Many apps force you to create an account before you can do anything. Cinematic Recorder doesn't. Cinematic Recorder sign in with Google is completely optional: you can record, edit and export without it. Signing in simply makes life easier if you use more than one phone or plan to switch phones later.
Here is exactly what sign-in does, what it doesn't do, and how to manage or delete your account.
Why sign-in is optional
We built Cinematic Recorder around a simple idea: your recordings are yours. They stay on your phone and we never upload them. Since we don't store your videos, there's no need for an account just to use the app.
That means you can:
- Install the app and start recording immediately.
- Use every free feature without giving us your email.
- Use AI features with your own key without an account, if you choose to use AI at all.
It also means fewer things can go wrong. If you're offline, on a shared phone, or simply prefer not to link an account, the app behaves exactly the same for recording and editing. Sign-in is a convenience you can add later at any time, not a gate you must pass first.
What signing in keeps across phones
| Kept with your account | Stays only on your phone |
|---|---|
| Your app settings and preferences | Your recordings and exported videos |
| Your Premium or Lifetime status | Your projects and edits |
| Your AI keys (stored in Android Keystore) |
Settings
Things like your preferred language, recording defaults and other preferences follow you, so a new phone feels familiar right away.
Premium
If you buy Premium or Lifetime, signing in keeps it linked to your account, so you don't lose it when you change phones. See Free vs Premium for how the plans work.
What sign-in never touches
Your videos
Signing in does not upload, sync or back up your recordings. They stay on your phone. If you want copies elsewhere, follow our guide to backing up your recordings.
Your AI keys
If you add an OpenAI or Google Gemini key, it is stored in Android Keystore on your phone and never sent to our servers. On a new phone you'll add your key again. Read bring your own AI key for more.
For full details on what data we handle, read the privacy policy.
How to sign in
- Open Cinematic Recorder and go to Settings or your account area.
- Choose Sign in with Google.
- Pick the Google account you want to use from the list Android shows.
- Confirm. Your settings and Premium status will now be linked to that account.
Exact labels may change slightly between app versions. Use the same Google account you used for any Premium purchase on Google Play, so everything lines up.
Switching to a new phone
- On the old phone: back up your exported videos and any originals you want to keep. Sign-in doesn't move them.
- On the new phone: install Cinematic Recorder from Google Play.
- Sign in with the same Google account. Your settings and Premium return.
- Re-add your AI key if you use AI.
- Copy your videos to the new phone if you want them there.
Then grant permissions again (screen capture, microphone, camera, display over other apps) the first time you use each feature. The getting started guide walks through them.
Using two phones at once
If you record on a phone and also keep a tablet for editing practice, sign in with the same account on both. Your preferences match on each device, and Premium works on both. Videos still stay on whichever device recorded them, so move files between devices yourself when needed.
If sign-in doesn't work
- Check that you have an internet connection; sign-in needs it, recording doesn't.
- Make sure Google Play services are up to date on your phone.
- Confirm the Google account is added to the phone in system settings.
- Try again later if Google's servers are busy. You can keep recording in the meantime.
If your Premium doesn't appear after signing in, make sure you used the same Google account you bought it with. The FAQ covers common cases.
Signing out and deleting your account
Signing out
You can sign out from the app's settings at any time. The app keeps working; settings simply stop syncing.
Deleting your account
You can delete your account directly in the app. This removes the account data we hold, such as synced settings. It does not delete the videos on your phone; those are yours to keep or delete. Note that deleting your account does not automatically cancel a Google Play subscription, so cancel it in the Play Store first if needed.
FAQ
Do I need to sign in to use Cinematic Recorder?
No. Recording, editing and exporting all work without an account.
Does signing in upload my videos?
No. Your videos stay on your phone. Sign-in only keeps settings and Premium across phones.
I bought Premium. Will I lose it on a new phone?
Not if you sign in with the same Google account on the new phone.
Can I delete my account?
Yes, from inside the app. Remember to cancel any Google Play subscription separately.
Sign in if it helps you, skip it if it doesn't. Either way, your videos stay with you.