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Record a window or a custom area

Record a single window or a part of your screen with the Clevera desktop app, resize a window to a standard size such as 1920 × 1080 before you record, and fix window and area errors.

Updated 7 min read

Recording one window or one area keeps the video focused and the file small. Everything outside it stays out of the recording, so other apps, notifications and your desktop don't appear. This article covers picking a window, resizing it to a standard size, and drawing a custom area.

To record the whole screen or an app, see Record your full screen, a display or an app.

Record a window

  1. Open the window list

    In the recording window, click the top row, then click Specific window. A list of open apps appears, each with how many windows it has open. On a Mac you see Loading applications... while the list loads.

  2. Pick the window

    Click an app. If it has more than one window, its windows appear under Windows in followed by the app's name, each with its title and size. Click the window you want.

    The Specific window list with the Acme CRM app expanded to show its windows.

    To let Clevera choose, click Any window. On a Mac it records the app's largest window at the moment you start; on Windows it records the first window in the app's list.

    The top row now shows what you picked. On a Mac it shows the app and window title, for example Acme CRM — Contacts. On Windows it shows the window title only.

  3. Click Start recording

    Clevera highlights the window and shows a card with the app's name, the window's size (Window size) and a Resize button. Resize it now if you want a standard size (see below), then click Start recording on the card.

  4. Record

    When the countdown ends, Clevera dims everything around the window, so you can see what's in the shot. Only that part of the screen is recorded.

Only windows that have a title and are at least 300 × 300 are listed. Minimized and hidden windows can't be recorded. Clevera finds the window by its title, so if the title changes or the window closes before you start, Clevera records the app's largest window instead. If the app isn't running anymore, it switches back to Full screen. Clevera brings the window to the front when the recording starts.

Resize the window

A consistent window size makes videos look tidy and gives the AI a clean frame to zoom in on. Clevera never resizes a window on its own; it only resizes when you choose a size.

  1. On the window's card, click Resize.
  2. Pick a common size at the top of the menu, or open an aspect ratio to see more sizes.
  3. The window resizes and the card shows the new size. Click Start recording.
The window card with the Resize menu open showing common sizes and aspect ratios.

The size you used last is marked Last used. On a new Windows install that's 1920 × 1080.

Group Sizes
Common 1920 × 1080, 1600 × 900, 1366 × 768, 1280 × 720
16:9 3840 × 2160, 2560 × 1440, 1920 × 1080, 1600 × 900, 1366 × 768, 1280 × 720, 1152 × 648, 1024 × 576
16:10 2560 × 1600, 1920 × 1200, 1680 × 1050, 1440 × 900, 1280 × 800, 1024 × 640
21:9 3440 × 1440, 2560 × 1080
4:3 2048 × 1536, 1600 × 1200, 1280 × 960, 1024 × 768, 800 × 600
1:1 1600 × 1600, 1280 × 1280, 1024 × 1024, 800 × 800
3:2 2736 × 1824, 2160 × 1440, 1440 × 960, 1080 × 720
9:16 1440 × 2560, 1080 × 1920, 720 × 1280, 540 × 960, 480 × 854

Only sizes that fit on your screen (minus the Dock and menu bar) are shown. On a small screen, or when the window already fills the screen, the menu also offers your screen's own size, marked (Full Screen).

If the window won't resize

The alert Couldn't Resize Window appears and the recording continues at the current size:

Message Why
"This window is in full screen, so it couldn't be resized. Recording will continue at the current size. Exit full screen first if you want a different size." Full-screen windows can't be resized. Exit full screen, then try again.
"This app wouldn't change its window size. Recording will continue at the current size." Some apps set their own window size or have a minimum size. Resize the window by hand.
"The window couldn't be resized. Recording will continue at the current size." Something else stopped the resize. Resize the window by hand.

Record a custom area

  1. Choose Select area

    In the recording window, click the top row, then Select area. Click Start recording.

  2. Draw the area

    The screen dims and a selection appears, with the size of your last area if you've used one before. Drag the selection to move it and drag its edges or corners to resize it. A card in the middle shows Select area and the current size.

    Selecting a custom area of the screen with a 1280 by 720 selection.

    The smallest area you can record is 320 × 220.

  3. Start or cancel

    Click Start recording on the card or press Return (Mac) or Enter (Windows). Press Esc or click ✕ to cancel.

Clevera remembers the area, and the top row of the recording window shows it, for example Select area · 1280×720. While you record an area, everything outside it is dimmed so you can see the frame.

Troubleshooting

These messages come from the Mac app.

Message What to do
"Unable to find the specified window" — "The window might have been closed. Please select the window again." Open the window, then pick it again from Specific window.
"Failed to focus on the selected window" or "Failed to activate the application" Pick the window again. If it keeps happening, restart Clevera.
"The window is in an invalid state" Close and reopen the window, then select it again.
"Invalid recording dimensions: …" The window may be minimized or hidden. Make it visible and a reasonable size, then try again.
"Unable to find a display to record. Please reconnect your display and try again." The area was on a display that isn't connected. Reconnect it, or choose Select area again on another display.
"Failed to start recording the selected area. Please ensure you have granted the necessary permissions and try again." Check the permissions.

On Windows, if the window you picked isn't in the list anymore, open it again and pick it from Specific window. If another window ended up in your recording, record again and keep the chosen window in front.

Record your full screen, a display or an appThe full walkthrough from start to upload.Keep desktop icons and the menu bar out of a recordingTidy full-screen recordings.Pause, restart or cancel a recordingControl the recording once it runs.Understand automatic zooms and cursor effectsHow Clevera zooms into your window later.