How to Screen Record on Mac: Built-in Tools & Shortcuts

Anyone who’s ever needed to capture a walkthrough, a bug, or a quick tutorial knows that knowing exactly how to screen record on Mac can save you from fumbling with the wrong tools. Apple includes two built-in ways—the Screenshot toolbar and QuickTime Player—and both are free, reliable, and ready to go. This guide walks you through each method, shows you how to add audio, and covers the most common hiccups so you can start recording in seconds.

Built-in tool: Screenshot toolbar (Shift-Command-5) ·
Shortcut to open: Shift-Command-5 ·
Max recording length: No limit ·
Supported formats: .mov, .mp4 ·
Audio recording: Optional (microphone or system audio) ·
Alternative built-in method: QuickTime Player (File › New Screen Recording)

Six key specs show how the built‑in screen recorder handles the basics.

How to record the screen on Mac?

Using the Screenshot toolbar (Shift-Command-5)

• Press Shift-Command-5 to open the on‑screen controls (Apple’s Screenshot app) – Apple Support (official macOS documentation)
• A small toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen with capture and recording buttons.
• You can choose to record the entire screen, a selected window, or a custom portion – Apple Support
• Click the Record button (or press the space bar) to start.
• To stop, click the stop icon in the menu bar or press Command-Control-Esc – Apple Support
• Recordings are saved to the desktop as .mov files by default.

Recording the entire screen vs a selected portion

• Entire screen: select the far‑left icon (a monitor outline).
• Selected portion: choose the icon with a dashed rectangle, then drag to define the area.
• Recording a specific window: select the window icon, then click on the window you want to capture.

Starting and stopping a screen recording

• Before recording, press Escape to cancel – Apple Support
• While recording, a small stop icon appears in the menu bar at the top‑right.
• After stopping, a thumbnail preview appears briefly; you can click it to edit, or ignore it to save the file.

What is the shortcut for screen recording on a Mac?

Shift-Command-5 for the Screenshot toolbar

• Shift-Command-5 is the primary shortcut to open the Screenshot toolbar – Apple Support
• This works on macOS Mojave (10.14) and later.
• Once the toolbar is open, you can select recording options using the mouse or trackpad.

Control-Command-N to start a new screen recording in QuickTime Player

• In QuickTime Player, press Control-Command-N to open a new screen recording window – Apple Support
• Alternative: open QuickTime from the Applications folder, then go to File › New Screen Recording – Atlassian (productivity software company)

The pattern: macOS gives you two shortcut paths. The Screenshot toolbar is more visual; QuickTime offers a traditional menu‑based flow. Both get you to the same Record button.

How to record video on Mac with sound?

Enabling microphone audio in the Screenshot toolbar

• Open the Screenshot toolbar (Shift-Command-5).
• Click Options and choose a microphone from the dropdown – Apple Support
• The built‑in microphone (or any connected external mic) can capture your voice or ambient sound.
• By default, no microphone is selected — so you must explicitly turn it on if you want audio.

Recording internal system audio (with limitations)

• Apple’s built‑in tools do not record internal system audio (sound from apps, videos, or games) – Atlassian
• To capture system audio, you need a virtual audio driver (like BlackHole) or third‑party software such as OBS Studio.
• This is a common point of confusion: “record with audio” usually means microphone, not system sound.

Using QuickTime Player for audio recording

• Open QuickTime, choose File › New Screen Recording.
• Click the small arrow next to the Record button to select a microphone – Apple Support
• QuickTime also gives you the option to show mouse clicks in the recording – Apple Support

The implication: recording with audio on Mac requires either a microphone or a third‑party driver—choose based on your needs.

How do I start screen recording on Mac?

Step‑by‑step: Using the Screenshot toolbar

1. Press Shift-Command-5 to open the toolbar.
2. Select the recording type: entire screen, window, or portion.
3. Optionally, click Options to set a save location, timer, and microphone – Atlassian
4. Click Record.
5. To stop, click the stop icon in the menu bar or press Command-Control-Esc – Apple Support

Step‑by‑step: Using QuickTime Player

1. Open QuickTime Player (find it in the Applications folder).
2. Go to File › New Screen Recording – Apple Support
3. Click the arrow beside the Record button to choose audio input and other settings.
4. Click the Record button — then click anywhere on your screen to start recording the full screen, or drag to select a portion – Apple Support
5. When finished, click the stop button in the menu bar. QuickTime will automatically open your recorded video – Apple Support

Alternative method: Third‑party apps

• OBS Studio: free, open‑source, records system audio natively, supports advanced scene switching – OBS Project (open‑source streaming software)
• ScreenFlow: paid, includes built‑in video editing – Telestream (professional video tools)
• Camtasia: paid, robust editing and annotation tools – TechSmith (screen capture software company)
• A YouTube tutorial demonstrates the QuickTime workflow: open QuickTime, choose New Screen Recording, select microphone, click Record – YouTube (video tutorial)

What this means: the built‑in tools cover the basics for free. If you need advanced features like internal audio or editing, third‑party apps fill the gap — but they cost time or money.

Why can’t I screen record in Mac?

Permissions issues: Screen Recording privacy setting

• Go to System Settings › Privacy & Security › Screen Recording – Apple Support
• Ensure the app you’re using (e.g., Screenshot, QuickTime Player) is toggled on.
• If you just granted permission, you may need to quit and reopen the app for the change to take effect.

Microphone permissions for audio recording

• If you’ve selected a microphone but no audio is recorded, check System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone.
• Make sure the app has permission to access the microphone.

Conflicts with other apps

• Some third‑party screen recorders (like OBS or Zoom’s built‑in recorder) can lock the display capture and prevent the built‑in tool from working – YouTube (tutorial)
• Try quitting other screen‑capture software before using the built‑in recorder.

Software updates and compatibility

• Restart your Mac — many temporary glitches disappear after a reboot.
• Make sure your macOS is up‑to‑date: the Screenshot toolbar requires Mojave (10.14) or later – Apple Support

The implication: checking permissions before recording saves time and frustration.

Clarity check: what we know for sure

Expert quotes

“On supported macOS versions, pressing Shift-Command-5 opens the Screenshot app toolbar for screen capture and screen recording.”

— Apple Support (official macOS documentation)

“The Screenshot toolbar is the easiest way to start a screen recording on Mac — no extra software needed.”

— Atlassian (productivity software company)

Summary: pick your path

For everyday screen recording — tutorials, demos, bug reports — the built‑in Screenshot toolbar is your best bet: free, no install, and reliable. QuickTime Player gives you a familiar menu‑driven alternative. If you need internal audio or advanced editing, add a free virtual audio driver or invest in a tool like OBS Studio. For the typical Mac owner running macOS Mojave or later, the choice is clear: use Shift-Command-5 for speed, or QuickTime for more control. Either way, you’re covered without spending a cent.

For a detailed walkthrough of the built-in options, check out this guide on screen recording on Mac.

Frequently asked questions