and check the preview — if you can hear it in the player, it is in the file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which browsers can record internal system audio?
Chrome and Edge (Chromium-based browsers) can capture system or tab audio. Firefox supports microphone audio reliably but its system-audio support is limited. For internal sound, use Chrome or Edge.
Why is there no sound in my screen recording?
The three usual causes are: the System Audio toggle was off, you did not tick "Share tab audio" in the share dialog, or your microphone permission was blocked. Re-check all three before recording.
Can I record internal audio without installing software?
Yes. A browser-based recorder captures system audio with a single checkbox — no driver or app installation needed on Windows. On macOS, system audio may need a virtual audio device.
Does recording tab audio also record my microphone?
Only if you enable the microphone separately. Tab/system audio and microphone are independent sources, so turn on both if you want game or video sound plus your voice.
