Introducing the Wave Chrome Extension: Record Any Browser Audio

We built Wave to capture every important conversation, no matter where it happens. Phone in a meeting room. Desktop app on a Zoom call. Apple Watch on a walk. But there was one scenario that kept coming up: people who live in their browser.

Google Meet runs in Chrome. Zoom has a web client. Webinars, online lectures, podcasts, training videos — all playing in a browser tab. For these situations, you shouldn't need to install a desktop app or send a bot to the call. You should be able to click one button and record.

That's what the Wave Chrome Extension does.

What It Does

The Wave Chrome Extension captures audio directly from your browser tab, your microphone, or both at the same time. Click the Wave icon in your toolbar, toggle your audio sources, and hit record. That's it.

When you stop recording, it uploads automatically. Within a few minutes, you have a full transcript and AI summary — just like every other Wave recording. It shows up in your Wave library alongside recordings from your phone, desktop, and meetings.

Why a Chrome Extension?

Wave Desktop already records system audio on Mac and Windows. So why build a Chrome extension?

A few reasons:

• No install required. Add it from the Chrome Web Store and you're recording in seconds. No desktop app download, no system permissions, no restart.
• Works on any computer. On a work laptop where you can't install apps? Chromebook? Borrowed machine? The extension works anywhere Chrome runs.
• Lighter weight. If all your meetings happen in the browser, you don't need a full desktop app running in the background. The extension only activates when you need it.
• No bot in the call. Unlike meeting bot recording, nothing joins the call. No participant notification. No awkward "Wave AI is recording" message. Just you and your browser.

What You Can Record

Anything that plays audio in a Chrome tab:

• Google Meet — record directly from the browser, no bot needed
• Zoom web client — for when you join from the browser instead of the desktop app
• Webinars and online courses — capture the full session and review the transcript later
• YouTube videos and podcasts — get a searchable transcript of any video or audio content
• Training sessions and demos — record a product walkthrough or onboarding call

You can also toggle on your microphone to capture your own voice alongside the tab audio — useful for meetings where you're an active participant.

How It Works

Setup takes about 30 seconds:

1. Install the extension from the Chrome Web Store
2. Click the Wave icon in your toolbar and sign in
3. Toggle Tab Audio to capture browser sound, Microphone to capture your voice, or both
4. Hit the red record button

While recording, you can switch tabs and the extension keeps capturing. If you have multiple microphones connected, you can switch between them mid-recording. Your five most recent recordings appear right in the extension popup for quick access.

Everything syncs to your Wave account — the same library you access from the mobile app, the desktop app, or the web app.

When to Use the Extension vs. Other Recording Methods

Wave gives you a lot of ways to record. Here's when the Chrome extension is the right choice:

• Browser-based meeting, no bot wanted — use the extension. It captures the call without anyone knowing.
• Can't install desktop apps — the extension works on managed devices, Chromebooks, or any machine with Chrome.
• Recording a video or webinar — easier than setting up screen recording. Just click record and get a transcript.
• Quick one-off recording — don't want to launch a full app. Click the icon, record, done.

For in-person conversations, use the mobile app. For system-wide audio capture (non-browser apps, Slack huddles, desktop Zoom), use Wave Desktop. For meetings you can't attend, use the meeting bot.

Get Started

The Wave Chrome Extension is available now. Install it from the Chrome Web Store and start recording your next browser-based meeting, lecture, or webinar. Sign in with the same account you use on Wave mobile or desktop and everything syncs automatically.

One click. Full transcript. AI summary. No bot required.