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If Descript isn’t performing as expected — your recordings are glitchy, projects are slow to load, or tools aren’t behaving — the issue may be related to your device or system setup. This article outlines the recommended and minimum system requirements for Descript on macOS and Windows, including supported operating systems, hardware specs, internet speeds, and browser support. We support the current version of Descript and any versions released within the last 3 months. Make sure your system is up-to-date for the best experience.
Seeing issues with your microphone or webcam?Descript doesn’t support some recording devices and virtual input software, which may cause problems like static, missing audio, or failed device detection. View unsupported recording devices and services

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System Recommendations

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Additional setup and performance tips

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Free disk space

Descript uses cloud storage, but certain actions still rely on your local disk. We recommend keeping at least 20 GB of free space available, especially when working with larger projects.

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Screen recorder requirements

Screen recorder requires a dedicated GPU with a driver from 2021 or later. If your driver is outdated, we recommend against using the screen recorder. How to check your driver version

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Internet speeds

50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload are the minimum recommended. Lower speeds may delay file uploads, project loading, and revision restores.

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Force software video decoding

When toggled on in App settings, this setting disables GPU-based video decoding and uses your CPU instead. If you’re seeing playback issues—such as scenes appearing blank, videos not loading, or playback stalling after launch—enabling this option can help, especially for systems using certain Intel Arc GPUs.

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Browser requirements

A browser is required for authentication. For best results using the Web version of Descript, we recommend a Chromium-based browser; Chrome, Edge, and Opera are officially supported.
“Incompatible browser or device” error in ChromeThis error usually means hardware acceleration is turned off in Chrome. To fix it, go to chrome://settings/system and toggle on Use graphics acceleration when available, then restart your browser.

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Enable permissions for camera, microphone, and screen sharing

Descript needs permission to access your camera, microphone, and screen to record. If you’re having trouble recording or see permission errors, check your system settings.

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macOS desktop app

  1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions)
  2. Click Privacy & Security
  3. Enable permissions for Descript under:
    • Camera
    • Microphone
    • Screen Recording

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Windows desktop app

  1. Open Settings
  2. Go to Privacy & security
  3. Select Camera, then allow access by Descript. Repeat for Microphone.

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Browser permissions

When prompted by your browser, click Allow to grant Descript access to your camera, microphone, and screen. If you’ve previously blocked access, click the lock icon in the address bar, then enable Camera, Microphone, and Screen sharing. Browser permission prompt for microphone and camera access in Descript

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Minimum system requirements

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macOS Desktop

  • Minimum 8GB RAM
  • macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later
  • A browser is required for authentication. Chrome, Firefox, or Safari are supported. For best results using the Web version of Descript, we recommend a Chromium-based browser, with Chrome, Edge, and Opera being officially supported.

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Windows Desktop

  • Minimum 8GB RAM
  • Windows 11 or later
  • A browser is required for authentication. Chrome, Firefox, or Safari are supported. For best results using the Web version of Descript, we recommend a Chromium-based browser, with Chrome, Edge, and Opera being officially supported.

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Mobile and tablet support

Descript does not currently offer a mobile app for editing. While you can upload media from your phone using the mobile upload feature, all editing tools are available only on desktop or the web version of Descript. Descript is not officially supported on mobile browsers or tablet devices like Chromebooks or iPads. You may be able to preview playback, but editing and account features are not supported. For the best experience, use the web app or download the desktop app.
Descript requires a 64-bit operating system. We do not offer a 32-bit version of the app or installer.

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Restricted Countries or Regions

Due to restrictions from our payment processor, Descript may not be available in certain countries or regions. To learn more, see Stripe’s global availability. If you don’t see your country listed in the dropdown when adding a payment method, it means our payment processor likely does not support payments from that country.