Limelight
What Is Window Capture?
Window capture records a single application window as video — automatically framed to the app boundaries and isolated from everything else on the desktop.
Window capture is a screen recording mode that targets a specific application window rather than the full display or a manually drawn region. When you activate window capture, you select (or hover over) the window you want to record, and the recorder locks onto that window's bounds. The resulting video is cropped precisely to the app frame — background wallpaper, other windows, the Dock, and the menu bar are excluded. If the window is moved or resized during recording, some tools track the new position while others keep the frame fixed at the original coordinates.
Window capture is the cleanest option for single-app product demos and tutorials. Because the video frame matches the application boundary exactly, viewers are not distracted by the rest of the desktop, and there is no need to manually select a region or set up the desktop before recording. It is also useful for capturing settings panels, dialog boxes, or utility windows that are separate from a main application window. The limitation is the same as with region capture: if the demo requires switching to another app or using system-level features like Spotlight, those interactions fall outside the captured window.
For software demonstrations, window capture combined with visual aids makes interactions much easier to follow. Limelight's auto-zoom still fires on every click within the captured window, pulling the viewer's eye to the exact button or control that was clicked. On-screen keystrokes and the cursor spotlight stay active within the window frame as well. This means window capture in Limelight gives you the clean framing of a focused demo with the same auto-production layer as full-desktop recording.
Why Limelight
- ▸Window capture records one application window, auto-cropped to the app frame with no desktop background visible.
- ▸The cleanest option for single-app demos — no pre-setup of the desktop required beyond opening the app.
- ▸Limitation: interactions outside the captured window (other apps, Spotlight, etc.) will not be recorded.
- ▸Auto-zoom, cursor spotlight, and on-screen keystrokes remain active within the window frame in Limelight.
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FAQ
- How is window capture different from region capture?
- Region capture lets you draw any rectangle regardless of window boundaries. Window capture automatically locks onto a specific app window frame, cropping precisely to the app and tracking it if the window moves. Window capture requires less manual setup but is limited to a single window's content.
- Will window capture follow the window if I move it during recording?
- This depends on the recording app. Some apps track the window's new position while others keep the frame fixed at the starting location. Check the behavior of your specific recorder before recording sessions where you might reposition the window.
- Can I record a minimized or background window?
- No. Screen recording captures what is visually rendered on screen. A minimized window is not rendered, so it cannot be captured. The window you want to record must be visible and not obscured during the recording session.