Step-by-Step: How to Record with Screen Off on Any Device?

Nola Jones
Jun 03, 2025 / Updated by Nola Jones to Record Video

For many, recording is a go-to solution for saving an important lecture, meeting, or even just background audio. Now, you’re wishing you did not have to keep your screen on. How to record with screen off, then? Fortunately, this guide here will explore ways and readily available tools that will help you do video recording with screen off, from a desktop computer to a mobile phone. Ensure you can record effectively and efficiently today, even in the shadows.

Record PC/Mac Screen with Display off with AnyRec Screen Recorder

Recording with your screen/display off may sound like a bit of a challenge, especially when you wish to keep your activities a secret. Whether it is an online meeting, gameplay, or tutorial, here’s a dedicated tool for you: AnyRec Screen Recorder. It is a powerful and friendly recording tool that lets you capture activity in high-quality, even if your monitor is off or locked. Besides helping you record a video with screen locked, it lets you schedule recordings, hide the recording interface, and even capture the screen with audio and webcam without loss in quality. You don’t need to tweak complicated settings, just choose your recording area (full, custom, window), set up the audio source, then click the REC! Record everything on your screen effectively with AnyRec Screen Recorder, even when your display is off.

AnyRec Screen Recorder Package
AnyRec Screen Recorder

Can record with display or system sleep without quality loss and time limit.

Multiple output formats supported, including MP4, MOV, AVI, MP3, FLAC, etc.

Have a built-in editor with trimming, cropping, annotations, and more.

Support for customizing resolution, frame rate, and other recording settings.

Free DownloadFor Windows

Secure Download

Free DownloadFor macOS

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Step 1. Launch AnyRec Screen Recorder and aim for "Video Recorder" to get started. Pick between "Full" to capture your entire desktop or "Custom" to record a specific area or window.

Choose Recording Mode

For the best results, go to the "Settings" menu and head to "Output" to configure video quality and more to suit your needs.

Output Settings

Step 2. Enable "System Sound" so the software records any audio playing from your computer. To include your voice, turn on "Microphone"; adjust both input levels for clarity. You can also record yourself by turning on the webcam.

Video Recorder

Step 3. When you’re ready, click the "REC" button. You can record screen while turn off your display or let it go dark, and still the program will capture everything in the background. During the session, you can also use annotation tools if needed.

Start Recording Video

Step 4. To finish, click the "Stop" button. A preview will appear to watch the video, trim extra segments, and make quick edits. Click the "Save" button to export it to your desired location.

Save Video Recording
Free DownloadFor Windows

Secure Download

Free DownloadFor macOS

Secure Download

How to Record with Screen off on iPhone 16/15/14/13

After video recording with screen black on a desktop, there are moments, too, when you want to record something on your iPhone screen, whether it is a video or just audio, with the screen off. Perhaps you wish to save battery, or record secretly during a class, meeting, or something. While iPhone does not natively support recording video with screen off due to some restrictions, there are workarounds to try. Meanwhile, recording audio with screen off is much easier with the Voice Memos app!

How to Record Video with Screen off on iPhone

  • 1. Get the Discreet app from the App Store.
  • 2. Upon launching the app, you will have to accept permissions to access your iPhone’s camera and storage.
  • 3. Afterward, you will be directed to the "Camera" page, where you can adjust the recording settings.
  • 4. Once ready, press and hold anywhere on the screen until the recording begins.
iPhone Record Video With Screen Off

How to Record Audio with Screen off on iPhone

  • 1. Open the Voice Memos – the best voice recorder app directly.
  • 2. Then, tap the "Record" button to start capturing audio.
  • 3. Now, simply press the "Side" or "Power" button to lock your iPhone; doing so will continue the recording on iPhone with screen off.
iPhone Record Audio With Screen Off

How to Record Video on Android with Screen off

Like on an iOS device, recording video or audio without screen being active on an Android device can be useful in situations like recording discreetly or avoiding distraction. Though not all Android phones have support for recording with screen off, there are apps you can try. Fortunately, audio recording with screen off is more widely supported, and brands like Samsung and Google Pixel have native support for this action.

How to Record Video with Screen Off on Android

  • 1. First, download the Background Video Recorder app from the Play Store.
  • 2. Then, launch the app and allow various permissions for it to work properly.
  • 3. Next, tap the "Record" button in the middle once ready.
  • 4. Turn off your screen and continue recording. After a while, simply tap the "Record" button again to stop.
Android Record Video With Screen off

How to Record Audio with Screen Off on Android

  • 1. Open your device’s Voice Recorder App (Samsung Voice Recorder for Samsung phones, while Recorder for Pixel).
  • 2. Tap the "Record" button to begin once ready. Press the "Power" button to lock your screen, and the audio recording will continue in the background.
  • 3. Later, unlock your Android device and stop the recording.
Android RecordA udio With Screen Off

Conclusion

To end today's discussion, recording video when screen turned off is useful for preserving battery, maintaining privacy, and avoiding distractions. For both desktop and mobile, this guide here offers methods to learn how to record with screen off, each offering different quality and control. If you wish for a more seamless and high-quality video and audio recording experience, try AnyRec Screen Recorder today. It provides flexible options for recording activities with or without the display on, has multiple export formats, and provides excellent output quality. Give it a try today and take your recording to the next level!

Free DownloadFor Windows

Secure Download

Free DownloadFor macOS

Secure Download

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