Install and Use Recordly on Windows and Mac

Download the right desktop app, build from source when needed, record your screen, edit the timeline and export MP4 or GIF.

What Recordly does

[Recordly](https://github.com/webadderallorg/Recordly) is an open-source desktop screen recorder and editor for product demos, walkthroughs, tutorials and presentations. It can capture a screen or app window with microphone and system audio, then add trims, zooms, cursor effects, webcam, annotations, backgrounds and extra audio before exporting MP4 or GIF.

Verified installation scope This replacement guide was checked against the official repository and release v1.4.0 on 9 September 2026. Recordly requires macOS 14 or newer, or Windows 10 build 19041 or newer. Releases can change, so confirm the current version and file name on GitHub before downloading.

The normal workflow

Install the desktop app
Choose a screen or window
Record video and audio
Edit the timeline
Save a project or export

Choose the right installation path

Path	Best for	Time and requirements
Official release	Most Windows and Mac users	Fastest path. Download the installer that matches your computer.
Build from source	Developers changing or contributing code	Requires Git, Node.js and native build tools.
Codex or Claude Code prompt	Users who want guided setup and testing	The assistant checks the current release and your operating system before acting.

Use releases for normal installation Cloning the repository is a developer workflow, not the simplest way to install Recordly. The old version of this article started with build commands and Linux packages. That advice has been removed from the main installation path.

Open the [latest official release](https://github.com/webadderallorg/Recordly/releases/latest) and use only an asset attached to the webadderallorg/Recordly release. The release also provides SHA256SUMS.txt so you can verify the downloaded file.

Install Recordly on Windows

Recordly supports Windows 10 build 19041 or newer. Open Settings, System, About and check the Windows version or OS build if capture does not work.

1. Download the Windows installer

Use the official x64 installer.

Open [Recordly Releases](https://github.com/webadderallorg/Recordly/releases/latest) and download **Recordly-windows-x64.exe** from the latest release. Do not download source-code ZIP files when you only want to use the app.

2. Install and launch

Run the downloaded installer and choose the destination when prompted.

Finish the installer, then open Recordly from the Start menu or desktop shortcut. If Windows reports that the file is untrusted, return to the official release page and verify its origin and checksum. Do not turn off Windows security for the installation.

3. Allow the inputs you choose

Windows may ask for microphone or camera access.

Allow microphone access only when you want narration and camera access only when you want the webcam overlay. Recordly uses native Windows Graphics Capture and WASAPI for supported screen and system-audio capture.

Install Recordly on macOS

Recordly supports macOS 14 Sonoma or newer. First identify the processor in Apple menu, About This Mac: Apple M-series computers use arm64; older Intel Macs use x64.

1. Download the correct DMG

Choose the build that matches the Mac.

Mac	Release asset
Apple silicon: M1, M2, M3, M4 or newer	Recordly-arm64.dmg
Intel processor	Recordly-x64.dmg

Download the file from the [latest official release](https://github.com/webadderallorg/Recordly/releases/latest).

2. Move Recordly to Applications

Open the DMG and drag Recordly into Applications.

Launch Recordly from Applications. If macOS asks whether to open an app downloaded from the internet, confirm only after checking that the file came from the official release.

3. Grant recording permissions

Enable only the inputs you plan to use.

Open System Settings, Privacy & Security. Enable Recordly under Screen Recording, or Screen & System Audio Recording on newer macOS versions. Enable Microphone and Camera when needed. Quit and reopen Recordly after changing permissions.

Quarantine fix is for a trusted local build The upstream README documents `xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Recordly.app` when a locally built, trusted app is reported as damaged. Use it only for an app you built yourself or an official release you verified. It removes a macOS quarantine attribute.

Build from source on Windows

Use this path when you want to inspect, change or contribute to Recordly. Install Git, a current Node.js LTS release, and Visual Studio 2022 Build Tools. In the Visual Studio installer select **Desktop development with C++** and include CMake tools.

git --version
node --version
npm --version
git clone https://github.com/webadderallorg/Recordly.git recordly
cd recordly
git rev-parse HEAD
npm install
npm run dev

Recordly should open in development mode. Test that first. To create the Windows installer, stop development mode and run the build command below.

npm run build:win

Native helpers are part of the build Recordly compiles platform capture helpers during installation and packaging. Missing C++ or CMake tools can therefore break npm install or the production build even when ordinary JavaScript packages installed correctly.

Build from source on macOS

Install Git and a current Node.js LTS release. Recordly also needs Apple's command-line build tools for its native macOS capture helper.

xcode-select --install
git --version
node --version
npm --version
git clone https://github.com/webadderallorg/Recordly.git recordly
cd recordly
git rev-parse HEAD
npm install
npm run dev

After the development app opens and permissions work, create distributable macOS files with:

npm run build:mac

The current packaging configuration produces both arm64 and x64 macOS artifacts. A local build can still need the quarantine command explained in the macOS installation section.

Install with one prompt in Codex or Claude Code

Open Codex or Claude Code in an empty folder and paste the complete prompt below. The assistant should use the release installer for normal use and switch to source setup only when you request development work.

Install and test Recordly from its official repository:
https://github.com/webadderallorg/Recordly

1. Detect whether I use Windows or macOS and whether the CPU is Intel/x64 or Apple silicon/arm64.
2. Read the current README, package.json, electron-builder.json5 and latest GitHub release before choosing commands.
3. For a normal installation, use the latest official release. On Windows choose Recordly-windows-x64.exe. On macOS choose Recordly-arm64.dmg for Apple silicon or Recordly-x64.dmg for Intel.
4. Do not disable operating-system security. If a file is blocked, verify the repository, release URL and published SHA256SUMS before continuing.
5. If I explicitly want a developer build, first check Git, the current Node.js LTS, and platform build tools. On Windows require Visual Studio 2022 Build Tools with Desktop development with C++ and CMake. On macOS run xcode-select --install when the command-line tools are missing.
6. Clone into a new folder, record git rev-parse HEAD, run npm install, then npm run dev. Use npm run build:win or npm run build:mac only after development mode opens successfully.
7. Explain and help me grant only the permissions Recordly needs: screen recording, microphone, system audio and camera when I choose those inputs.
8. Test with a short non-sensitive recording. Confirm capture, microphone or system audio as selected, editor playback, project save, and MP4 export.
9. Report the installed release or commit, commands used, test result, and any step I must complete manually. Do not claim success from an exit code alone.

How to record your first video

1. Choose what to capture

Select a display or a single application window.

Open Recordly and choose the screen or window that contains the demonstration. Close private notifications and unrelated windows before starting.

2. Choose audio and camera

Enable only the sources needed for this recording.

Select the microphone for narration, system audio for app sound, and webcam for a camera overlay. Make a five-second test and play it back before recording a long session.

3. Record and stop

Start the countdown, perform the walkthrough, then stop capture.

Recordly opens the captured video in its editor after recording stops. If video or audio is missing, fix permissions before repeating the full session.

Edit, save and export

Task	What to do
Remove mistakes	Trim the beginning or end and cut unwanted timeline sections.
Focus attention	Add zoom regions, cursor effects, annotations or speed changes.
Improve presentation	Set a background, frame, padding, rounded corners, aspect ratio or crop.
Add media	Position the webcam overlay or add extra audio where needed.
Keep editing later	Save a .recordly project before closing the app.
Share the result	Export MP4 for normal video delivery or GIF for a short looping preview.

Keep the source media with the project A .recordly project stores references to its source media. Keep the recording files in their original location until the final export is complete, or the project may not be able to reopen them.

For MP4, choose the output size, quality and frame rate that match the destination. For GIF, keep the clip short and use only the frame rate and loop settings you need because long, high-resolution GIF files become very large.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Check this first
Windows capture is blank or the real cursor remains	Confirm Windows build 19041 or newer and that the native Windows capture helper built correctly.
Mac records a blank screen	Enable Screen Recording in Privacy & Security, then fully quit and reopen Recordly.
System audio is missing on Mac	Use macOS 14 or newer, enable the screen and system-audio permission, and test a short clip.
Microphone or webcam is missing	Grant the matching operating-system permission and select the intended device inside Recordly.
npm install fails on Windows	Install Visual Studio 2022 Desktop development with C++ and CMake, reopen PowerShell, then read the first native-build error.
npm install fails on Mac	Run xcode-select --install and confirm the command-line tools completed before retrying.
Mac says a trusted local build is damaged	Verify its source, then use the upstream xattr command shown above only for that exact app.
Saved project cannot find media	Restore the source recording to its original path and reopen the .recordly project.
Export is slow or very large	Reduce duration, output size, quality or frame rate. Prefer MP4 for longer recordings.

Official sources and license

Use the [Recordly repository](https://github.com/webadderallorg/Recordly), [current README](https://github.com/webadderallorg/Recordly/blob/main/README.md), [latest release](https://github.com/webadderallorg/Recordly/releases/latest), [issue tracker](https://github.com/webadderallorg/Recordly/issues), [package scripts](https://github.com/webadderallorg/Recordly/blob/main/package.json) and [packaging configuration](https://github.com/webadderallorg/Recordly/blob/main/electron-builder.json5) as the primary sources.

The repository's [LICENSE.md](https://github.com/webadderallorg/Recordly/blob/main/LICENSE.md) states GNU AGPL version 3 and includes additional attribution and branding terms. Read that file before redistributing a modified build or offering a hosted derivative. This guide does not change the upstream license.

Successful first-use check

Recordly opens on a supported Windows or macOS version
A selected screen or window appears in the recording
Chosen microphone or system audio plays back
The editor can trim or zoom the test clip
A .recordly project saves and reopens while source media remains available
An MP4 export plays outside Recordly