How to install Kazam in Ubuntu?

Kazam is a simple multi-functional tool that is used for taking screenshots or recording content of a screen in different video formats. You can control the functions of Kazam such as start recording, pause/resume recording, finish recording, etc by using keyboard shortcuts.

In this article, I will discuss how to install and use the Kazam screen recording application in Ubuntu.

Features of Kazam application

The key features of Kazam are –

Free and opensource
You can easily capture screenshots
Allows variable recording of your screen
It also captures mouse clicks and key presses
It can also record voice from a microphone or speaker
You can stream live on platforms like youtube

How to install Kazam in Ubuntu

There are multiple ways using which you can install Kazam on your Ubuntu system. Now you can use one of the given methods to install it on your system.

Installing Kazam from Ubuntu’s default repository

The Kazam is available in the default repository of Ubuntu. So you can directly install it by using the apt command or from Ubuntu Software.

First, run the given command update apt package index –

sudo apt update

Next, use the given command to install Kazam on your system –

sudo apt install kazam

Installing Kazam from its Unofficial PPA

Another way to install Kazam is to add its unofficial PPA repository and then install it. The benefit of using this method is you can get the latest stable version of Kazam on your system.

So first use the given command to add Kazam on your system –

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:sylvain-pineau/kazam

Next, run the update command to refresh the apt package repository –

sudo apt update

Now use the given command to install it on your system –

sudo apt install kazam

Press y and then enter when it asks for your confirmation.

You can verify the installation by using –

kazam -v

This will display the version of Kazam installed on your system.

How to use Kazam in Ubuntu

Once the installation is completed you can launch Kazam from the Ubuntu applications menu.

You can see the GUI of Kazam in the image below.

Taking screenshots using Kazam

To take a screenshot just click on the Screenshot options and select among Fullscreen, Window, or Area as given on the UI. Click on Capture if you selected the Fullscreen option else you need to select the area or window to take a screenshot.

Once the screenshot is taken you will see a window to save it.

Recording screen using Kazam

Click on Screencast and again select the options among Fullscreen, Window, or Area also mark the options if you want to record sound in screen recording, and finally click on the Capture to start recording.