A messaging system, which hosts a backend service for an associated messaging client, includes a screen recording system configured to address the technical problem of enhancing usability of a screen recording process while preserving users' privacy in the messaging system. The screen recording system generates a camera view user interface including a screen recorder user selectable element, which is actionable to request recording of an output of a display system shown on a screen of a client device. When a user taps on or otherwise activates the screen recorder user selectable element, the screen recording system removes the foreground focus from the messaging client and causes to commence the recording of the output of the display system shown on the screen of the client device. The screen recording is automatically paused once the screen recording system detects a request to bring the messaging client to the foreground.