What You Need to Record Audio on Windows or Mac

You can record sound on your PC using built-in tools that come with Windows or macOS, or by downloading free software designed for audio recording. The simplest route depends on what you're recording — a voice memo, a podcast, a video call, or audio from another program — and whether you want basic editing or just a raw file.

Every PC has a microphone input (built-in or USB), and every operating system includes at least one recording program. If you need more control over levels, multiple tracks, or the ability to edit after recording, free programs like Audacity work on both Windows and Mac and handle those tasks without a learning curve.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows includes Voice Recorder (a straightforward one-track tool) and can also record system audio through third-party software; macOS includes QuickTime Player, which records voice but not system audio without additional tools.
  • Audacity is free, works on Windows and Mac, records multiple tracks, and lets you edit, trim, and export audio in common formats like MP3 and WAV.
  • Before recording, check that your microphone is plugged in or enabled in your sound settings, and test the input level so the recording is neither too quiet nor distorted.
  • System audio (sound from your speakers or another program) requires different software than voice recording, because most built-in tools only capture the microphone.
  • After recording, export your file in a format your intended use supports — MP3 for sharing, WAV for editing, or M4A for Apple devices.

Recording Voice on Windows Using Built-In Tools

Windows 10 and Windows 11 include Voice Recorder, a straightforward app designed for quick voice memos. Open the Start menu, type "Voice Recorder," and launch the app. Click the microphone icon to start recording, and click it again to stop. The file saves automatically as an M4A file in your Documents folder under a folder called "Sound recordings."

Voice Recorder works well if you need a single, unedited track — a voice note, a quick interview, or a reminder to yourself. It does not let you edit, adjust levels, or add multiple tracks. If you need any of those features, use Audacity instead (see the section below).

Before you record, check your microphone. Right-click the speaker icon in your system tray (bottom right), select "Sound settings," scroll to "Input," and click your microphone. Speak normally and watch the input level meter — it should move when you talk but not max out. If it does not move, your microphone is muted or not detected; check that it is plugged in or enabled in Device Manager.

Recording Voice on macOS Using QuickTime Player

macOS includes QuickTime Player, which can record audio from your microphone. Open QuickTime Player (in Applications > Utilities), go to File > New Audio Recording, and click the red record button. When you are done, press the stop button, then File > Save to choose where to store the file. QuickTime saves audio as M4A by default.

Like Voice Recorder on Windows, QuickTime is straightforward but limited — it records one track with no editing. If you need to trim, adjust levels, or layer multiple tracks, Audacity is the better choice. QuickTime also does not record system audio (sound from your speakers or another program); it only captures your microphone.

Before recording, check your microphone in System Preferences > Sound > Input. Select your microphone, speak normally, and watch the input level — it should move but not stay at maximum. If nothing moves, your microphone is muted or not connected.

Using Audacity for More Control Over Recording

Audacity is free software that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It records audio, lets you edit multiple tracks, adjust levels, trim silence, and export in formats like MP3, WAV, and OGG. read it from audacityteam.org (the official site; avoid third-party read sites).

To record in Audacity, open the program, check that your microphone is selected in the dropdown at the top left (it usually says "Microphone" or your device name), and click the red circle button to start recording. Click the pause button to stop. The audio appears as a waveform on the screen. You can then select any portion of the waveform and delete it, adjust the volume with the Envelope Tool, or explore effects like noise reduction.

When you are done editing, go to File > Export and choose your format. MP3 is the most widely compatible; WAV is uncompressed and better for further editing; M4A works on Apple devices. Audacity will ask you to set metadata (title, artist, etc.) — you can leave these blank if you do not need them.

Recording System Audio (What Your Speakers Are Playing)

Recording system audio — sound from a video, a music player, or another program — requires different tools than recording your voice. Windows and macOS do not include built-in system audio recording in their standard apps.

On Windows, Audacity can record system audio if you change the input source. Open Audacity, click the microphone dropdown at the top left, and select "Stereo Mix" or "What U Hear" (the exact name varies by sound card). If you do not see this option, your sound card may not support it, or it may be disabled in your sound settings. To enable it, right-click the speaker icon in your system tray, select "Sound settings," scroll to "Advanced," click "Volume mixer," then "App volume and device preferences," and look for Stereo Mix or WASAPI loopback options.

On macOS, Audacity cannot record system audio without additional software. You can use a free tool called BlackHole (from existential.audio) to route system audio to Audacity, but this requires installing a virtual audio device and is more complex. For most users, recording system audio on Mac is easier with a dedicated app like ScreenFlow (paid) or by using QuickTime to record a video and then extracting the audio afterward.

Checking Microphone Levels and Preventing Distortion

Before you record anything important, test your microphone input level. Speak at the volume you plan to use during the actual recording, and watch the level meter in your recording software. The meter should reach somewhere in the middle to upper-middle range — not pinned at maximum, which causes distortion, and not barely moving, which creates a file that is too quiet to hear.

In Audacity, the input level slider is at the top left next to the microphone dropdown. Adjust it so that when you speak, the waveform that appears on screen reaches about halfway up the track. In Voice Recorder or QuickTime, you cannot adjust the level directly, but you can check it in your system sound settings and mute or unmute your microphone there if needed.

If your recording is too quiet after you finish, Audacity can amplify it. Select all (Ctrl+A on Windows, Cmd+A on Mac), then go to Effect > Normalize. This raises the volume to a safe maximum without distorting. If your recording is distorted (sounds crackly or harsh), you cannot fix it — re-record at a lower level instead.

Exporting and Saving Your Recording

The format you save in depends on what you plan to do with the file. MP3 is the most compatible format — it plays on any device and is small enough to email or upload. WAV is uncompressed and larger, but better if you plan to edit the file further or need the highest quality. M4A is Apple's format and works well on iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

Voice Recorder and QuickTime save automatically in M4A. Audacity lets you choose: go to File > Export and select your format. The first time you export as MP3, Audacity will ask you to locate the MP3 encoder on your computer — it is usually already installed, and Audacity will find it automatically if you click "Locate."

After you export, your original Audacity project file (the .aup3 file) remains separate from the exported audio file. You can delete the project file if you do not plan to edit further, but keep the exported MP3, WAV, or M4A file — that is the one you will use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my recording too quiet even though the microphone level looked normal?

The input level meter in your recording software may not match your actual microphone volume. Check your system sound settings (Sound settings on Windows, Sound in System Preferences on Mac) and make sure your microphone is not muted and is set to a reasonable level. If it is still quiet, re-record and speak louder, or use Audacity's Normalize effect after recording to raise the volume.

Can I record a phone call or video meeting?

Yes, but check the laws in your location first — some places require all parties to consent to recording. On Windows, use Audacity with Stereo Mix enabled to capture both sides of the call. On Mac, you may need third-party software. For video calls specifically, many platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams) have built-in recording features that are simpler and legal, since all participants know they are being recorded.

What if my microphone does not show up in the input dropdown?

First, make sure it is plugged in (for USB microphones) or enabled (for built-in mics). Then restart your recording software. If it still does not appear, check Device Manager on Windows (right-click Start, select Device Manager, expand "Audio inputs and outputs") or System Report on Mac (Apple menu > About This Mac > System Report > Audio) to see if the microphone is listed. If it is listed but grayed out, it may be disabled — right-click it and select Enable.

Can I record multiple people talking at once?

Yes, if each person has their own microphone connected to your PC. In Audacity, each microphone will appear as a separate input device in the dropdown at the top left. You can record them on separate tracks by opening Audacity multiple times or by using a mixer, but most people find it simpler to use one microphone placed in the center of a group and adjust the levels so everyone is heard equally.

What format should I use if I want to edit the file later?

Save as WAV or keep the original Audacity project file (.aup3). MP3 is compressed, which means some audio information is discarded to make the file smaller — editing an MP3 and re-exporting it degrades quality. WAV keeps all the original information, so you can edit it multiple times without loss. If you save the Audacity project file, you can reopen it anytime and edit without exporting first.