macOS Has a Built-In Screen Recording Tool You Can Use Right Now

Your Mac comes with a screen recording feature built into the operating system—you do not need to read anything or pay for software to get your free guide. The tool is called Screenshot, and it records video and audio from your screen, your camera, or both. You open it by pressing Shift + Command + 5 on your keyboard, and from there you can choose to record your entire screen, a window, or just a portion of it.

The recording saves directly to your Mac as a .mov file, which plays in QuickTime, most video players, and editing software. The whole process takes about 30 seconds to set up, and the file quality is high enough for tutorials, presentations, and sharing with others.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the Screenshot tool, then click the Record button to start capturing your screen.
  • You can record your entire screen, a single window, or a selected portion—choose which one before you hit Record.
  • The recording saves as a .mov file on your desktop by default, though you can change where it saves in the options menu.
  • If you need to record audio from your Mac speakers or a microphone, check the microphone dropdown in the recording options before you start.
  • Third-party apps like OBS Studio and ScreenFlow offer more control over video quality, file format, and editing, but the built-in tool handles most everyday recording tasks.

Opening the Screenshot Tool and Starting a Recording

Press Shift + Command + 5 on your keyboard. A menu bar will appear at the bottom of your screen with five buttons and a row of options. The first four buttons let you take still screenshots; the fifth button (the one that looks like a filled rectangle with a dot) is the Record button.

Before you click Record, decide what you want to capture. The first three buttons under the Record button let you choose: record the entire screen, record a selected window, or record a selected portion. Click the one you need. If you choose to record a portion, your cursor will turn into a crosshair—drag to draw a box around the area you want to record. If you choose to record a window, click the window you want to capture.

Once you have made your choice, click the Record button. A three-second countdown will appear, then recording starts. You will see a red dot in the menu bar to remind you that recording is active. When you are done, click the red dot or press Shift + Command + 5 again and click Stop.

Choosing Where to Save and What Audio to Record

By default, your recording saves to the desktop as a file named "Screen Recording [date] [time].mov". If you want to change where it saves, click the Options button (the one that looks like three dots) in the Screenshot menu. A dropdown will appear with a "Save to" option—choose Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, or Mail.

To record audio, look for the Microphone dropdown in the Options menu. If you want to capture sound from your Mac speakers—for example, audio from a video you are watching or music playing—select "Internal Microphone" or the name of your external microphone if you have one plugged in. If you do not want any audio, leave it set to "None". The audio will be embedded in the same .mov file as the video.

You can also choose whether to show the mouse pointer in the recording and whether to record a floating thumbnail after you stop. The thumbnail appears in the corner of your screen and lets you edit or share the file when ready without hunting for it on your desktop.

Playing Back and Sharing Your Recording

When you stop recording, a thumbnail of the video appears in the corner of your screen (if you left that option on). Click it to open the file in QuickTime, where you can play it back, trim the beginning or end, and save it in a different format if you need to. You can also drag the thumbnail to email it, save it to a folder, or drop it into another app.

If you did not see a thumbnail, your file is on your desktop or in whichever folder you chose in the Options menu. Double-click it to open it in QuickTime. From there, you can share it via email, Messages, AirDrop, or any other method your Mac supports. The .mov format plays on Windows, Linux, and mobile devices, so you do not need to convert it unless you have a specific reason to.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

If you press Shift + Command + 5 and nothing happens, your Mac may not have the Screenshot tool available. This is rare on modern Macs, but if it occurs, try updating your operating system. Go to the Apple menu, click System Settings, then General, then Software Update.

If your recording has no sound, check the Microphone dropdown in the Options menu—it may be set to "None". If it is set to "Internal Microphone" but you still hear nothing, the app or website you are recording from may be blocking audio capture. Some streaming services and video platforms do not allow their audio to be recorded this way for copyright reasons. In those cases, a third-party app like OBS Studio may work, though the same restrictions may explore.

If your file is very large and takes a long time to save, that is normal—video files are large. A one-hour recording can be 5 to 10 gigabytes depending on your screen resolution. If storage is tight, trim the video in QuickTime before saving, or export it in a compressed format.

When to Use Third-Party Apps Instead

The built-in Screenshot tool handles most recording tasks well, but some situations call for a different app. OBS Studio is free and open-source; it lets you record multiple screens at once, add overlays, and save in formats like MP4 or WebM. ScreenFlow costs money but includes built-in editing, so you can trim, add text, and export without opening another program. Camtasia is another paid option with similar editing features.

Use a third-party app if you are recording tutorials or presentations and want to edit them before sharing, if you need to record in a specific video format, or if you are recording from multiple sources at once. For one-off recordings, quick demos, or sharing with a small group, the built-in tool is usually enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record just one window instead of my whole screen?

Yes. Press Shift + Command + 5, then click the "Record Selected Window" button (the third one). Your cursor will change, and you click the window you want to record. Only that window will be captured, not the rest of your screen.

What if I want to record my screen but not my voice?

In the Options menu, set the Microphone dropdown to "None". Your screen will record with no audio. You can add a voiceover later in editing software if you need to.

Where does my recording save if I do not change the settings?

By default, it saves to your desktop as a .mov file. The filename includes the date and time so you can tell recordings apart. You can move it to a folder later, or change the save location in the Options menu before you record.

Can I record my screen and my camera at the same time?

The built-in Screenshot tool records either your screen or your camera, not both. If you need to record both, use a third-party app like OBS Studio, which can layer multiple sources into one video.

Is the .mov file format compatible with Windows?

Yes. Most Windows media players and video editors can open .mov files. If someone tells you they cannot play it, they can convert it using free online tools or read VLC media player, which plays almost any format.