Troubleshooting
Recording Issues
Screen recording in Crosscheck uses your browser's built-in screen capture capabilities. Most recording issues are caused by browser permissions, restricted pages, or background process behavior. This page covers the most common problems and how to fix them.
Common Recording Issues
| Issue | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Black screen in recording | Screen sharing permission was denied or dismissed | When prompted, click "Allow" on the screen sharing dialog. If you dismissed it, stop the recording, reload the page, and try again. Chrome must show the sharing prompt before recording can begin. |
| No audio in recording | Tab audio is not captured by default in tab capture mode | Tab audio capture depends on Chrome's media stream configuration. Ensure the tab is producing audio before starting the recording. Desktop capture mode may provide audio depending on system settings. |
| Recording stops unexpectedly | Browser background process was suspended due to inactivity | Chrome may suspend background processes after a period of inactivity. Crosscheck uses keep-alive mechanisms, but very long recordings may be interrupted. Consider splitting long sessions into shorter recordings. |
| Tab capture fails to start | You are on a chrome:// page or a restricted URL | Chrome does not allow extensions to capture internal browser pages (chrome://, about:, Chrome Web Store). Navigate to a regular webpage before starting a recording. |
| Recording is blank after saving | The recording engine did not receive video data | This can happen if the tab was hidden or minimized during recording. Keep the tab visible and active while recording. |
| Desktop recording shows wrong monitor | Chrome selected a different screen or window in the picker | When using desktop capture, the Chrome screen picker lets you choose which screen, window, or tab to share. Select the correct source in the picker dialog. |
Fixing Black Screen Issues
1
Stop the Current Recording
If you are currently recording a black screen, click the stop button to end the recording. The resulting file will likely be empty.
2
Reload the Target Page
Refresh the page you want to record. This resets the media stream state.
3
Start a New Recording
Click the record button in the extension. When Chrome shows the screen sharing dialog, make sure to click Allow and select the correct tab or screen.
4
Verify the Recording is Active
After granting permission, you should see a recording indicator in the Chrome toolbar and in the extension popup. If the indicator is not visible, the recording did not start successfully.
Permission Must Be Granted Each Time
Chrome requires screen sharing permission for each recording session. If you dismiss the permission dialog, the recording will produce a blank or black output. There is no way to bypass this Chrome security requirement.
Long Recording Considerations
Chrome may suspend extension background processes after a period of inactivity. Crosscheck maintains keep-alive signals during recording, but be aware of the following:
- Recordings under 5 minutes are generally reliable.
- Very long recordings (30+ minutes) have a higher chance of interruption.
- If a recording is interrupted, the portion captured up to that point is saved.
- For long test sessions, consider using the instant replay feature to capture specific moments instead of continuous recording.
Use Trimming
If you recorded a long session, you can trim the recording after capture to keep only the relevant portion. This also reduces the file size and upload time.
Last updated: March 2026