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

# How do I hide the recording controls while I record?

> The play controls only appear in the Chrome Extension — collapse them with the left-arrow icon so they stay out of your tutorial.

Section: Help Center › FAQ

When you record with the **Chrome Extension**, a small floating toolbar with the stop, pause, timer, restart, and discard controls sits on your screen during the recording. If you're capturing the whole tab or window, that toolbar gets captured into the footage too.

You can collapse it any time — click the **left-arrow** (`<`) icon at the far left of the toolbar and the controls shrink to a tiny pill that stays out of the way until you need to pause or stop.

![The Chrome Extension recording toolbar with stop, pause, timer, restart, and discard buttons, and the left-arrow icon highlighted as the minimize control](https://www.tutorial.ai/images/help/help-how-to-hide-recording-controls-minimize.ca655eb7.webp)

Click the arrow again at any point to re-expand the toolbar and stop or pause the recording.

⚠️ **Do this at the very start of the recording.** Anything captured while the toolbar was visible stays in the footage — there's no way to hide the controls retroactively after the recording is finished. Minimize first, then start the part of the screen you want to record.

## Using the Desktop Recorder? You're already covered.

The **Desktop Recorder** doesn't show any in-screen controls during recording — there's nothing to minimize, and nothing ends up in the captured footage. If you're producing polished tutorials and want a fully clean canvas, the Desktop Recorder is the recommended path. See [Desktop Recorder vs Chrome Extension](https://www.tutorial.ai/en/articles/13687915-desktop-recorder-vs-chrome-extension) for the full comparison.

Source: https://www.tutorial.ai/en/articles/how-to-hide-recording-controls