Video export
Video export records the current panel layout to a video file by stepping the player one frame at a time and capturing the layout's panels after each update. Use it to share a playback session, embed a clip in a report, or view recordings without having to wait for high-bandwidth data buffering.
Video export is available only on Enterprise plans, only in the desktop app, and only for recorded data sources. Live data sources are not supported.
Export process
- Open a recording in the desktop app and arrange your layout exactly as you want it to appear in the video.
- Open the data source dropdown in the top bar and select Export video, or open the command palette and run the Export video command.
- Review and configure the export parameters in the dialog and click Start export.
- A progress chip will appear over the playback bar and the panel layout will be locked for the duration of the export. To cancel, click the "Cancel export" button on the chip.
- When the export finishes, the file is saved to your configured downloads folder. A toast confirms completion (or surfaces an error).
Export parameters
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Start time (s) | Inclusive start of the playback range, in seconds from the data source epoch. Defaults to the start of the active data source. |
| End time (s) | Inclusive end of the playback range, in seconds. Defaults to the end of the active data source. |
| Frame rate (fps) | Output video frame rate, between 1 and 120. Defaults to 24. Fractional values are rounded. Higher frame rates produce smoother video and longer export times. |
| Playback speed | Multiplier for how much player time is captured per output video frame. 1x records 1 second of player time per 1 second of video. 2x and 5x produce shorter videos that cover the same player time range. |
| Format | MP4 (H.264) or WebM (VP9). MP4 is preferred for editor compatibility; WebM is the fallback when your browser cannot encode H.264. Formats your browser cannot encode are disabled in the dropdown. |
| File name | Output file name. The matching extension (.mp4 or .webm) is appended automatically. |
| Wait for range loading to finish before exporting | Enabled by default. Waits for range loading on the active data source to finish before the first frame is captured, so panels render against fully-loaded data. Disable to start capturing immediately; early frames may not show video keyframes in image panels loaded or plots and state transition panels not fully loaded. |
The dialog reports the total number of frames it will record and the approximate output duration based on the current settings. Files are saved through the browser's normal download flow, so they land in your configured downloads folder.
What gets captured
Video export captures the panel layout area of the workspace at the size it is currently rendered. The playback bar, top navigation, and sidebars are not included in the frame, but their size affects the dimensions of the captured area.
To get a clean, predictable output:
- Resize the app window to the resolution you want for the final video before starting the export.
- Minimize or close the left and right sidebars.
- Don't resize the window or interact with the app while the export is running.
Frames are captured at your display's device pixel ratio, so a HiDPI/Retina display produces a higher-resolution video for the same window size. To target a specific output resolution, switch to a display (or a window size) that matches.
Foxglove watermark
Every exported video has a "Made with Foxglove" wordmark composited into the top-right corner of the frame. The watermark is rendered on top of the captured pixels at a fixed position and opacity and is part of every video that ships from this version of the desktop app. It cannot currently be repositioned, resized, or disabled from the UI.
Troubleshooting
The Export video menu item is disabled
The data source menu's Export video item (and the matching command palette entry) is disabled outside the desktop app and outside Enterprise plans. The tooltip explains which gate applies:
- "Video export is only available on Enterprise plans." — switch to an Enterprise seat to enable the feature.
- "Video export is available only in the desktop app." — download the desktop app and reopen the recording there.
If you don't see the menu item at all, the current data source is a live connection. Video export only applies to recorded data sources.
"Selected video format is not supported by this browser"
The browser/system did not advertise WebCodecs support for the selected codec. Switch to the other format (the dropdown disables formats your system cannot encode), or restart the desktop app to retry the capability probe.
Export takes a long time
Export time grows with the time range, the frame rate, and the cost of rendering each frame. To speed up an export:
- Reduce the time range to only the portion you need.
- Lower the frame rate (24 fps is a good baseline; 60 fps roughly doubles the export time).
- Use a higher playback speed multiplier (
2xor5x) to cover the same player range in fewer frames. - Close any expensive panels you do not need in the recording (large 3D scenes, dense plots, etc.) before starting.
Export looks blurry or the wrong size
Frames are captured at your display's device pixel ratio. The output video matches the panel layout area in device pixels (rounded to even numbers). To target a different size, resize the app window — or move it to a different display — before starting the export. The dialog and the progress chip do not show the output dimensions, but the encoded file reports them in its metadata.