Mac Screen Recording No Audio — Fix Every Cause (2026 Guide)
Your Mac screen recording has no sound. The fix is almost always one of these: a microphone not selected, permissions blocked, system audio not supported by the built-in tools, or an app conflict. This guide walks through every cause in order from most to least common — pick the one that matches your symptom and you'll have audio in under five minutes.
Quick Answer: Fix Mac Screen Recording No Sound
- In your recording app's settings, select a microphone before hitting Record.
- Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and make sure the app is toggled on
- Quit and restart the app after granting permission — it won't take effect until you do
If you want system audio (sounds from apps and videos, not just your voice), jump to the How to Record System Audio section — that's a separate fix.
Does Screen Recording Record Audio on Mac by Default?
Yes and no. macOS can record microphone audio (your voice) out of the box using QuickTime Player and the Screenshot toolbar (Shift + Command + 5). You just need to select a mic in Options before recording.
It cannot record system audio (sounds from apps, videos, games, or calls) using the built-in tools. Apple deliberately blocks this — apps cannot tap into another app's audio stream without a virtual audio driver. This is a privacy feature, not a bug.
| Audio Type | QuickTime / Shift+Cmd+5 | Dedicated app (e.g. Screen Charm) |
|---|---|---|
| Your voice (microphone) | ✓ | ✓ |
| System audio (apps, video, games) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Both at the same time | ✗ | ✓ |
If your recording is silent, knowing which type of audio you expected immediately tells you which section of this guide to follow.
Cause 1: Microphone Not Selected in the Recording App
Most common cause of silent recordings. Every Mac recording tool requires you to explicitly choose an audio input before you start. If you leave it set to "None," the recording will be silent — and that is the default in several apps.
Fix for the Screenshot toolbar (Shift + Command + 5):
- Press
Shift + Command + 5to open the toolbar - Click Options
- Under "Microphone," select your Built-in Microphone or your external mic
- This defaults to None — it will not record audio unless you change it
Fix for QuickTime Player:
- Open QuickTime → File → New Screen Recording
- Click the dropdown arrow next to the Record button
- Select your microphone under "Microphone"
Fix for third-party apps: Look for an audio input selector in the app's recording settings panel before starting. Enable the microphone toggle and select the correct input device.
Cause 2: Microphone Permission Blocked in System Settings
macOS requires explicit permission before any app can use your microphone. If you clicked "Don't Allow" on the initial prompt, or if a macOS update reset your permissions, the app will record silently with no warning.
How to check and fix:
- Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone
- Find your recording app in the list
- Toggle it on
- Quit and reopen the app completely — New permissions don't take effect until the app restarts.
Also check Screen Recording in the same Privacy & Security panel. If the app doesn't have screen recording permission, it may record a black screen with no audio.
If your app isn't in the list at all, open the app and start a recording — that triggers the permission prompt. Accept it, then quit and reopen.
Cause 3: macOS Update Reset Your Permissions
This is a specific variant of Cause 2 that catches people off guard. Major macOS updates (e.g. upgrading from Ventura to Sonoma, or Sonoma to Sequoia) frequently reset microphone and screen recording permissions for third-party apps.
Symptoms: Audio worked before the update, now it's silent.
Fix: Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and Screen Recording. Re-enable the toggles for your recording app. Quit and reopen the app.
Some drivers (like virtual audio drivers for system audio) may also need to be re-approved under System Settings → Privacy & Security → General — look for a blocked system extension message.
Cause 4: Another App Is Blocking Your Microphone
Communication apps — Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Discord, FaceTime — are built to take priority access to your microphone. If one of these is running in the background, even when minimized, it can completely lock out your screen recording app.
Fix:
- Quit all communication apps before recording — don't just close the window, press Command + Q to fully quit them
- Check System Settings → Sound → Input and confirm your mic is selected and the input level meter moves when you speak
- Start a 15-second test recording before your actual session
This is also why test recordings matter. A quick test clip before a long recording session catches this problem before it costs you.
Cause 5: Bluetooth Headset Not Set as Input
Bluetooth headsets can be connected for audio playback but not registered as recording inputs. macOS may use your built-in mic instead of your headset without clearly indicating it.
Fix:
- Go to System Settings → Sound → Input
- Check whether your Bluetooth headset is listed and selected
- If it's listed but not working, disconnect from the Bluetooth menu and reconnect — this forces macOS to re-initialize both input and output channels
- In your recording app, also re-select the headset as the microphone source after reconnecting
Cause 6: Input Volume Muted or Too Low
Your mic may be working but the input volume is set so low that the recording appears silent on playback.
Fix:
- Go to System Settings → Sound → Input
- Select your microphone
- Speak at normal volume and watch the Input level meter — it should visibly respond to your voice
- Set the input volume slider to around 75% as a baseline
- If the meter is completely flat even at high volume, the issue is hardware or permissions (see Causes 2–4)
How to Record System Audio on Mac
If your recording is silent because you wanted to capture sounds from an app, video, or game — your mic permissions are fine, but the built-in tools simply cannot do this.
macOS does not allow its native tools to record system audio. To capture it, you need a virtual audio driver or a dedicated app.
Free option: BlackHole + QuickTime
The standard free solution is to install BlackHole, create a Multi-Output Device in Audio MIDI Setup, and select BlackHole as the input in QuickTime. This routes system audio to a recordable input. Full setup steps are in our how to record internal audio on Mac guide.
No-setup option: Screen Charm
Screen Charm captures system audio natively — no virtual driver installation, no Audio MIDI Setup configuration, no manual routing. Enable System Audio in the app and record.
If your recording has no audio at all (no voice, no system sound), start with Causes 1–3 above. If your recording has your voice but no app/video sounds, the virtual audio driver approach applies.
How to Fix No Sound in QuickTime Specifically
QuickTime is the most common source of silent recordings because its microphone option defaults to "None" and is easy to miss.
- Open QuickTime Player → File → New Screen Recording
- Before pressing Record, click the small arrow or chevron next to the Record button
- Under Microphone, select your input device (Built-in Microphone, external USB mic, etc.)
- Press Record
QuickTime also cannot record system audio natively. For system audio in QuickTime, you must first install BlackHole and select it as the microphone input. See How to Record System Audio on Mac for full steps.
How to Fix No Sound After a macOS Update
See Cause 3 above for the permission reset fix. Additional steps specific to post-update situations:
- If you were using a virtual audio driver (BlackHole, Soundflower, etc.), check if it needs re-approval or reinstallation — updates can block kernel extensions
- Open Audio MIDI Setup and verify your Multi-Output Device still exists and is configured correctly — updates occasionally reset custom device configurations
- If using OBS, check Settings → Audio to confirm your audio sources are still assigned correctly
Quick Diagnostic Chart
Match your symptom to the likely cause:
| Symptom | Most Likely Cause | Where to Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No audio at all (no voice, no system sound) | Microphone not selected in app | App's audio settings panel |
| No audio — worked before an update | Permission reset by macOS | System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone |
| Voice records but no app/video sounds | System audio not supported natively | Install BlackHole or use Screen Charm |
| Mic shows up but records silence | App conflict (Zoom/Teams running) or input volume at 0 | Quit comms apps; check Sound → Input level |
| Bluetooth headset records nothing | Headset not registered as input | System Settings → Sound → Input |
| App not in Microphone permission list | App hasn't requested permission yet | Open app → start recording → grant permission → quit and restart |
| Everything looks correct but still silent | App needs restart after permission change | Quit and reopen recording app with Cmd+Q |
Pre-Recording Checklist to Prevent Silent Recordings
Run this before every recording session:
- Microphone is selected in the recording app's Options (not "None")
- Microphone permission is on in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone
- Communication apps (Zoom, Teams, Discord) are fully quit
- System Settings → Sound → Input shows your mic and the level meter responds to your voice
- Do Not Disturb is enabled to suppress notification sounds
- Run a 15-second test recording and play it back before the real session
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my screen recording have no sound on Mac?
The most common reason is that no microphone was selected before recording. Press Shift + Command + 5, click Options, and choose your microphone. If the app doesn't have microphone permission in System Settings, it will also record silently. After granting permission, quit and restart the app.
Does screen recording on Mac record audio automatically?
No. You must explicitly select a microphone in Options before recording. The default in both the Screenshot toolbar and QuickTime Player is "None" for audio. System audio (from apps and videos) is never recorded automatically — it requires additional setup or a dedicated app.
How do I get sound on my Mac screen recording?
For microphone audio: press Shift + Command + 5 → Options → Microphone → select your mic. For system audio (sounds from apps and videos): use a virtual audio driver like BlackHole, or a dedicated recorder like Screen Charm. For both at once: Screen Charm handles both in a single session.
Why did screen recording audio stop working after a macOS update?
macOS updates frequently reset microphone and screen recording permissions for third-party apps. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone, re-enable your app, then quit and restart it. Virtual audio drivers may also need re-approval under the General tab.
Can QuickTime record system audio?
No, not without additional software. QuickTime can only record microphone audio. To record system audio with QuickTime, install the free BlackHole virtual audio driver and select it as the microphone input. Full instructions are in our internal audio guide.
How do I fix screen recording with no sound in OBS on Mac?
In OBS, go to Settings → Audio. Under Desktop Audio, select BlackHole 2ch (requires BlackHole to be installed). Under Mic/Auxiliary Audio, select your microphone. If you recently updated macOS, re-grant Microphone and Screen Recording permissions in System Settings and restart OBS.
My mic is selected but the recording is still silent. What else should I check?
Check whether a communication app (Zoom, Teams, Discord) is running and blocking mic access — quit it fully with Command+Q. Check System Settings → Sound → Input to confirm the input level meter responds to your voice. If the meter is flat, the issue is hardware or a deeper permission block. Try rebooting your Mac and re-granting permissions.
Need audio that just works every time? Screen Charm captures your microphone and system audio together in one click — no Audio MIDI Setup, no virtual drivers, no permission puzzles. Start recording with perfect audio today. For broader recording troubleshooting, see our complete Mac screen recording guide and our best screen recording software for Mac comparison.
