diff --git a/apps/chrome-extension/e2e/overlay-ui.spec.ts b/apps/chrome-extension/e2e/overlay-ui.spec.ts
index 24dd119ff78..30ff8a75985 100644
--- a/apps/chrome-extension/e2e/overlay-ui.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/chrome-extension/e2e/overlay-ui.spec.ts
@@ -1418,3 +1418,102 @@ test("the recorder panel and camera preview load on a page with a strict CSP", a
 		await mockServer.close();
 	}
 });
+
+test("the recorder opens and records on Cap's welcome page", async () => {
+	const mockServer = await createMockCapServer();
+	const extension = await launchExtensionContext();
+
+	try {
+		const worker = await getServiceWorker(extension.context);
+		await configureExtension(worker, mockServer.origin);
+		const extensionOrigin = `chrome-extension://${new URL(worker.url()).host}`;
+		const messengerPage = await extension.context.newPage();
+		await messengerPage.goto(`${extensionOrigin}/popup.html`);
+		const welcomePage = await extension.context.newPage();
+		await welcomePage.goto(`${extensionOrigin}/welcome.html`);
+		await welcomePage.bringToFront();
+
+		await sendServiceWorkerMessage(messengerPage, {
+			target: "service-worker",
+			type: "open-recorder-panel",
+		});
+		await expect
+			.poll(() => frameWithUrl(welcomePage, "popup.html") !== null, {
+				timeout: 15_000,
+			})
+			.toBe(true);
+		await expect
+			.poll(() => frameWithUrl(welcomePage, "camera-preview.html") !== null, {
+				timeout: 15_000,
+			})
+			.toBe(true);
+		const panel = frameWithUrl(welcomePage, "popup.html");
+		if (!panel) throw new Error("recorder panel missing");
+		await panel.getByRole("button", { name: "Start recording" }).click();
+
+		await expect
+			.poll(
+				async () =>
+					(
+						(await sendServiceWorkerMessage(messengerPage, {
+							target: "service-worker",
+							type: "get-recording-status",
+						})) as { status?: { phase?: string } }
+					).status?.phase,
+				{ timeout: 15_000 },
+			)
+			.toBe("recording");
+		expect(frameWithUrl(welcomePage, "camera-preview.html")).not.toBeNull();
+
+		await sendServiceWorkerMessage(messengerPage, {
+			target: "service-worker",
+			type: "stop-recording",
+		});
+	} finally {
+		await extension.cleanup();
+		await mockServer.close();
+	}
+});
+
+test("opening Cap on a page it cannot run on opens the recorder on a Cap page", async () => {
+	const mockServer = await createMockCapServer();
+	const extension = await launchExtensionContext();
+
+	try {
+		const worker = await getServiceWorker(extension.context);
+		await configureExtension(worker, mockServer.origin, {
+			webcamEnabled: false,
+		});
+		const extensionOrigin = `chrome-extension://${new URL(worker.url()).host}`;
+		const messengerPage = await extension.context.newPage();
+		await messengerPage.goto(`${extensionOrigin}/popup.html`);
+		await messengerPage.bringToFront();
+
+		await sendServiceWorkerMessage(messengerPage, {
+			target: "service-worker",
+			type: "open-recorder-panel",
+		});
+		const findCapPage = () =>
+			extension?.context
+				.pages()
+				.find((candidate) => candidate.url().includes("how-it-works.html"));
+		await expect.poll(() => Boolean(findCapPage())).toBe(true);
+		const page = findCapPage();
+		if (!page) throw new Error("Cap page missing");
+		await expect
+			.poll(() => frameWithUrl(page, "popup.html") !== null, {
+				timeout: 15_000,
+			})
+			.toBe(true);
+		await expect(page.locator("#recorder-note")).toBeVisible();
+		await expect.poll(() => page.url()).not.toContain("recorder=open");
+		const panel = frameWithUrl(page, "popup.html");
+		await expect(
+			panel?.getByRole("button", { name: "Start recording" }) ??
+				page.locator("missing"),
+		).toBeVisible();
+	} finally {
+		await extension.cleanup();
+		await mockServer.close();
+	}
+});
diff --git a/apps/chrome-extension/how-it-works.html b/apps/chrome-extension/how-it-works.html
index 3734907d4d1..ae0f2e49b38 100644
--- a/apps/chrome-extension/how-it-works.html
+++ b/apps/chrome-extension/how-it-works.html
@@ -82,6 +82,10 @@
 				</g>
 			</svg>
 			<h1>How Cap works</h1>
+			<p id="recorder-note" class="paper-pill recorder-note" hidden>
+				Cap can't open on browser pages like New Tab or Settings, so your
+				recorder opened here. It opens on any website too.
+			</p>
 			<p class="lede">
 				Instant Mode uploads while you record, so your share link is ready the
 				moment you stop.
diff --git a/apps/chrome-extension/src/background/service-worker.test.ts b/apps/chrome-extension/src/background/service-worker.test.ts
index b29f474272b..56d9121f7b5 100644
--- a/apps/chrome-extension/src/background/service-worker.test.ts
+++ b/apps/chrome-extension/src/background/service-worker.test.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ let onMessage: MessageListener;
 let stored: Record<string, unknown>;
 let pollReplies: Array<(response: OffscreenResponse) => void>;
 let contextReplies: Array<(contexts: object[]) => void>;
+let onActionClicked: (tab: chrome.tabs.Tab) => void;
+let tabsApi: Record<string, ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>>;
 
 const liveStatus: RecordingStatus = {
 	phase: "recording",
@@ -37,6 +39,14 @@ beforeEach(async () => {
 		},
 		setAccessLevel: vi.fn(),
 	};
+	tabsApi = {
+		update: vi.fn((tabId, properties, callback) =>
+			callback({ id: tabId, windowId: 1, ...properties }),
+		),
+		create: vi.fn((properties, callback) =>
+			callback({ id: 99, ...properties }),
+		),
+	};
 	vi.stubGlobal("chrome", {
 		storage: { local: storage, session: storage },
 		runtime: {
@@ -59,16 +69,26 @@ beforeEach(async () => {
 			setPopup: vi.fn((_options, callback) => callback()),
 			setBadgeText: vi.fn((_options, callback) => callback()),
 			setTitle: vi.fn((_options, callback) => callback()),
-			onClicked: { addListener: vi.fn() },
+			onClicked: {
+				addListener: (listener: (tab: chrome.tabs.Tab) => void) => {
+					onActionClicked = listener;
+				},
+			},
 		},
 		tabs: {
+			...tabsApi,
 			query: (_query: object, callback: (tabs: object[]) => void) =>
 				callback([]),
 			onActivated: { addListener: vi.fn() },
 			onUpdated: { addListener: vi.fn() },
 			onRemoved: { addListener: vi.fn() },
 		},
-		windows: { onFocusChanged: { addListener: vi.fn() } },
+		windows: {
+			onFocusChanged: { addListener: vi.fn() },
+			getLastFocused: vi.fn((callback) => callback({ id: 1 })),
+			update: vi.fn((_windowId, _properties, callback) => callback()),
+			create: vi.fn(),
+		},
 	});
 	await import("./service-worker");
 });
@@ -203,3 +223,49 @@ describe("offscreen messaging", () => {
 		expect(await response).toMatchObject({ ok: true, status: pausedStatus });
 	});
 });
+
+describe("recorder on browser pages", () => {
+	const clickOn = async (url: string) => {
+		onActionClicked({ id: 7, index: 2, windowId: 1, url } as chrome.tabs.Tab);
+		// No recorder document exists, however many times the worker asks.
+		await vi.waitFor(() => {
+			while (contextReplies.length > 0) answerContexts(false);
+			expect(
+				tabsApi.update.mock.calls.length + tabsApi.create.mock.calls.length,
+			).toBe(1);
+		});
+	};
+	const capPage = expect.stringMatching(
+		/^chrome-extension:\/\/test\/how-it-works\.html\?recorder=open$/,
+	);
+
+	it.each(["chrome://newtab/", "edge://newtab/"])(
+		"replaces an empty %s with the recorder page",
+		async (url) => {
+			await clickOn(url);
+
+			expect(tabsApi.update).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+				7,
+				{ url: capPage, active: true },
+				expect.any(Function),
+			);
+			expect(tabsApi.create).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+		},
+	);
+
+	it("opens the recorder page beside any other browser page", async () => {
+		await clickOn("chrome://settings/");
+
+		expect(tabsApi.create).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+			expect.objectContaining({
+				url: capPage,
+				active: true,
+				windowId: 1,
+				index: 3,
+				openerTabId: 7,
+			}),
+			expect.any(Function),
+		);
+		expect(tabsApi.update).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+	});
+});
diff --git a/apps/chrome-extension/src/background/service-worker.ts b/apps/chrome-extension/src/background/service-worker.ts
index 1215d083140..19085678ad0 100644
--- a/apps/chrome-extension/src/background/service-worker.ts
+++ b/apps/chrome-extension/src/background/service-worker.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ import {
 	isServiceWorkerRequest,
 } from "../shared/messages";
 import { rememberRecordingMode } from "../shared/preferences";
+import {
+	isRecorderHostPage,
+	RECORDER_OPEN_PARAM,
+} from "../shared/recorder-pages";
 import {
 	clearAuth,
 	clearAuthError,
@@ -364,6 +368,7 @@ const sendOverlay = async (
 const canInjectIntoTab = (tab: chrome.tabs.Tab) => {
 	if (tab.id === undefined) return false;
 	if (!tab.url) return true;
+	if (isRecorderHostPage(tab.url)) return true;
 	try {
 		const protocol = new URL(tab.url).protocol;
 		return (
@@ -380,6 +385,12 @@ const isWebPageSender = (sender: chrome.runtime.MessageSender) => {
 	return !senderUrl.startsWith("chrome-extension:");
 };
 
+// Cap's own pages run the overlay as the top-level document of a tab. When
+// embedded in a frame they could be a hostile site's iframe, so only the top
+// frame counts.
+const isRecorderHostSender = (sender: chrome.runtime.MessageSender) =>
+	Boolean(sender.tab) && sender.frameId === 0 && isRecorderHostPage(sender.url);
+
 // camera-preview.html is web accessible, so any site can load it in an
 // iframe. Only honour camera requests carrying a token that one of our
 // content scripts registered: web pages cannot send runtime messages, so a
@@ -754,8 +765,13 @@ const openRecorderPanel = async (actionTab?: chrome.tabs.Tab) => {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Pages we cannot inject into (chrome://, the Web Store, etc.) still get a
-	// recorder via a standalone popup window.
+	// Browser pages (New Tab, settings, the Web Store) cannot show the
+	// in-page recorder, so it opens on a Cap page instead.
+	const opened = await openRecorderOnCapPage(
+		actionTab ?? (await getActiveTab()),
+	).catch(() => false);
+	if (opened) return;
+
 	chrome.windows.create({
 		url: chrome.runtime.getURL(POPUP_URL),
 		type: "popup",
@@ -764,6 +780,60 @@ const openRecorderPanel = async (actionTab?: chrome.tabs.Tab) => {
 	});
 };
 
+// The action click grants activeTab, which exposes the clicked tab's URL
+// even for browser pages.
+const NEW_TAB_URL =
+	/^(chrome|edge|brave|vivaldi|opera):\/\/(newtab|new-tab-page)\/?$|^about:blank$/;
+
+// An empty New Tab is replaced by the Cap page; any other page keeps its tab
+// and gets the Cap page beside it. The page asks for the panel once loaded.
+const openRecorderOnCapPage = async (fromTab: chrome.tabs.Tab | null) => {
+	const url = new URL(chrome.runtime.getURL("how-it-works.html"));
+	url.searchParams.set(RECORDER_OPEN_PARAM, "open");
+	const fromUrl = fromTab?.url ?? fromTab?.pendingUrl ?? "";
+	if (fromTab?.id !== undefined && NEW_TAB_URL.test(fromUrl)) {
+		await updateTab(fromTab.id, url.toString());
+		return true;
+	}
+	const tab = await new Promise<chrome.tabs.Tab>((resolve, reject) => {
+		chrome.tabs.create(
+			{
+				url: url.toString(),
+				active: true,
+				...(fromTab
+					? {
+							windowId: fromTab.windowId,
+							index: fromTab.index + 1,
+							openerTabId: fromTab.id,
+						}
+					: {}),
+			},
+			(created) => {
+				if (chrome.runtime.lastError || !created) {
+					reject(new Error(chrome.runtime.lastError?.message));
+					return;
+				}
+				resolve(created);
+			},
+		);
+	});
+	if (tab.windowId !== undefined) await focusWindow(tab.windowId);
+	return true;
+};
+
+const showRecorderPanelInTab = async (tab: chrome.tabs.Tab) => {
+	const currentStatus = await syncRecordingStatus().catch(
+		() => recordingStatus,
+	);
+	await updateSharedUiState((current) => ({
+		...current,
+		panelOpen: true,
+		readyBarDismissed: false,
+		updatedAt: Date.now(),
+	}));
+	await showPreviewForRecorderOpen(tab, currentStatus).catch(() => undefined);
+};
+
 const getPreviewTabIdForPip = async () => {
 	const settings = await loadSettings();
 	if (
@@ -1686,6 +1756,14 @@ const handleRequest = async (
 		return { ok: true };
 	}
 
+	if (message.type === "show-recorder-panel") {
+		if (!sender.tab || !isRecorderHostSender(sender)) {
+			return { ok: false, error: "Unauthorized" };
+		}
+		await showRecorderPanelInTab(sender.tab);
+		return { ok: true };
+	}
+
 	if (
 		message.type === "pause-recording" ||
 		message.type === "resume-recording"
@@ -1748,10 +1826,10 @@ const handleRequest = async (
 	}
 
 	if (message.type === "register-overlay-token") {
-		// Tokens may only come from content scripts. Extension pages are
-		// excluded so a web-accessible page embedded by a hostile site cannot
-		// authorise itself.
-		if (!isWebPageSender(sender)) {
+		// Tokens may only come from content scripts or Cap's own pages hosting
+		// the overlay. Other extension pages are excluded so a web-accessible
+		// page embedded by a hostile site cannot authorise itself.
+		if (!isWebPageSender(sender) && !isRecorderHostSender(sender)) {
 			return { ok: false, error: "Unauthorized" };
 		}
 		await registerOverlayToken(message.token);
diff --git a/apps/chrome-extension/src/how-it-works/main.ts b/apps/chrome-extension/src/how-it-works/main.ts
index 55f31874bb9..f56e34db6f3 100644
--- a/apps/chrome-extension/src/how-it-works/main.ts
+++ b/apps/chrome-extension/src/how-it-works/main.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,12 @@
 import { mountPageNav } from "../shared/page-nav";
+import { RECORDER_OPEN_PARAM } from "../shared/recorder-pages";
 import "./styles.css";
 
+// Read before the page nav drops the flag from the URL.
+const openedInPlaceOfBrowserPage =
+	new URLSearchParams(window.location.search).get(RECORDER_OPEN_PARAM) ===
+	"open";
+const recorderNote = document.getElementById("recorder-note");
+if (recorderNote && openedInPlaceOfBrowserPage) recorderNote.hidden = false;
+
 mountPageNav("how-it-works");
diff --git a/apps/chrome-extension/src/how-it-works/styles.css b/apps/chrome-extension/src/how-it-works/styles.css
index 6c2209e186e..904b0a6d648 100644
--- a/apps/chrome-extension/src/how-it-works/styles.css
+++ b/apps/chrome-extension/src/how-it-works/styles.css
@@ -183,3 +183,11 @@
 		animation: none;
 	}
 }
+
+.recorder-note {
+	max-width: 460px;
+	margin-bottom: 18px;
+	border-radius: 16px;
+	font-size: 13px;
+	text-align: left;
+}
diff --git a/apps/chrome-extension/src/shared/page-nav.ts b/apps/chrome-extension/src/shared/page-nav.ts
index 261bf5840a0..7586e0fc4d0 100644
--- a/apps/chrome-extension/src/shared/page-nav.ts
+++ b/apps/chrome-extension/src/shared/page-nav.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { openRequestedRecorder } from "./recorder-host";
 import { loadSettings } from "./storage";
 
 export const PAGE_NAV_LINKS = [
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ const CAP_LOGO_SVG = `<svg class="page-nav-logo" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/s
 
 export const mountPageNav = (active: PageNavId) => {
 	if (document.querySelector(".page-nav")) return;
+	openRequestedRecorder();
 
 	const nav = document.createElement("nav");
 	nav.className = "page-nav";
diff --git a/apps/chrome-extension/src/shared/recorder-host.ts b/apps/chrome-extension/src/shared/recorder-host.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b9b440d6690
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/chrome-extension/src/shared/recorder-host.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+import "../content/bootstrap";
+import { RECORDER_OPEN_PARAM } from "./recorder-pages";
+import { sendServiceWorkerMessage } from "./runtime";
+
+// A Cap page opened in place of a browser page asks for the recorder once,
+// then drops the flag so a reload does not reopen it.
+export const openRequestedRecorder = () => {
+	const url = new URL(window.location.href);
+	if (url.searchParams.get(RECORDER_OPEN_PARAM) !== "open") return;
+	url.searchParams.delete(RECORDER_OPEN_PARAM);
+	window.history.replaceState(null, "", url);
+	void sendServiceWorkerMessage({
+		target: "service-worker",
+		type: "show-recorder-panel",
+	}).catch(() => undefined);
+};
diff --git a/apps/chrome-extension/src/shared/recorder-pages.ts b/apps/chrome-extension/src/shared/recorder-pages.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8f0d0302fd4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/chrome-extension/src/shared/recorder-pages.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+// Browser pages (New Tab, settings, the Web Store) cannot run content
+// scripts, so the in-page recorder cannot open there. Cap's own pages (the
+// ones with the Cap page nav) load the same overlay a website gets, so the
+// recorder always has somewhere to open, including the welcome page a new
+// user lands on after installing.
+const RECORDER_HOST_PATHS = new Set([
+	"/welcome.html",
+	"/how-it-works.html",
+	"/camera-permission.html",
+	"/options.html",
+]);
+
+export const RECORDER_OPEN_PARAM = "recorder";
+
+export const isRecorderHostPage = (url: string | undefined) => {
+	if (!url) return false;
+	try {
+		const parsed = new URL(url);
+		return (
+			parsed.origin === new URL(chrome.runtime.getURL("")).origin &&
+			RECORDER_HOST_PATHS.has(parsed.pathname)
+		);
+	} catch {
+		return false;
+	}
+};
diff --git a/apps/chrome-extension/src/shared/types.ts b/apps/chrome-extension/src/shared/types.ts
index 67932038218..6b13066a036 100644
--- a/apps/chrome-extension/src/shared/types.ts
+++ b/apps/chrome-extension/src/shared/types.ts
@@ -381,6 +381,10 @@ export type ServiceWorkerRequest =
 			target: "service-worker";
 			type: "open-recorder-panel";
 	  }
+	| {
+			target: "service-worker";
+			type: "show-recorder-panel";
+	  }
 	| {
 			target: "service-worker";
 			type: "open-options";
diff --git a/apps/chrome-extension/welcome.html b/apps/chrome-extension/welcome.html
index edae273207a..f7520d436e7 100644
--- a/apps/chrome-extension/welcome.html
+++ b/apps/chrome-extension/welcome.html
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ <h1>Pin Cap to your toolbar</h1>
 						<circle class="record-dot" cx="24" cy="24" r="5.5"></circle>
 					</svg>
 					<span class="step-count">Step 3</span>
-					<p>Click the Cap icon whenever you're ready to record.</p>
+					<p>Click the Cap icon to open the recorder. Try it right here.</p>
 				</li>
 			</ol>
 			<div class="cta-row">