How to Make Screen Recording Videos for App Ads

By The Otto Team · Published 2026-10-14 · Updated 2026-10-15 · 1 min read

Key takeaways

Use realistic demo data, Do Not Disturb and a clean starting state before recording.
Record each flow separately for 10–30 seconds, moving slowly.
Crop web apps to a vertical-friendly area and zoom to 125–150%.
Export 1080×1920 MP4 and add captions; many viewers watch muted.

Your screen recording is the most valuable asset in any app ad. A clean one makes every creator, template and edit better.

Prepare the app

Use realistic demo data, not "test test."
Turn on Do Not Disturb and hide personal notifications.
Set the status bar to full battery and good signal if possible.
Reset to a clean starting state so the flow starts at zero.

Record

Use the native screen recorder at the device's full resolution.
Move slowly and deliberately. Viewers need to follow each tap.
Record each flow separately, 10 to 30 seconds, so you can cut quickly.
Capture the "wow" result screen with a short hold at the end.

Web apps

Record the browser window at about a 9:16 or 4:5 crop of the active area. Zoom the browser to 125 to 150 percent so text is readable on a phone.

Edit

Cut dead time and loading spinners.
Add captions; many viewers watch muted.
Use tap indicators or subtle zooms to guide the eye.
Keep a single focal action per scene.

Export

Vertical 1080 x 1920 MP4 at a reasonable bitrate. See the size guide for platform specs. In Otto, upload your screenshots and recordings (up to 60 MB each) once and the engine reuses them across videos.

Combine with a creator voice-over

A screen recording alone is a demo. A voice-over with a hook, a problem and a CTA turns it into an ad. Draft the narration with the UGC script generator.

Start your first batch with Otto

Frequently asked questions

How long should an app demo video be?

For social ads, 15 to 20 seconds. Cover one task start to finish, with the result visible at the end.

How do I record my phone screen?

Use the built-in screen recorder: Control Center on iPhone, Quick Settings on most Android phones. Turn on Do Not Disturb first so notifications do not appear.