Screen recording on Mac is built right into macOS. Whether you need to create a tutorial, record a presentation, capture a video call, or document a software bug, Apple provides several powerful tools that require no additional software. This guide covers every method available, starting with the quickest options.
Method 1: Using the Screenshot Toolbar (macOS Mojave and Later)
The Screenshot toolbar, introduced in macOS Mojave (10.14), is the fastest and most versatile way to record your screen. It is available on macOS Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia.
How to Open the Screenshot Toolbar
Press Cmd + Shift + 5 on your keyboard. A floating toolbar will appear at the bottom of your screen with several capture options.
Recording Your Entire Screen
- Press Cmd + Shift + 5 to open the toolbar.
- Click the Record Entire Screen button (the icon showing a full screen with a circle in the corner).
- Click Record to begin capturing.
- To stop recording, click the Stop button in the menu bar at the top of your screen, or press Cmd + Control + Esc.
Recording a Selected Portion of Your Screen
- Press Cmd + Shift + 5 to open the toolbar.
- Click the Record Selected Portion button (the icon with a dotted rectangle and a circle).
- Drag the edges of the selection rectangle to define the area you want to record.
- Click Record to begin, and use the Stop button or Cmd + Control + Esc to finish.
Screenshot Toolbar Options
Before starting a recording, click the Options button in the toolbar to configure:
- Save to: Choose where your recording is saved (Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, Mail, Messages, Preview, or a custom location).
- Timer: Set a 5-second or 10-second countdown before recording starts.
- Microphone: Select an audio input device to record voiceover or system sounds alongside your screen capture.
- Show Floating Thumbnail: Toggle the preview thumbnail that appears after recording.
- Remember Last Selection: Keep the same recording area between sessions.
- Show Mouse Clicks: Display a visual indicator around your cursor when you click during recording.
Tip: The recording is saved as a .mov file by default. You can find it on your Desktop (or wherever you configured the save location). The floating thumbnail that appears after recording lets you quickly trim, share, or delete the clip without opening another app.
Method 2: Using QuickTime Player
QuickTime Player has included screen recording capabilities since OS X Yosemite (10.10). It is especially useful on older macOS versions that do not have the Screenshot toolbar, but it works on all modern versions as well.
How to Record with QuickTime Player
- Open QuickTime Player from your Applications folder or by searching in Spotlight (Cmd + Space, then type "QuickTime").
- In the menu bar, click File and then select New Screen Recording.
- On macOS Mojave and later, this will open the Screenshot toolbar described above. On earlier versions, a small recording control window appears.
- Click the dropdown arrow next to the Record button to select your microphone or enable mouse click visualization.
- Click the Record button. Click anywhere on screen to record the entire display, or drag to select a specific area.
- Click the Stop button in the menu bar to end the recording.
- QuickTime will open the finished recording. Use File > Save or File > Export As to save it in your preferred resolution.
Tip: QuickTime Player also lets you record from your iPhone or iPad screen wirelessly. Connect your device via USB, open QuickTime, select File > New Movie Recording, and choose your iOS device as the camera source.
Method 3: Keyboard Shortcuts Quick Reference
Here is a summary of the most important keyboard shortcuts for screen recording and screenshots on Mac:
| Shortcut |
Action |
| Cmd + Shift + 5 |
Open Screenshot toolbar (record or screenshot) |
| Cmd + Control + Esc |
Stop an active screen recording |
| Cmd + Shift + 3 |
Capture entire screen as screenshot |
| Cmd + Shift + 4 |
Capture a selected area as screenshot |
| Cmd + Shift + 4 then Space |
Capture a specific window as screenshot |
Recording Your Screen with Audio
One of the most common questions about Mac screen recording is how to capture audio. There are two types of audio you may want to record:
Recording Microphone Audio
Both the Screenshot toolbar and QuickTime Player let you select a microphone input before recording. In the Screenshot toolbar, click Options and choose your microphone under the Microphone section. In QuickTime, click the dropdown arrow next to the Record button.
Recording System Audio (Internal Sound)
By default, macOS does not allow you to capture the audio playing through your speakers (system audio) during a screen recording. To record internal audio, you need a virtual audio driver. Popular options include:
- BlackHole — A free, open-source virtual audio driver. After installation, create a Multi-Output Device in Audio MIDI Setup that combines your speakers and BlackHole, then select BlackHole as your microphone input in the recording options.
- Loopback by Rogue Amoeba — A commercial utility that makes it easy to route audio between applications and into your screen recordings.
Tip: When recording system audio, always test your setup before starting a long recording session. Play a short audio clip and verify that the recording captures both your voice (if needed) and the system sound.
Recording a Specific Area or Window
If you only need to capture a portion of your screen, both the Screenshot toolbar and QuickTime Player offer selection options:
- Screenshot Toolbar: Choose "Record Selected Portion," then drag the selection handles to frame the exact area you want to capture.
- QuickTime Player (pre-Mojave): After clicking Record, drag on the screen to define a rectangle. Only the selected area will be recorded.
Recording a specific area is useful when you want to focus on a single application window, a browser tab, or a specific part of your workflow without capturing your entire desktop.
Screen Recording Settings and Preferences
Changing the Save Location
By default, screen recordings are saved to your Desktop. To change this, open the Screenshot toolbar (Cmd + Shift + 5), click Options, and select a different location under "Save to." You can also choose "Other Location" to pick any folder on your Mac.
File Format and Quality
Mac screen recordings are saved in MOV format (H.264 codec) by default. The resolution matches your display, so recordings on a Retina display will be high-resolution. If you need a different format (like MP4), you can convert using QuickTime's Export function or a free tool like HandBrake.
Controlling Recording with the Menu Bar
While recording, a small Stop button appears in the menu bar at the top right of your screen. Clicking it immediately ends the recording. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Cmd + Control + Esc.
Tips for Better Screen Recordings
- Close unnecessary apps: Reduce clutter on your screen and free up system resources for smoother recording.
- Use Do Not Disturb: Enable Focus mode or Do Not Disturb to prevent notification banners from appearing in your recording.
- Clean your desktop: If recording your entire screen, remove or organize desktop files for a professional appearance.
- Plan your workflow: Before hitting Record, rehearse the steps you want to demonstrate to keep the recording concise.
- Use a dedicated microphone: Built-in Mac microphones are adequate, but an external USB microphone significantly improves audio quality for tutorials and presentations.
- Trim after recording: Use the floating thumbnail or QuickTime's trim feature to cut unwanted sections from the beginning and end of your recording.
- Consider your resolution: If you plan to share the video online, a 1080p recording is usually sufficient. You can adjust your display resolution in System Settings > Displays before recording.
Tip: For longer recordings or complex tutorials, consider using a dedicated screen recording application like OBS Studio (free) or ScreenFlow (paid). These tools offer additional features like scene switching, overlays, and real-time editing. See our
Best Screen Recorders for Mac guide for detailed comparisons.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I record my screen on Mac?
There is no built-in time limit for screen recordings on Mac. The only constraint is available disk space. A typical 1080p screen recording uses approximately 1-2 GB per hour, depending on the content being captured.
Where are my screen recordings saved?
By default, recordings are saved to your Desktop as .mov files with a timestamp in the filename (for example, "Screen Recording 2024-01-15 at 10.30.00 AM.mov"). You can change the save location in the Screenshot toolbar's Options menu.
Can I record my screen without the recording controls showing?
Yes. The Screenshot toolbar and QuickTime recording controls automatically disappear once you start recording. Only the small Stop button in the menu bar remains visible, and it will not appear in your recording if you are using the Screenshot toolbar method.
Does screen recording capture my cursor?
Yes, your cursor movements are captured by default. If you want mouse clicks to be visually highlighted, enable "Show Mouse Clicks" in the Screenshot toolbar's Options or QuickTime's recording dropdown.