How to Screen Record on Mac (With Audio) — 2026 Guide

The fastest way to screen record on a Mac is the built-in Screenshot toolbar. Press Shift + Command + 5, choose the whole screen or a selected portion, then click Record.

To stop, click the stop button in the menu bar, or press Command + Control + Esc.

You do not need to download anything. Every modern Mac can screen record out of the box, with sound from your microphone. Apple added system audio in macOS 27 Golden Gate. Earlier versions need a free tool for that.

This guide covers the built-in ways to record your screen on macOS, the free tools for system sound, how to capture sound, where recordings save, and how to fix the common problems.

Using a PC as well? We have a companion guide on how to screen record on Windows with audio. The built-in tools are different, but just as capable.

What you will need

• Any Mac running macOS Mojave (2018) or later. That is when the Shift + Command + 5 toolbar arrived. Older Macs can still use QuickTime Player.
• Nothing to install for screen and microphone recording.
• For internal (system) audio, recording the sound from a video or app, you need macOS 27 Golden Gate or later, or a free tool such as BlackHole or OBS Studio on earlier versions. Explained below.

Method 1: Shift + Command + 5: easiest

The Screenshot toolbar is the quickest built-in way to record your screen on a Mac.

1. Press Shift + Command + 5. A control bar appears at the bottom of the screen.
2. Choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion, dragging to size the box.
3. Click Options to choose where the file saves, set a start timer, and turn on your microphone if you want to narrate. On macOS 27 Golden Gate or later, you can also choose Include System Audio.
4. Click Record, and do whatever you want to capture.
5. To stop, click the stop icon in the menu bar, or press Command + Control + Esc.
6. A thumbnail appears in the corner. Click it to trim or share, or ignore it to save automatically.

This is best for quick recordings, tutorials and bug reports. It records at your screen's resolution and saves a .mov file.

Method 2: QuickTime Player

QuickTime Player offers the same screen recording on older Macs, and adds a few sharing options. It is a good alternative if the keyboard shortcut is not available.

1. Open QuickTime Player, from Applications or Spotlight.
2. In the menu bar, click File → New Screen Recording.
3. On macOS Mojave or later, the same Shift + Command + 5 controls appear, so follow Method 1. On older Macs, a Screen Recording window opens instead.
4. Click the arrow next to the Record button to pick a microphone, then click Record. Click anywhere to record the whole screen, or drag to select an area and click Start Recording.
5. Click the menu-bar stop button, then File → Save to name and store your video.

How to record with sound

There are two kinds of audio, and Macs treat them very differently.

• Your voice (microphone) is easy. In the Shift + Command + 5 toolbar, click Options and select your mic under "Microphone". Everything you say is recorded alongside the screen.
• Internal / system audio is the awkward one. On macOS 27 Golden Gate or later, Apple says you can click Options in the Shift + Command + 5 toolbar and choose Include System Audio. Earlier versions cannot record it with the built-in tools, so use a free tool such as BlackHole or OBS Studio.

BlackHole, on macOS versions before 27:

1. Install BlackHole, a free virtual audio driver.
2. Open Audio MIDI Setup from Spotlight, click + at the lower left and choose Create Multi-Output Device.
3. Tick your speakers or headphones and BlackHole, with your speakers at the top of the list.
4. Right-click the Multi-Output Device and choose Use This Device For Sound Output.
5. In the Shift + Command + 5 toolbar, click Options, choose BlackHole as the microphone, and record. This records the Mac's sound instead of your voice.

When you finish, set your speakers as the sound output again in your Mac's Sound settings.

OBS Studio: on macOS Ventura (13) or later, OBS Studio 30 or newer records system sound directly. Add a macOS Screen Capture source, and its sound appears in the Audio Mixer.

Tip: to record a video call or a YouTube clip with its sound before macOS 27, BlackHole (free, open source) is the most reliable no-cost option.

Where do Mac screen recordings save?

By default, to your Desktop, with a name like "Screen Recording 2026-07-29 at 10.30.mov".

To change that, open the Shift + Command + 5 toolbar, click Options, and pick a new location under "Save to", Documents, Clipboard, Mail, or a custom folder.

Recordings are .mov files. They play in QuickTime and upload to most platforms directly.

How to trim or edit your recording

You do not need extra software for basic edits.

1. Open the recording in QuickTime Player.
2. Choose Edit → Trim, or press Command + T.
3. Drag the yellow handles to keep only the part you want, then click Trim and save.

For titles, zooms or cuts, use iMovie, which is built into macOS, or a dedicated editor.

Troubleshooting: common screen-recording problems

• No sound in the recording. You did not choose a microphone in Options. For system audio, choose Include System Audio on macOS 27 or later, or use a tool like BlackHole on earlier versions.
• Black screen when recording a streaming app. DRM-protected services such as Netflix and Apple TV+ intentionally block screen recording. This is expected.
• The shortcut does nothing. Check System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Screenshots, and make sure recording is allowed under Privacy & Security → Screen & System Audio Recording (Screen Recording on some earlier versions). On macOS Monterey and earlier, these are in System Preferences, under Keyboard → Shortcuts → Screenshots and Security & Privacy → Privacy → Screen Recording.
• The recording is laggy. Close heavy apps, and record a selected portion instead of the whole screen on older Macs.

The upgrade that matters most: your microphone

Your recording is only as good as the audio you feed it. A cheap USB mic is the biggest single improvement you can make.

• Maono AU-PM461TR USB condenser microphone, connects straight over USB, is recognised by macOS with no drivers, and removes the room echo that built-in mics pick up.

What to remember

You do not need any extra software to screen record on a Mac. Shift + Command + 5 handles almost everything, QuickTime Player is a solid backup, and on versions before macOS 27, a free tool like BlackHole covers internal audio.

Add your microphone in Options, stop from the menu bar, and trim in QuickTime. That is all it takes.

Want more Mac and PC tips? Browse our how-to guides, or see how to cast your laptop to a TV to put those recordings on the big screen.

Shopping for a machine? See the best gaming laptops and the best laptops for students.