The fastest way to record your Mac screen

macOS includes a built-in screen recording tool called Screenshot that captures video without installing anything. Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the screenshot menu, then click Record Selected Portion or Record Entire Screen. A red recording indicator appears in the menu bar. When you finish, click the red circle in the menu bar or press Control + Command + Esc to stop. The video saves to your desktop as an .mov file by default.

This built-in method works on macOS 10.14 (Mojave) and newer. It captures audio from your Mac's microphone and internal speakers, though you control which sound sources record through the Options menu before you start. The video quality matches your screen resolution, so a 4K display records in 4K.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the screenshot menu and choose Record Selected Portion or Record Entire Screen without downloading software.
  • Click Options in the screenshot menu to choose which audio source to record—your microphone, internal speakers, or both.
  • Stop recording by clicking the red circle in the menu bar or pressing Control + Command + Esc, and the video saves to your desktop as an .mov file.
  • Third-party apps like OBS Studio and ScreenFlow offer advanced features such as multiple source mixing, custom layouts, and direct export to video platforms.
  • Test your audio and video settings before recording anything important, because fixing audio in post-production is time-consuming.

Choosing your audio source before recording

The screenshot menu's Options button controls what sound the recording captures. Click Options and look for the Microphone dropdown. You can select your built-in microphone, an external USB microphone, or None if you only want to record screen activity without voice. If you want to capture both your voice and system audio (like music or video playback), you need a third-party app—the built-in tool records one audio source at a time.

Test your microphone before you record anything important. Open System Preferences, go to Sound, and check the Input tab to confirm your microphone is selected and the input level moves when you speak. A microphone that does not register input will produce a silent recording.

Recording a selected area instead of your whole screen

If you only need to film part of your screen—a single window, a browser tab, or a specific region—use Record Selected Portion instead of Record Entire Screen. After you press Shift + Command + 5 and click that option, your cursor becomes a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a rectangle around the area you want to record. You can adjust the selection by dragging the edges or corners before you start recording.

Selecting a portion reduces file size and keeps the viewer's attention on what matters. A 10-minute full-screen recording at 1080p is roughly 500 MB to 1 GB; a selected window recording of the same length is typically 100 to 300 MB.

Where your recording saves and how to move it

By default, the screenshot tool saves recordings to your desktop with a filename like "Screen Recording 2024-01-15 at 2.45.32 PM.mov". To change the save location, open the screenshot menu (Shift + Command + 5), click Options, and select a different folder from the Save to dropdown. You can choose Documents, Downloads, a specific folder, or the Clipboard (which stores the video in memory instead of saving a file).

Once a recording is saved, you can move it like any other file. Drag it to a folder, email it, or upload it to a cloud service. The .mov format plays on any Mac and most video players on Windows and Linux, though some platforms prefer .mp4. You can convert the file using free tools like HandBrake or by opening it in QuickTime Player and exporting as a different format.

Using third-party apps for advanced recording

OBS Studio is free, open-source software that records screen, camera, and audio simultaneously with full control over layout and quality settings. read it from obsproject.com, install it, and create a new scene. Add a Display Capture source to record your screen, add an Audio Input Capture source for your microphone, and an Audio Output Capture source for system audio. This setup lets you mix multiple audio tracks—something the built-in tool cannot do. OBS exports directly to platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook, or saves as an .mp4 file.

ScreenFlow is a paid app ($99 one-time purchase) designed specifically for Mac screen recording. It offers frame-by-frame editing, built-in effects, and direct export to multiple video formats. Camtasia ($99.99 per year) includes screen recording, editing, and a library of templates and assets. Both are more intuitive than OBS for beginners but cost money. The built-in screenshot tool is sufficient for most people; use a third-party app only if you need features it does not have.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most frequent error is forgetting to select the correct audio source before recording. If you record a tutorial and realize halfway through that your microphone is not capturing, you cannot fix it without re-recording. Always do a 10-second test recording and play it back to confirm audio is working.

Another mistake is recording at a resolution your audience cannot view comfortably. If you are sharing a recording on a website or video platform, check what resolution they recommend. Most platforms handle 1080p well; 4K files are much larger and do not always play smoothly on older computers or mobile devices. If file size is a concern, record at 1440p or 1080p instead of your display's native resolution.

Do not record sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, or private messages without blurring them first. The built-in tool does not have a blur feature, so use a third-party app or edit the video afterward if you need to hide sensitive data.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The built-in screenshot tool does not support picture-in-picture recording. Use OBS Studio instead: add a Display Capture source for your screen and a Video Capture Device source for your webcam, then position them side by side in your scene. Camtasia and ScreenFlow also support this feature.

Why is my recording choppy or laggy?

Close unnecessary apps and browser tabs before recording. Recording uses CPU power, and if your Mac is running other tasks, the video frame rate drops. If you are recording a game or animation, lower your screen resolution or use a third-party app that lets you set a lower frame rate (24 fps instead of 60 fps uses less processing power).

How do I record internal audio and my microphone at the same time?

The built-in screenshot tool records only one audio source. Use OBS Studio and add both an Audio Input Capture source (your microphone) and an Audio Output Capture source (system audio) to your scene. Adjust the volume levels for each in the mixer panel so neither one drowns out the other.

Can I edit my recording after I save it?

Yes. Open the .mov file in QuickTime Player (it comes with macOS), and you can trim the beginning and end. For more detailed editing, use iMovie (free, included with macOS), Final Cut Pro ($299.99 one-time), or free tools like DaVinci Resolve. These let you cut sections, add text, adjust colors, and add music.

What file format should I use if I am uploading to YouTube or another platform?

YouTube accepts .mov files, but .mp4 is more widely supported across platforms. The built-in tool saves as .mov by default. To convert, open the file in QuickTime Player, go to File > Export As, and choose a format. OBS Studio can export directly as .mp4 if you set it up in the output settings before recording.