How to Record Your Mac Screen: Shortcut, Audio, and Save Location

Learn how to record your Mac screen with macOS built-in tools. This guide covers Shift-Command-5, QuickTime Player, microphone settings, save locations, and common recording problems.

7 min read

You do not need to install another app before recording your Mac screen. Press Shift-Command-5 to open macOS Screenshot, then record the entire screen or just the area you need.

This guide explains how to record your screen with Screenshot and QuickTime Player, the tools already included with macOS. It also covers microphone recording, where your video is saved, and what to check when screen recording does not work as expected.

The fastest way

Press Shift-Command-5, choose a recording mode, then use Options to select a microphone and save location before clicking Record.

Before you start

On macOS, Screenshot is the main interface for screen recording. The labels and available options can vary slightly between macOS versions, but the basic flow for recording the entire screen or a selected portion is the same.

This guide uses macOS 15 and later as its baseline. On macOS 26 Tahoe and later, you may also see an option to record a selected window.

1. Record your screen with Shift-Command-5

The simplest way to start is with the keyboard shortcut.

  1. Press Shift-Command-5 together.
  2. Choose a screen recording icon from the toolbar at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Select the entire screen or a selected portion.
  4. Open Options and check the settings you need.
  5. Click Record to start.
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To record the entire screen, choose the entire-screen recording icon and click Record. To record only part of the screen, choose the selected-portion icon and drag the borders around the area you want to capture.

Recording options to check

The Options menu lets you configure:

  • Save to: Desktop, Documents, or a folder you choose
  • Timer: A short preparation delay before recording starts
  • Microphone: The built-in microphone or a connected external microphone
  • Show Mouse Pointer: Whether to include the pointer in the video
  • Show Mouse Clicks: Whether to highlight click locations

For a tutorial or product walkthrough, showing the pointer or clicks can make each action easier to follow. If you want a clean capture of a presentation or product screen, turn pointer display off.

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2. Record your screen with QuickTime Player

If you prefer to start from an app menu, use QuickTime Player.

  1. Open QuickTime Player from the Applications folder.
  2. Choose File > New Screen Recording from the menu bar.
  3. Or press Control-Command-N.
  4. Choose the recording area and options from the Screenshot toolbar.
  5. Click Record.
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On recent versions of macOS, choosing New Screen Recording in QuickTime Player may open the Screenshot toolbar. Think of QuickTime Player and Shift-Command-5 as two ways to reach the same screen-recording controls rather than two completely different recording systems.

3. Add audio to your screen recording

Record your voice

Before recording, open Options > Microphone and choose the input you want to use. This can be your MacBook's built-in microphone, a USB microphone, or a headset microphone.

Make a short test recording first. Even after selecting a microphone, your voice may not be recorded if macOS has not granted the app microphone permission.

Record audio playing on your Mac

System audio from music or a video playing on your Mac is different from microphone input. The Microphone option in macOS screen recording selects an input device; it does not automatically capture every sound playing through your Mac.

If you need system audio, you may need a separate audio-routing tool or screen-recording app. This guide focuses on the built-in macOS tools, so that setup is best covered in a separate guide.

4. Stop the recording and find the file

There are two ways to stop recording:

  • Click the stop button in the menu bar at the top right.
  • Press Command-Control-Esc.

If you did not choose another location, the recording is saved to your Desktop by default. You can change the save location and filename behavior from the Options menu. Screen recordings are generally saved as .mov files.

After recording, open the file in QuickTime Player to watch it or trim away sections you do not need.

5. When Mac screen recording does not work

If recording does not start or the video does not contain what you expected, check these items in order:

  • Screen recording permission: Open System Settings > Privacy & Security and check screen recording access.
  • Microphone permission: If your voice is missing, check microphone access and the selected input device.
  • Protected content: Some apps or protected videos may restrict screen recording and appear as a black screen.
  • Shortcut issues: If Shift-Command-5 does not work, search for Screenshot in Spotlight and open it directly.
  • Save location: Check access to the selected folder and the remaining storage on your Mac.

If QuickTime Player shows an error, try opening Screenshot directly with Shift-Command-5 to see whether the built-in toolbar can record normally.

6. Which method should you use?

  • For a quick recording: Shift-Command-5
  • To start from an app menu: QuickTime Player
  • To include your voice: Options > Microphone
  • To capture system audio: Consider a separate audio-routing or recording tool

For a quick screen share or short tutorial, macOS built-in tools are usually enough. Start with the native workflow, then decide whether you need additional tools based on the editing or audio features you actually use.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Mac screen recording shortcut?

Press Shift-Command-5. It opens Screenshot, where you can record the entire screen or a selected portion.

Where are Mac screen recordings saved?

They are saved to the Desktop by default. You can change the location from the Options menu before recording.

Can I include my voice in a screen recording?

Yes. Choose a microphone from Options > Microphone before you start recording.

Can I record audio playing on my Mac?

Selecting a microphone in macOS screen recording does not automatically include system audio. You may need additional audio settings or a separate tool if you need sound from an app or video.

Where can I find Apple's official instructions?

Apple's support guides cover screen recording for different macOS versions:

Want to polish the recording afterward?

macOS built-in tools are a good fit when you simply need to capture the screen. If you repeatedly need to emphasize cursor movement, add captions, or refine webcam regions, you may want a dedicated editing workflow.

Cue is being prepared for Mac users who want to record their screen and refine cursor zooms, captions, and webcam overlays in one place.