Welcome! Below is a concise, SEO-friendly guide explaining how to screen record on a Mac, using both built-in tools and a few popular alternatives.

# 1. How to Screen Record on Mac with Built‑In Shortcut (macOS Mojave and later)

If your Mac is running macOS Mojave (10.14) or later, you have the Screenshot toolbar:

# Step-by-step

  1. Press:
    Shift + Command (⌘) + 5
  2. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see controls for:
    • Capture still screenshots
    • Record Entire Screen
    • Record Selected Portion
  3. Choose one:
    • Record Entire Screen: Click the full-screen record icon, then click anywhere on the screen to start.
    • Record Selected Portion: Click the dotted-box icon, drag to select an area, then click Record.
  4. To stop recording, click the Stop button in the menu bar (top-right), or press:
    • Command (⌘) + Control + Esc
  5. Your video appears as a thumbnail in the bottom-right corner; click it to:
    • Trim
    • Save
    • Share

Apple’s official guide: https://support.apple.com/HT208721

# 2. How to Screen Record on Mac with QuickTime Player

QuickTime Player works on most recent macOS versions and is great if the Shift + ⌘ + 5 shortcut isn’t available or you prefer a menu-based approach.

# Steps

  1. Open QuickTime Player:
    • From Applications
    • Or search with Spotlight (Command (⌘) + Space, type QuickTime Player).
  2. In the top menu bar, click:
    File → New Screen Recording
  3. A small recording window appears:
    • Click the arrow next to the red button to choose:
      • Microphone (if you want voice or system sound via loopback software)
      • Show mouse clicks in recording
  4. Click the red Record button:
    • To record the entire screen: click anywhere on the screen.
    • To record a specific area: drag to select a region → click Start Recording.
  5. To stop recording:
    • Click the Stop icon in the menu bar, or
    • Press Command (⌘) + Control + Esc
  6. QuickTime automatically opens your recording:
    • Trim via Edit → Trim
    • Save via File → Save…

More details: https://support.apple.com/guide/quicktime-player/qtp97b08e666/mac

# 3. How to Record Screen with Audio on Mac

By default, macOS lets you record microphone audio easily, but system audio (sound from apps, browsers, games) requires an extra step.

# A. Record Screen with Microphone (built-in)

Using Shift + ⌘ + 5:

  1. Press Shift + Command (⌘) + 5
  2. Click Options
  3. Under Microphone, choose:
    • Built-in Microphone
    • Or an external mic (USB, headset)
  4. Choose your recording mode and click Record

Using QuickTime Player:

  1. File → New Screen Recording
  2. Click the arrow next to the red button
  3. Select your microphone
  4. Start recording as usual

# B. Record Screen with System Audio (apps, games, browser)

macOS doesn’t let you capture internal/system audio directly. You need a virtual audio driver, such as:

Basic idea (conceptual overview):

  1. Install a virtual audio device (e.g. BlackHole).
  2. Route system audio to that device (using Audio MIDI Setup or a helper app).
  3. In QuickTime or the Screenshot toolbar, choose that virtual device as the microphone.
  4. Record as usual.

Because installation steps update often, check the official docs for the tool you choose.

# 4. How to Change Screen Recording Settings on Mac

When you press Shift + ⌘ + 5, click Options to tweak:

  • Save to:
    • Desktop
    • Documents
    • Clipboard
    • Mail, Messages, Photos
    • Or a custom folder
  • Timer:
    • None
    • 5 seconds
    • 10 seconds
  • Microphone:
    • None
    • Built-in or external mic
  • Options:
    • Show Floating Thumbnail
    • Remember Last Selection
    • Show Mouse Clicks

Adjust these before you start recording to streamline your workflow.

# 5. Where Are Screen Recordings Saved on Mac?

By default, macOS usually saves recordings to the Desktop with names like:

Screen Recording 2025-12-05 at 14.32.01.mov

To change the default location:

  1. Press Shift + ⌘ + 5
  2. Click Options
  3. Under Save to, choose another folder (e.g., Documents)

# 6. How to Trim and Edit Screen Recordings

# A. Trim with QuickTime (built-in and free)

  1. Double-click your .mov recording to open it in QuickTime.
  2. In the menu bar, click Edit → Trim…
  3. Drag the yellow handles to keep just the part you want.
  4. Click Trim, then File → Save or File → Export As…

# B. Edit in iMovie (more editing tools)

If you want to add text, transitions, or music:

  1. Open iMovie (free from the Mac App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/imovie/id408981434)
  2. Create a New Movie
  3. Drag your screen recording into the timeline
  4. Cut, add text/titles, adjust speed, and export as needed

# 7. How to Screen Record on Older Macs (No Shift + ⌘ + 5)

If your Mac is on macOS High Sierra (10.13) or earlier:

  • You don’t have the Screenshot toolbar.

  • Use QuickTime Player:

    1. Open QuickTime Player
    2. File → New Screen Recording
    3. Choose microphone and options
    4. Start and stop recording as described earlier

# 8. Best Third‑Party Screen Recording Apps for Mac

If you need advanced features like annotations, webcam overlay, or pro-level editing, consider:

These can record:

  • Screen
  • Webcam
  • System audio and microphone
  • Multiple monitors

# 9. Quick Troubleshooting Tips

Recording is blank or black:

  • Some apps (DRM-protected content like streaming services) block capture.

No audio in recording:

  • Check Microphone selection under Options (Shift + ⌘ + 5) or QuickTime.
  • Ensure the mic isn’t muted and System Settings → Sound is configured.

File size is too big:

  • Shorten the recording or compress afterwards with:
    • QuickTime → File → Export As… (choose a lower resolution)
    • Or tools like HandBrake: https://handbrake.fr/

# 10. Quick Reference: Keyboard Shortcuts for Screen Recording on Mac

  • Open Screenshot toolbar: Shift + Command (⌘) + 5
  • Stop recording: Click Stop in menu bar or Command (⌘) + Control + Esc
  • Open Spotlight search: Command (⌘) + Space (to quickly find QuickTime)

By using the built-in tools (Shift + ⌘ + 5 and QuickTime Player), you can screen record on any modern Mac without installing extra software. For more complex tasks—capturing system audio, adding webcam overlays, or heavy editing—pair those tools with virtual audio drivers or pro apps like OBS Studio, ScreenFlow, or Camtasia.