Guide

How to screen record on Mac: three ways

Every Mac can record its screen without installing anything. Here’s how, what the built-in tools can’t do, and when an app is worth it.

Get early access See how it works

In short

Press Shift-Command-5 to open the Screenshot toolbar, choose Record Entire Screen, Record Selected Window (macOS Tahoe 26 or later) or Record Selected Portion, then click Record. To stop, click the Stop button in the menu bar or press Command-Control-Esc. The recording is saved as a MOV file on your desktop. In Options you can add a microphone, and on macOS 27 or later, the Mac’s own sound with Include System Audio.

1. Shift-Command-5: the built-in way

  1. Press Shift-Command-5

    The Screenshot toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen. (Launchpad and Spotlight can also open the Screenshot app.)

  2. Pick the screen, a window or an area

    The record buttons are on the right of the toolbar: Record Entire Screen, Record Selected Window (macOS Tahoe 26 or later), and Record Selected Portion.

  3. Check Options

    Choose where to save, a timer, a microphone, Include System Audio (macOS 27 or later), and whether to show mouse clicks.

  4. Record, then stop

    Click Record. When you’re done, click the stop button in the menu bar or press Command-Control-Esc.

A thumbnail appears in the corner for a few seconds. Click it to trim the recording or share it; otherwise it’s saved where Options says, the desktop by default. See where screen recordings go.

2. QuickTime Player

Open QuickTime Player and choose File › New Screen Recording, or press Control-Command-N. On current macOS this opens the same Screenshot toolbar as Shift-Command-5, so the result is the same. QuickTime is still useful afterwards: open the recording and use Edit › Trim to cut its start and end. More in QuickTime screen recording.

3. A screen recording app

The built-in tools record exactly what was on screen, at full size. That’s fine for a quick clip. For anything people will watch, such as a demo, a tutorial or a bug report for someone else, you’ll usually want more:

  • Your camera in the corner
  • Zooms, so text is readable on a laptop or phone
  • A smoother cursor, captions, and blurred secrets
  • Your voice and the Mac’s sound on separate tracks, and the Mac’s sound on macOS versions before 27
  • MP4 or GIF instead of MOV

ScreenRecordii records the screen, camera, microphone and system audio, and adds zooms on every click, a smooth cursor and a framed background while you record.

Which to use

You want…Use
A quick clip for yourself or a colleagueShift-Command-5
To trim a recording you already haveQuickTime Player
The Mac’s sound, on macOS 27 or laterShift-Command-5, with Include System Audio
The Mac’s sound on earlier macOS, or on its own trackAn app such as ScreenRecordii
A demo or tutorial other people will watchAn app such as ScreenRecordii

Questions

How do I screen record on Mac with sound?

For your voice, choose a microphone in the Options menu of Shift-Command-5. For the sound your Mac plays, choose Include System Audio, on macOS 27 Golden Gate or later; on earlier versions you need an app that records system audio. See screen recording on Mac with audio.

How do I stop a screen recording on a Mac?

Click the stop button in the menu bar, or press Command-Control-Esc. More in how to stop screen recording on Mac.

Where does the recording go?

To the desktop by default, named “Screen Recording” with the date and time. Change it in the toolbar’s Options menu.

What format is a Mac screen recording?

A MOV file. To get an MP4, see how to convert MOV to MP4 on Mac.

Can I record just one window?

Yes: on macOS Tahoe 26 or later, the Screenshot toolbar has Record Selected Window. ScreenRecordii records a single window on macOS 14 or later, and follows it if it moves.

Keep reading

Hit record.

ScreenRecordii is in early access for macOS 14 and later.

Get early access See how it works