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

# Record with the Tella Windows app

> Record native 4K screen recordings with system audio and editable cursor movement using the Tella Windows app.

[Tella for Windows](https://tella.com/windows) records natively in **4K** with built-in **system audio** capture. Record from your desktop, then edit and share on the web.

<Note>
  The Windows app is currently in **Beta**.
</Note>

## Install and sign in

1. Download Tella for Windows:
   * **Most PCs (Intel/AMD):** [TellaSetup.exe](https://windows.tella.tv/download/TellaSetup.exe)
   * **Surface Pro X or Snapdragon (ARM):** [TellaSetup-arm64.exe](https://windows.tella.tv/download/TellaSetup-arm64.exe)
2. Run the installer and follow the prompts.
3. Launch Tella and sign in with the same account you use on the web.

<Note>
  The Windows app requires **Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041) or later**, including Windows 11.
</Note>

<Tip>
  You can also get the app straight from the web: click **record** in Tella, then choose **Tella for Windows** on the Choose screen to download and open it.
</Tip>

## Start a recording

1. Open Tella from the Start menu or your desktop.
2. Choose what you want to record: your screen, camera, or both.
3. If recording your screen, choose which display you want to record.
4. Click the **red record button**. Tella counts down from 3, then starts recording.

<Tip>
  Recordings use **Medium** quality by default: 1080p for the screen and 720p for the camera. To record in 4K, open the app settings and set **Quality** to **Very High (4K)** under **Screen recording**, **Camera**, or both. Your display and camera also have to support that resolution.
</Tip>

<Note>
  Single-window capture is not available yet in the Windows app. Screen recording captures the whole display. To record a single window or browser tab, use the [Chrome extension](/docs/help/recording/record-a-video-using-the-chrome-extension) or [web app](/docs/help/recording/record-a-video-using-the-web-app), which use the browser's screen-share picker.
</Note>

<Note>
  If your **camera is on**, you must also have a **microphone selected**. Camera-only and camera + screen without a mic aren't valid recording modes. If you press record without a mic, Tella shows an error instead of starting. Pick a mic in the recording controls, or turn the camera off for a screen-only recording. Screen-only recordings don't need a mic.
</Note>

<Tip>
  Tella records your camera and screen as **two separate streams** and excludes the Tella UI from the final video. This gives you a clean recording that you can arrange with layouts in the editor.
</Tip>

## Record system audio

The Windows app captures system audio natively, with no extra software required. Turn on **System audio** in the recording controls to capture desktop sound (app audio, browser audio, and so on) alongside your microphone.

<Note>
  System audio is recorded together with your screen, so a camera-only recording won't include it. Tella captures whatever plays through your **default Windows playback device**. Set the right output device before you start recording.
</Note>

## Choose how your cursor appears

Use the cursor control before recording to choose:

* **Animated cursor:** captures your pointer movement separately and adds a smooth, editable cursor to the video automatically.
* **Show cursor:** records the Windows pointer directly into the screen video. Use this when you want the original cursor to appear exactly as recorded.
* **Hide cursor:** keeps the pointer out of the screen video while still capturing its movement. You can add an animated cursor later in the editor.

<Note>
  A cursor recorded with **Show cursor** becomes part of the original screen video, so it cannot be removed or restyled afterward. Tella hides the editor's **Cursor** settings for that recording. Choose **Animated cursor** or **Hide cursor** when you want editable cursor effects.
</Note>

## Pause and resume

Use **Pause** when you need a break without ending the recording. Resume when you're ready to continue. Pausing keeps everything in the same clip; stop and start a new recording when you want a separate clip.

## Use speaker notes

Open **Speaker Notes** to keep a movable teleprompter window above your other apps while you record. You can change its transparency, and it does not appear in the final video. See [use speaker notes while recording](/docs/help/recording/use-speaker-notes-while-recording#windows-app).

## Customize recording shortcuts

Open the Windows app settings and choose **Keyboard shortcuts** to set shortcuts for:

* Starting and stopping a recording.
* Pausing and resuming.
* Canceling or restarting.
* Opening Speaker Notes.

<Note>
  No shortcuts are set by default. Each one is empty until you assign it. Every combo must use at least two modifier keys (**Ctrl**, **Alt**, **Shift**, or **Win**) so Tella's shortcuts don't clash with other apps, and each combo can only be used by one action.
</Note>

Tella warns you if a shortcut is already used by another app or could not be registered. Choose another combination when that happens. See [keyboard shortcuts](/docs/help/tips/keyboard-shortcuts#windows-app-recording-shortcuts).

## Finish, share, and edit

When you're done recording:

1. Stop the recording to open the video's quick-share page.
2. Copy the share link, or click **Edit** to open the web editor.
3. In the editor, you can cut sections, add layouts, apply zooms, and more.

## Add screen effects in the editor

The Windows app captures mouse movement separately from the screen video. In the editor, you can use that data to:

* Generate **Auto Zooms** around clicks and cursor movement.
* Add an [**animated cursor**](/docs/help/editing/customize-animated-cursor) and choose a macOS, Windows, or touch style.
* Change cursor size, smooth its movement, tilt it as it moves, add click spring and ripple effects, or hide it while inactive.
* Add [**motion blur**](/docs/help/editing/add-motion-blur) to fast zooms, pans, and animated cursor movement.
* [Shrink the camera bubble](/docs/help/editing/shrink-camera-during-zooms) while the screen is zoomed in.

Choose **Animated cursor** to add a smooth cursor automatically, or **Hide cursor** to start without one and add it later. Then open **Effect** in the editor to customize the cursor, zooms, motion blur, highlights, and blurs. See [add zooms and screen effects](/docs/help/editing/add-a-zoom) for the full guide.

## Known limitations (beta)

The Windows app is in **Beta**, and our goal is full feature parity with the [Mac app](/docs/help/recording/record-a-video-using-the-mac-app). These differences still apply today:

* **Whole displays only.** You can choose which display to record, but not a single window or a cropped area of the screen. The Mac app can do both.
* **No camera background effects.** Blur, solid color, and image backgrounds aren't available in the Windows app. See [change your camera background](/docs/help/recording/blur-your-camera-background).
* **System audio needs a screen recording.** Desktop sound is recorded alongside your screen, so a camera-only recording won't include it, and Tella captures only what plays through your default Windows playback device.
* **A microphone is required when your camera is on.** Camera-only and camera + screen without a mic aren't valid recording modes. Tella shows an error when you press record.
* **No quick mode switch.** Every recording opens its quick-share page in your browser when you stop; the Mac app can also chain several clips into one video before leaving the app.
* **No recording controls in the system tray.** The tray icon shows recording status, but start, stop, pause, and cancel live in the app window and in the keyboard shortcuts you assign.
* **No keyboard shortcuts out of the box.** Every shortcut is unset until you assign it in the app settings, and each combo needs at least two modifier keys.
* **Windows 10 shows a yellow capture border** around the display being recorded. Windows 11 hides it automatically.

Something missing that you rely on in the Mac app? Let us know through the in-app support chat. It helps us prioritize.

## Windows app vs. web app

| Feature                 | Windows app                                                         | Web app                     |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- |
| Max resolution          | 4K (native)                                                         | Limited by browser          |
| System audio            | Built-in                                                            | Browser tab audio only      |
| Area selection          | Whole display only                                                  | Browser screen-share picker |
| Cursor modes            | Animated, show, or hide                                             | No                          |
| Pause and resume        | Yes                                                                 | No                          |
| Speaker notes           | Yes                                                                 | Yes                         |
| Auto zoom in editor     | Yes                                                                 | No                          |
| Animated cursor effects | Yes. Choose **Animated cursor** or **Hide cursor** before recording | No                          |
| Motion blur for zooms   | Yes                                                                 | Yes                         |
| Background blur         | No                                                                  | Yes                         |
| Clips                   | Yes                                                                 | Yes                         |


## Related topics

- [Windows App](/docs/changelog/windows-app.md)
- [Windows app system requirements](/docs/help/windows-app/windows-app-system-requirements.md)
- [Low disk space in the Windows app](/docs/help/windows-app/windows-app-low-disk-space-warning.md)
- [Can't record on Windows? Check camera and mic permissions.](/docs/help/windows-app/cant-record-on-windows-check-camera-mic-permissions.md)
- [Record a video using the web app](/docs/help/recording/record-a-video-using-the-web-app.md)