To create a tutorial video, choose one task, plan the steps, record a clear demonstration, edit out distractions, and publish it with written instructions. The viewer should know what they need before starting and what a successful result looks like.
This guide focuses on screen-recorded tutorials for software, customer support, and everyday workflows. It includes a script template, a recording checklist, and a worked example you can adapt.
Test the tutorial without extra coaching
Give a representative viewer the tutorial, its written prerequisites, and a harmless task. Ask them to follow it from the stated starting state. Watch for the first point where the viewer needs information that the video or text does not provide.
Tutorial viewer check Viewer role and starting state: [...] Task / expected visible result: [...] First confusing step or missing prerequisite: [...] Actual final result: [...] Correction needed in video or written steps: [...] Retest result: [...] Owner and next review trigger: [...]
A fictional invitation tutorial might show where to enter an email address but omit that only an administrator can see the control. The right repair is to state the role prerequisite, not simply make the clip longer. Use the software pilot worksheet for recording and editing requirements, and the library checklist for retrieval and reuse.
How to create a tutorial video in 7 steps
- Define one outcome: name the task the viewer will complete.
- List prerequisites: check access, permissions, and the starting state.
- Write a short script: pair each instruction with what appears on screen.
- Prepare your recording: use sample data and test the microphone.
- Record the demonstration: show the action and explain why it matters.
- Edit and check: remove mistakes and verify every step.
- Publish and maintain: add written steps, check access, and assign an owner.
1. Choose a task and define the audience
A tutorial answers a specific “how do I” question. “How to invite a teammate” is easier to plan and follow than “everything about account administration.” Use customer questions, support tickets, or onboarding feedback to choose a task people actually need help with. Favor tasks that benefit from seeing the interface; a question answered in one sentence may only need written instructions.
Confirm the solution before you film it. An unresolved bug needs investigation, and a tutorial should not turn a suspected workaround into an official instruction. Check the current product version, required role, and starting state with the person responsible for that workflow.
Write the outcome as: “After watching, the viewer can [action] without [common obstacle].” Then decide who the viewer is. A first-time user may need help locating the settings menu; an administrator may only need the permission requirement and the final action.
If you are building a broader employee course with practice and assessment, use our guide to making training videos. Keep this tutorial focused on completing one workflow.
2. Check prerequisites and plan the starting state
Before recording, perform the task yourself from the same starting point as the viewer. Note any access level, subscription feature, installed software, or sample file they need. Say these requirements at the beginning rather than revealing them halfway through.
- What account or role does the viewer need?
- Where should they start?
- What information or files should they have ready?
- Which interface version are you demonstrating?
- What common error could stop them?
For a support tutorial, capture these checks in a short brief before recording:
Customer question: Who needs this answer: Product, platform and version checked: Required account role or access: Starting screen and prerequisites: By the end, the customer can: Steps confirmed by: Visible result that proves completion: Known exception or next help route: Owner of the finished answer:
A small test account is usually easier to explain than a busy production workspace. Use fictional names and sample records so the video can be shared without exposing customer information.
3. Write a tutorial video script
Write for spoken delivery. Use short sentences and name the control you are selecting. “Open Settings, then choose Team” is clearer than “click here.” Pair narration with the action so viewers can connect the instruction to the screen.
Tutorial title: How to [complete one task] Audience: [Who needs this and their starting knowledge] Prerequisites: [Access, files, or setup] Starting point: [Page or screen] Opening “In this video, you'll learn to [outcome]. Before you start, you'll need [prerequisite].” Step 1 Say: [Instruction and brief reason] Show: [Screen, control, or action] Step 2 Say: [Next instruction] Show: [Action and expected response] Step 3 Say: [Final instruction] Show: [Successful result] Common problem “If you see [symptom], check [specific condition].” Close “You've now [outcome]. Your next step is [relevant action].”
A full script is not always necessary. Both approaches need exact control names and the required steps:
| Approach | Useful when | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Full script | The wording is sensitive, the process is unfamiliar, or another person will narrate. | Complete sentences paired with each screen action, read aloud before filming. |
| Outline | You know the workflow and can explain it clearly without reading every word. | The opening, numbered actions, important exceptions, and final confirmation. |
Do a spoken rehearsal before recording. If the interface behaves differently from the script, resolve the difference rather than filling the gap with an instruction that only works in your setup. If the script explains several unrelated tasks, split it into separate tutorials. A practical starting target is a few minutes per simple workflow, but there is no universal ideal length: include the steps needed to complete the task without rushing.
4. Prepare the screen and test your audio
Close unrelated tabs and turn off notifications. Check that text and controls are readable at the size viewers will use. Capture the relevant window or tab when that is sufficient, rather than showing the entire desktop.
Record a short test and play it back. Confirm that the correct microphone is selected, the voice is clear, and the screen capture includes the intended area. Do not assume that selecting a microphone also captures computer audio; test each source you need.
A headset, built-in microphone, or external microphone may be sufficient. Decide by listening to a sample recorded in your actual room, checking for distant speech, distortion, keyboard noise, and interruptions before buying more equipment. Include the most detailed screen in the test, and check that the cursor does not cover the control you are naming. Our screen recording tutorial covers capture and editing setup in more detail.
For customer-facing walkthroughs, Screendesk screen recordings can fit into a support workflow. Choose recording and editing tools based on what the tutorial needs: capture, trimming, captions, annotations, or hosting. Do not assume one tool provides every part of production.
5. Record the workflow and show the result
Start by naming the outcome and prerequisites, then move into the demonstration. Pause briefly after selecting a control so the viewer can see the response. Explain decisions that matter, such as why you choose one permission level over another.
If you make a mistake, stop and repeat the sentence or step. You can remove the false start during editing. Return to a valid starting state before repeating a step that changes data, permissions, or account settings. Avoid narrating every cursor movement; describe the meaningful action instead.
Worked example: inviting a teammate
This is an illustrative workflow; exact labels depend on the product you are documenting.
| Section | Narration | On-screen demonstration |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | “We will invite a teammate. You need permission to manage team members.” | Show the account settings starting point. |
| Open team settings | “Open Settings and choose Team.” | Navigate to the team-member list. |
| Enter details | “Select Invite and enter your teammate’s email.” | Use a fictional address in a demonstration account. |
| Choose access | “Choose the role that matches the access they need.” | Show the available role descriptions. |
| Confirm | “Send the invitation. Check that it appears as pending.” | Show the expected confirmation state. |
| Troubleshoot | “If Invite is missing, check your permissions.” | Point to the relevant help instructions. |
6. Edit for clarity and accessibility
Remove long pauses, repeated attempts, and unrelated explanations. Be careful with cuts across actions: if you remove a page load or repetitive data entry, the next screen should still make sense, and a skipped step the viewer must perform needs a brief explanation. Use annotations only where they help identify a control or explain a choice, and check that they do not cover the destination or look like part of the product interface. Keep important text visible long enough to read.
Plan captions, a transcript or written alternative, and descriptions of important visual information. Say key visual details aloud, such as the selected option and final status. Check automatic captions and transcripts for product names, control labels, numbers, and missing words. Tools such as Adobe Premiere’s Speech to Text can generate a draft transcript, but automatic output should not become the source of the instructions. The W3C guide to accessible audio and video explains how captions, transcripts, visual descriptions, and accessible players address different needs.
Ask someone who was not involved in production to follow the tutorial from the stated starting point. If they cannot complete the task, identify the missing instruction and fix the video or companion text before publishing.
7. Publish the tutorial where viewers need it
Use a descriptive title such as “How to invite a teammate,” then place the video alongside a short summary, prerequisites, and numbered instructions. A viewer may want to scan the answer, copy a value, or follow one step without replaying the recording, so use the same control names in the page, narration, and captions. Make sure intended viewers can open the page and player without unexpected access barriers. This help-page template keeps those parts together:
Title: How to [complete one task] Use this answer when: [Describe the situation it addresses.] Before you start: [Role, platform, version or other prerequisites.] Video: [Reviewed recording link or supported embed.] Steps: 1. [Action and relevant choice.] 2. [Action and relevant choice.] 3. [Visible completion check.] If your screen differs: [Known exception and appropriate next step.] Still need help? [What context to send and where to contact support.] Content owner: Last verified:
For repeated support questions, organize videos by the task they solve. Our video knowledge-base guide covers structure and maintenance. A video library can help your team find and reuse relevant recordings. Link the tutorial from support replies that match the question, and introduce it with the task it covers and any prerequisite that matters.
In Screendesk’s sharing workflow, use the recording’s Share menu to copy its playback link. For a help page that accepts iframe HTML, choose Embed → Website → Copy code. Supported helpdesk integrations post the recording link to the conversation; a GIF preview links through to the recording rather than playing the full video inside every email client. Check the recording’s visibility settings and preview the published page as the intended viewer.
Assign an owner and review date. Update the tutorial when navigation, permissions, or the workflow changes. Keep companion text current even when the video is awaiting a replacement, and when you replace a tutorial, update links in related help articles and support reply templates. Follow-up conversations that reveal missing steps or exceptions show what to fix next.
If you publish the tutorial on YouTube
Use a title that states the task, an accurate thumbnail, and a description explaining scope and prerequisites. YouTube says these matter more for discovery than tags, which have a limited role, particularly for common misspellings. Then choose the visibility setting: public videos can appear in search, unlisted videos can be viewed and reshared by anyone with the link, and private videos have selected viewers. Verify access before placing a link on a public help page.
Tutorial video checklist
- The title states one task and the opening explains the outcome.
- Prerequisites and the starting screen are clear.
- The screen is readable and the voice is understandable.
- Customer data, credentials, and notifications are absent.
- Every instruction matches the demonstrated action.
- The successful result and a common obstacle are shown.
- Captions and written instructions have been checked.
- A new viewer can complete the task and access the published video.
- An owner is responsible for future updates.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to make a tutorial video?
For a software tutorial, start with a screen recorder, a microphone if you need narration, a prepared demonstration account, and a short script. Add editing, captioning, or hosting tools according to your publishing needs.
How long should a tutorial video be?
Long enough to explain one task clearly. Remove unrelated context and divide a multi-task process into chapters or separate videos. Test whether viewers can follow the workflow rather than judging quality by duration alone.
Can I create a tutorial without showing my face?
Yes. A screen demonstration with clear narration and written steps can explain a software workflow without a webcam. Include your face only when it helps the instruction or the relationship with the audience.
How do I know whether the tutorial works?
Ask a new viewer to complete the task using the tutorial. Track the questions they still have and use that feedback to improve it. Views alone show reach, not successful learning.
