How to Make a Tutorial Video by Recording Your Screen

Tutorial videos have grown a lot over the past few years. The job of a company that sells a product does not stop at launch. The harder part is getting people to use the product. Tutorial videos make that easier.

Booklets and pamphlets do not work in a video-first world. In fact, 69% of people prefer videos over text to learn about a product. That alone explains why tutorial videos matter.

Making a tutorial video is not as hard as people think. With a screen recorder, it is even simpler. This blog walks you through the six-step process.

How to make a tutorial video by recording your screen, in 6 steps

Here is the full process, with checklists and pro tips at each step.

A tutorial video lands best when it solves one problem at a time. To pick the right problem, start with your audience. Who is going to watch this?

It is tempting to cover every issue your users might face. Resist that. A long, exhaustive tutorial bores the viewer and undoes the whole point of the video. Pick one problem, build the script around it, and ship.

Quick checklist

• Who will watch this video?
• What specific problem are they facing?
• How will the video help them?
• How long will the final video be?

Answer these four questions before you write a word of script.

Pro tip: Keep your tutorial under 5 to 10 minutes. Anything longer loses the viewer. If your topic is bigger than that, split it into a series and group them in a folder or playlist.

Recording without a script feels faster, but the result rarely is. A script keeps the video focused. You do not need to write Shakespeare. Plain language is enough. You are guiding a user, not selling them anything.

Script checklist

• Avoid complex words
• Cut filler words (the ones that add no meaning)
• Match the script length to your target video length

Pro tip: Watch a few similar tutorials before you start writing. See what worked, what dragged, what felt clean. Then write yours.

Sample tutorial video script

Here is a sample script for the Vmaker Chrome plugin tutorial.

People skip this step. Don't. A mock recording is where you catch awkward phrasing, sections that drag, and parts where you have no idea what to click next.

Running through the script once also helps you smooth out the flow. You will know where to click, what comes next, when to pause. The final take has fewer awkward cuts and the audio matches the screen better.

Here is a mock recording from the script above.

Watch the mock tutorial video recording

The right tool changes the quality of the output. There are many tutorial video makers out there, but the best one for this job is Vmaker.

Vmaker records at 4K HD. You can record your screen, your camera, or both. Add mouse click highlights and screen annotations to point at specific parts of the screen as you talk. That is what makes it ideal for tutorials.

Hit record on the Vmaker app and start. If something goes wrong, pause and pick up again. The clip uploads to the cloud automatically as soon as you stop.

Pro tip: Close every tab and app you do not need. A clean screen makes a cleaner recording. Vmaker also lets you set custom recording dimensions if you want a specific frame.

Recording your webcam too? Add a frame or filter on the webcam bubble. Small touch, big impact on watchability.

Once you have the recording, edit it inside the Vmaker AI video editor. One click polishes the raw clip. The AI adds subtitles, B-rolls, music, text, and transitions for you.

Vmaker also lets you trim and merge sections by hand. Made a mistake or paused too long? Cut it out in seconds.

Adding an intro and outro lifts the look of the final video. Vmaker lets you upload extra clips as scenes for that. Once the edit is done, export and your final video is ready on the same URL.

Pro tip: Use the Scenes feature to trim and merge sections of the video without leaving the editor.

Tutorial videos are made by all kinds of teams like product marketers, YouTubers, and independent creators. Each one shares the video differently.

Vmaker covers every option. You can download the final video as MP4. Or upload straight to YouTube from the dashboard, handy for YouTubers.

You can also share the video as a URL. Before sharing, customise the page with your domain name, CTA, logo, and brand colours. Or embed the video directly in your website or email campaign.

If you are an organisation, you do not need a separate video hosting platform. Vmaker handles uploads, custom branding, and engagement tracking in one place.

Here is the final version of the Vmaker Chrome tutorial video.

The script and mock recording from the earlier steps come together here.

That covers the full step-by-step. Sign up for Vmaker and start recording your tutorial videos for free.

Frequently asked questions What is a tutorial video?

A tutorial video is a step-by-step video guide that shows the viewer how to do a task or reach a goal.

Read the Ultimate Tutorial Videos Guide for a deeper walk-through.

What is the best way to create a tutorial video?

Screen recording with a webcam overlay. It is easy to make and adds a human touch, which helps viewers follow and apply what you teach.

What is the best software to create a tutorial video?

Vmaker. It records, edits, hosts, and shares, all in one place. See our list of the 10 best tutorial video tools for the full comparison.

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