Last updated: 2026-01-10

To reliably record your Android screen with system sound, mirror your phone to a computer (using scrcpy on Android 11+) and capture it in a studio like StreamYard so you get clean audio, flexible layouts, and reusable recordings. If you just need quick on-device clips, a lightweight recorder app such as Loom for Android can work as long as your phone and apps allow internal audio capture.

Summary

• The most dependable way to capture Android screen + system audio is to mirror your phone to a computer and record from the desktop.
• StreamYard’s browser studio lets you record that mirrored screen alongside camera, mic, and guests, with multi-track recordings for editing and reuse. (StreamYard pricing)
• Tools like scrcpy (Android 11+) forward your phone’s audio to the computer so it can be included in the recording. (scrcpy audio guide)
• On-device apps such as Loom for Android can capture internal audio on Android 10+, but they’re better suited to quick async walkthroughs than longer, presenter-led productions. (Loom Android help)

How does Android handle internal audio recording?

Before you pick a tool, it helps to understand what Android will and won’t let you do.

Starting with Android 10, Google added the AudioPlaybackCapture API, which allows apps to capture audio from other apps when those apps explicitly opt in. (Android Developers) This matters because:

• Not every app allows its audio to be captured.
• Some categories (like phone and video calls) are locked down for privacy.
• Older phones (Android 9 and below) generally can’t record true internal audio at all; you’re stuck with microphone capture.

In practice, that means the cleanest way to record system sound is usually off the phone, by forwarding audio to a computer and recording from there.

What is the most reliable workflow for screen + system sound?

For most people in the US, the dependable, repeatable workflow looks like this:

1. Mirror your Android to your computer with scrcpy.

   • Install scrcpy on your Windows, macOS, or Linux machine.
   • Connect your Android via USB and enable USB debugging.
   • Launch scrcpy; your phone screen appears in a resizable desktop window.
   • On Android 11+, scrcpy forwards device audio to your computer by default. (scrcpy audio guide)

2. Open StreamYard in your browser.

   • Enter our studio from Chrome or another modern browser.
   • Choose your mic and camera.

3. Share the scrcpy window as a screen source.

   • In the studio, use screen share to select the scrcpy window.
   • Arrange your layout so viewers see the Android screen, your camera, or both.

4. Record in StreamYard instead of on the phone.

   • Start a recording session without going live.
   • Because you’re recording in a full studio, you can adjust overlay graphics, switch layouts, and bring on guests while the phone content plays.

This approach avoids Android’s app‑by‑app audio limitations. You’re capturing at the desktop, where tools like StreamYard, OBS, or others have much more control over audio routing.

How do you capture Android screen + system sound with StreamYard?

StreamYard doesn’t yet support native on‑device Android screen sharing, so the recommended path is to use a computer as your production hub. (StreamYard mobile screen share help)

Here’s a simple, creator-friendly setup:

1. Prepare your phone and scrcpy

   • Update your Android to 11 or later if possible.
   • Install scrcpy and confirm that audio is being forwarded to your computer.

2. Build your StreamYard studio

   • Join the studio from your browser.
   • Add your webcam and microphone.
   • Add a screen-share source and pick the scrcpy window.

3. Control audio levels independently

   • At StreamYard, you can control the volume of your mic versus the screen audio, so your narration doesn’t get drowned out by app sounds.

4. Record multi-track for editing

   • On paid plans, local recordings provide separate audio and video tracks for each participant, which makes post-production much easier. (Local recordings help)

From there you can:

• Export the final recording for YouTube, courses, or internal training.
• Reuse clips on social by cutting vertical snippets; our studio supports both landscape and portrait outputs from the same session.
• Keep your presenter notes and run-of-show visible only to you while the audience sees a clean screen + camera layout.

For most educational, product demo, or training content, this “phone → scrcpy → StreamYard” chain delivers better results than trying to do everything on the phone.

How does this compare to recording directly on Android apps?

If you only need quick, one‑off recordings, an on‑device app can be handy:

• Many phones ship with a built‑in screen recorder that can record mic audio and, on some devices, internal audio.
• Loom’s Android app records screen + camera, and on Android 10+ it can capture internal audio when the app you’re recording allows it. (Loom Android help)

These tools are convenient, but there are trade‑offs:

• Length and storage limits. Loom’s free Starter plan caps standard screen recordings at 5 minutes and 25 videos per member, so it’s not ideal for long tutorials without upgrading. (Loom pricing)
• No real studio. You can’t easily bring in multiple presenters, control layouts live, or add branded overlays in the same way a browser studio allows.
• Sharing friction for serious content. For formal training or marketing content, you’ll almost always want higher production value, clean tracks, and flexible aspect ratios—things a lightweight recorder isn’t built around.

So for fast async updates, those apps are fine. When the recording is the product—courses, webinars, launch demos—mirroring to a computer and recording in StreamYard gives you more control without much extra setup.

Where do OBS and other desktop tools fit in?

OBS is another popular desktop option for capturing an Android screen. It’s free, open source, and installed on your computer, with deep control over scenes, sources, and encoders. (OBS official site)

You can use a similar workflow:

• Mirror Android to the computer via scrcpy.
• Add that mirrored window as a source in OBS.
• Record locally to your drive.

This can work well if you want to fine‑tune encoding settings and you’re comfortable managing local files.

For many non‑technical creators, though, there are trade‑offs:

• OBS requires more configuration and a capable machine; recording quality depends entirely on your hardware and settings. (OBS system requirements)
• You still need separate tools for sharing, collaborating, and adding branding unless you build everything into OBS scenes yourself.

StreamYard’s browser studio aims to cover what most people actually need—clear presenter-led recordings, simple layouts, and quick exports—without a long setup curve.

Why does StreamYard work well for Android screen recordings you plan to reuse?

When you’re done recording, the real work begins: editing, sharing, and repurposing. This is where using a studio instead of an on-device app pays off.

With StreamYard, you get:

• Presenter-visible screen layouts. You always see exactly what your viewers will see while you demo your Android app.
• Independent control of mic and system audio. You can keep your narration crisp even when the app itself is noisy.
• Local multi-track recordings. Each participant is recorded locally, giving you cleaner audio and flexibility for editing later. (Local recordings help)
• Branding and overlays applied live. Lower thirds, logos, and on-screen cues are added during the recording, which reduces editing time.
• Team-friendly economics. Unlike Loom’s per‑user pricing, StreamYard’s plans are priced per workspace, which can be more cost‑effective for teams that need multiple people recording and producing. (Loom pricing)

So instead of a raw screen capture that needs a lot of polishing, you end up with a recording that’s already close to “ready to publish.”

What we recommend

• For serious tutorials, demos, and training: Mirror your Android to a computer with scrcpy, then record in a StreamYard studio so you can mix screen, camera, audio, and branding in one place.
• For quick one-off clips: Use your phone’s built-in recorder or an app like Loom on Android 10+ when internal audio is allowed and you don’t need heavy editing later.
• If you’re highly technical and want low-level control: Consider pairing scrcpy with OBS, but factor in the extra setup and file management.
• Whenever the recording needs to look polished and be reused across platforms: Default to the StreamYard workflow, where you can design the experience live and walk away with production-ready files.