To screen record on a Mac, press Shift + Command + 5, click Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion, pick a microphone under Options, and click Record. Stop with the square button in the menu bar. That's free and built into every Mac since macOS Mojave. The catch: the built-in recorder can't capture system audio or your webcam, so this guide also covers how to get both, plus how to fix a black or silent recording. On Windows? See our best free screen recorders for Windows guide instead.
How to Screen Record on a Mac in 5 Steps
- Open the toolbar. Press Shift + Command + 5. The Screenshot toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose what to record. Click Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion (the two icons to the right of the divider). For a selection, drag the frame over the area you want.
- Set your options. Click Options and choose a Microphone if you want your voice, a Save to location, and a Timer if you need a few seconds to get ready.
- Start recording. Click Record. A stop button appears in the menu bar.
- Stop and save. Click the stop button in the menu bar or press Command + Control + Esc. The file saves to your Desktop as a
.movnamed "Screen Recording [date] at [time]".
What the Built-in Mac Recorder Can't Do
Shift + Command + 5 and QuickTime are fine for quick clips. They stop short in four places:
- No system audio. Sound from apps, browser videos, or Zoom is not recorded. Fix it with BlackHole or a dedicated recorder.
- No webcam overlay. You can't record your screen and face together. See recording with a webcam.
- No window-only recording. Video can only be the entire screen or a selected portion. The "window" option in the toolbar is for screenshots.
- Only basic trimming. You can cut the start and end, nothing else. No zooms, captions, or cuts in the middle.
If your recording is black, silent, or won't start, jump to troubleshooting or read our guide to Mac screen recording permissions and common fixes.
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The Shift + Command + 5 Toolbar, Explained
For any spontaneous recording — a bug report, a quick walkthrough, something you want to show a colleague — Shift + Command + 5 is the fastest path. Apple introduced this shortcut with macOS Mojave (2018), replacing the need to open QuickTime every time. It works the same on every current Mac model.
When the toolbar appears, you'll see five capture buttons:
- Three on the left — screenshots (entire screen, selected window, selected portion)
- Two on the right — video recording (entire screen, selected portion)
To record just one app, choose Record Selected Portion and drag the frame around that app's window. If you have more than one display connected, choose Record Entire Screen and click the display you want to record. For every shortcut and toolbar option, see our dedicated screen record Mac shortcut guide.
How to Record Screen with Audio on a Mac
Before pressing Record, click Options in the toolbar. This is where you decide whether the recording has sound at all.
Options menu: settings to configure before you hit Record
Microphone — Select your built-in mic, a USB mic, or AirPods. The default is None, so if you skip this step your recording is silent.
Save to — By default, recordings land on your Desktop. Change this to a dedicated folder (e.g. ~/Movies/Screen Recordings) to avoid clutter.
Timer — Set a 5- or 10-second countdown. Use this when you need to position windows, open the right app, or compose yourself before recording begins.
Show Mouse Clicks — When enabled, a dark circle appears around your cursor on every click. Indispensable for tutorials where viewers need to follow your actions.
Remember: macOS screen recording cannot capture internal system audio on its own. If you need to record sound from an app, game, or video playing on your screen, you need a third-party tool. See the section below on capturing system audio. If your recording came out silent, our Mac screen recording no sound guide walks through every fix.
How to Screen Record with QuickTime Player
QuickTime is the older way to record, and it's still useful if you prefer starting from an app rather than a shortcut.
Open QuickTime from /Applications, then choose File → New Screen Recording. The same Screenshot toolbar appears, with the same recording and Options controls.
Selecting audio in QuickTime
Click Options in the toolbar to choose your microphone. If you've plugged in an external USB mic, it will appear here.
Like the toolbar shortcut, QuickTime cannot record internal audio (system sound) natively. For a complete guide to recording system audio on macOS, see our capture system audio on Mac guide.
How to Record Internal System Audio on a Mac
macOS doesn't let the built-in tools record system audio. Recording a video playing in Safari, a game's sound effects, or audio from Zoom will result in silence using only QuickTime or Shift + Command + 5.
The free workaround: a virtual audio device
- Download and install BlackHole (free, open source)
- Open Audio MIDI Setup (in /Applications/Utilities/)
- Create a Multi-Output Device that combines your speakers and BlackHole
- Set this Multi-Output Device as your system audio output
- In Shift + Command + 5 → Options (or QuickTime), select BlackHole as the microphone
This routes your Mac's audio output back in as a recordable input. It takes about 5 minutes to set up. The trade-off: with BlackHole selected you record system sound but not your voice, unless you also build an Aggregate Device. For the full walkthrough, including mic plus system audio together, see our guide to recording internal audio on Mac.
The no-setup option: a dedicated Mac screen recorder like Screen Charm records system audio and your microphone together, with no virtual driver.
How to Record Screen with Webcam (Picture-in-Picture)
The built-in tools in macOS do not support picture-in-picture webcam recording. You cannot capture your screen and your face simultaneously with QuickTime Player or the Screenshot toolbar.
For this, you need a dedicated app. Screen Charm adds a webcam bubble to your recording — you choose the size, position, and shape. It handles the screen and camera feeds in one recording session. For a full comparison of options, see our guide to the best screen recorder with facecam for Mac.
This is particularly useful for:
- Product demo videos where personality matters
- Online course content
- Customer support walkthroughs
- Product Hunt launch videos
How to Screen Record on Mac with Screen Charm
If you need system audio, a webcam, or a video you'll share publicly, this is the workflow in Screen Charm, the Mac recorder we build:
- Download Screen Charm for free. No account is needed to start recording.
- Grant permissions on first launch: Screen Recording, plus Microphone and Camera if you'll use them, in System Settings → Privacy & Security.
- Choose your recording area, then toggle the camera, microphone, and system audio on or off.
- Click Record. Pause and resume as needed, in the same session.
- Stop, then polish in the editor. Zooms are added automatically on your clicks, with motion blur and cursor smoothing. Trim, add captions or background music, and blur anything private.
- Export an MP4 in up to 4K, or share a link. Exporting needs a one-time $79 license; recording is free.
Other Screen Recorders for Mac
If the built-in tools aren't enough and Screen Charm isn't the right fit, these are the common alternatives:
- OBS Studio — Free and open source. Powerful for streaming and multi-source scenes, but has a learning curve and needs BlackHole for system audio on Mac.
- Loom — Cloud-first, for quick shareable videos with a webcam bubble. Paid plans from $15/user/month billed annually ($18 monthly).
- CleanShot X — Screenshots plus simple recordings. $29 one-time.
- Snagit — Screenshot-first with basic video. $39/year.
- ScreenFlow — Full recording and editing suite. $199.
Prices are from the vendors' pricing pages and can change. Our best screen recording software for Mac guide ranks and reviews the top tools side by side.
Related Mac Recording Guides
- Mac screen recording shortcut guide
- Record system audio on Mac
- Fix Mac screen recording no sound
- Record screen and webcam together
- Best screen recording software for Mac
MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Screen Recording Differences
The screen recording process is identical on every Mac, but a few hardware and display differences are worth knowing.
How to Record on MacBook Air
To record on a MacBook Air, press Shift + Command + 5, choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion, open Options to select a microphone, then click Record. This works the same on Intel and Apple silicon (M1 through M4) MacBook Air models.
MacBook Air models run fanless. During long screen recordings at high resolution — especially with screen sharing, heavy browser tabs, or a connected external display — the chip can throttle slightly to manage heat. This is normal and usually doesn't affect recording quality.
If you're recording for more than 30–45 minutes on a MacBook Air, consider:
- Plugging in power
- Closing unused apps and browser tabs
- Recording in a cool room
Display resolution: On a Retina display, the built-in recorder captures at the screen's full pixel resolution, not the smaller "looks like" size set in System Settings → Displays. That keeps text sharp, but it's also why the files are large. If you only need 1080p, export a smaller copy afterwards (see file size below).
For the best MacBook Air screen recording quality:
- Use Shift + Command + 5 for quick recordings.
- Choose your microphone in Options before recording.
- Plug in power for long recordings.
- Close heavy apps and browser tabs before recording.
- Use a dedicated recorder if you need webcam overlay, internal system audio, automatic zoom, or 4K export.
MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro models have the ProMotion (120 Hz) display on the 14-inch and 16-inch. The built-in recorder saves at up to 60 fps, so the higher refresh rate doesn't show up in the recording.
MacBook Pro's fan-cooled thermal design handles long recordings better than the Air. For professional tutorials, product demos, or recordings lasting more than an hour, a MacBook Pro will maintain consistent performance.
External display note: If you have an external display connected, choose Record Entire Screen in the Shift + Command + 5 toolbar, then click the display you want to record.
macOS Version Notes: Tahoe, Sequoia, Sonoma
The core Shift + Command + 5 toolbar has been stable since Mojave. However, a few version-specific details are worth knowing.
macOS Tahoe (26)
macOS Tahoe (26) keeps the same core screen recording workflow: Shift + Command + 5 for the Screenshot toolbar, QuickTime Player for basic recordings, and System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording for app permissions.
If a screen recorder stops working after upgrading, re-grant Screen Recording permission, then quit and reopen the app. This is the most common fix after major macOS updates.
macOS Sequoia (15)
Sequoia did not change the Shift + Command + 5 or QuickTime workflow. It did change permissions for third-party recorders: macOS now periodically asks you to confirm that an app may keep recording your screen. If a third-party recorder suddenly stops capturing, approve that prompt or re-enable the app in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording.
macOS Sonoma (14)
Sonoma kept the same recording workflow. While any app is recording or sharing your screen, a recording indicator appears in the menu bar. It is not visible in the recording output.
Troubleshooting Screen Recording on Mac
The recording starts but nothing is captured (black screen)
This almost always means the app doesn't have Screen Recording permission.
- Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording
- Make sure the app you're using (QuickTime, or your third-party recorder) is toggled on
- Quit and reopen the app completely — permissions don't take effect until the app restarts
If you're recording a DRM-protected window (Netflix, Apple TV, some streaming services), macOS intentionally prevents capture and renders that window black.
Recording won't start at all
- Check that no other app is actively using screen recording (some video call apps grab the permission exclusively)
- Restart your Mac and try again
- If using a third-party tool, delete and reinstall it, then re-grant the Screen Recording permission
The mouse cursor doesn't appear in the recording
The built-in recorder shows the cursor by default, but some third-party tools hide it. Check the app's recording preferences. In Screen Charm, cursor highlighting and zoom animations are handled automatically.
No audio in screen recording at all
If your screen recording has no sound at all, the microphone was most likely left on None in Options. Select a mic before recording, and make sure the recorder has Microphone permission in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone. For a full checklist of fixes, see our Mac screen recording no sound troubleshooting guide.
Audio is recording but there's a hum or echo
If you're using the built-in microphone while speakers are playing audio, you may get feedback. Use headphones or an external mic during recordings to eliminate this.
The recording stops unexpectedly
- Low disk space is the most common cause. Recordings stop when the disk is nearly full. Free up space and try again.
- On MacBook Air, thermal throttling rarely causes recording to stop, but it can if the machine is severely hot. Let it cool and try again.
Slow down or lag during recording
- Close unused browser tabs and apps
- Turn off external displays you're not recording
- If recording 4K or Retina resolution, consider using a dedicated recorder that handles the encoding more efficiently than QuickTime
Managing and Exporting Your Screen Recordings
Trimming right after you stop
When you stop recording, a thumbnail of the video appears in the bottom-right corner of your screen for a few seconds. Click it to open the trim editor. You can drag the start and end handles to cut the head or tail of the video. This is the fastest way to remove the awkward few seconds at the beginning where you were setting up.
Saving to the right place
Set your default save location once in Options → Save to and you'll never hunt for recordings on your Desktop again. A folder like ~/Movies/Screen Recordings or a project-specific folder is ideal.
File size
A 10-minute 1080p screen recording from QuickTime will typically be 200–600 MB depending on screen motion. On a Retina display the file is larger, because it's recorded at full pixel resolution. Mostly static UI makes smaller files; scrolling, animation, and video playback make larger ones.
To shrink a recording, open it in QuickTime Player and choose File → Export As → 1080p (or 720p). QuickTime re-encodes it at the chosen size, typically cutting the file by 50–80%.
If your storage is mysteriously full, check the Desktop, your Save to folder, and the Trash for old .mov recordings.
Privacy before you record
A discipline worth building: before every recording, close anything personal — email, messages, password manager, financial apps. Turn on Do Not Disturb from Control Center → Focus so notifications don't appear mid-recording. You can turn everything back on as soon as you stop.
When the Built-in Mac Tools Aren't Enough
macOS tools are genuinely good for quick captures. Here's what they can and can't do compared to a dedicated recorder:
| Feature | QuickTime / Shift+Cmd+5 | Screen Charm |
|---|---|---|
| Record full screen | ✓ | ✓ |
| Record selected area | ✓ | ✓ |
| Microphone audio | ✓ | ✓ |
| Internal system audio | ✗ | ✓ |
| Webcam overlay (PiP) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Auto-zoom & cursor tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pause and resume | ✗ | ✓ |
| Trim & edit in the same app | Limited | ✓ |
| 4K export | ✓ | ✓ |
For occasional screen grabs, QuickTime is completely sufficient. For product demos, tutorials, or any video you'll share publicly, Screen Charm handles system audio, webcam overlay, auto-zoom, and editing in one app, so you don't have to stitch together multiple tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I screen record on a Mac?
Press Shift + Command + 5. Choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion, pick a microphone in Options if you want narration, then click Record. To stop, click the stop button in the menu bar or press Command + Control + Esc. The recording saves to your Desktop by default.
What is the keyboard shortcut to screen record on a Mac?
Shift + Command + 5 opens the screen recording toolbar. Command + Control + Esc stops a recording. You can also stop by clicking the square stop button in the menu bar.
Is screen recording on a Mac free?
Yes. Shift + Command + 5 and QuickTime Player are built into macOS at no cost. Neither adds a watermark, and there's no time limit beyond your free disk space.
How do I screen record on a MacBook Air?
Exactly the same as any other Mac: Shift + Command + 5, choose your recording area, click Record. MacBook Air handles screen recording well for most sessions. For recordings over 30–45 minutes, plug in power to avoid any thermal throttling.
How do I screen record on a MacBook Pro?
Press Shift + Command + 5. If you have an external display connected, choose Record Entire Screen and click the display you want to record. MacBook Pro's active cooling makes it better suited for long recording sessions than the Air.
How do I screen record on a Mac with sound?
Open Shift + Command + 5 → Options → Microphone and select your mic before starting. This records your voice. For internal system audio (sound from apps, videos, games), you need a virtual audio driver like BlackHole or a dedicated app like Screen Charm.
Why is there no sound when I screen record on a Mac?
The built-in recorder doesn't record any audio unless you pick a microphone under Options, and it never records system audio. Select a mic before recording. For sound from apps or videos, use BlackHole or a dedicated recorder like Screen Charm.
Why is my screen recording black?
The most common cause is missing Screen Recording permission. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording, enable the app, then quit and reopen it. A black window in your recording usually means you tried to capture a DRM-protected window (Netflix, Apple TV, etc.), which macOS blocks by design.
Can I record just one window on a Mac?
Not with the built-in video recorder. It records the entire screen or a selected portion. Choose Record Selected Portion and drag the frame around the window. The window option in the toolbar only takes screenshots.
Where does the screen recording go after I stop?
By default, your Desktop. The file is named something like Screen Recording 2026-02-13 at 10.30.00.mov. You can change the default save location by opening Shift + Command + 5 → Options → Save to.
Why is my screen recording file so large?
macOS records at full quality and, on Retina displays, at full pixel resolution. To compress: open the file in QuickTime Player, then File → Export As → 1080p (or 720p). This re-encodes it at a smaller file size. For more control, use HandBrake or a tool like Screen Charm that lets you choose resolution and quality when exporting.
Can I record my screen and webcam at the same time on a Mac?
Not with the built-in tools. You need a third-party app. Screen Charm supports picture-in-picture webcam recording alongside your screen capture in a single workflow.
My screen recording stopped working after a macOS update. How do I fix it?
Re-grant Screen Recording permission. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording, toggle the app off, then back on. Quit and reopen the app. If that doesn't work, restart your Mac. macOS updates occasionally reset privacy permissions for third-party apps.
How do I stop a screen recording on a Mac?
Click the square stop button in your menu bar (it appears while recording). Or press Command + Control + Esc, which immediately stops the recording. You can also press Shift + Command + 5 again and click the stop button in the toolbar.
Can I record my screen without QuickTime?
Yes. The Shift + Command + 5 toolbar is part of the Screenshot app, so you don't need to open QuickTime at all. For recording with more features (system audio, webcam, editing), use a dedicated app like Screen Charm.
How do I record the screen on an older Mac running Mojave or Catalina?
Shift + Command + 5 works on Mojave (10.14) and above. On even older macOS (High Sierra or earlier), open QuickTime Player manually, then File → New Screen Recording. The core functionality is the same.
