How to Screen Record on Mac: Every Method Explained (2026)
Whether you are creating a software tutorial, recording a presentation, capturing gameplay, or saving a video call for later reference, screen recording on a Mac is straightforward once you know which tool to reach for. macOS ships with two free built-in methods that handle the majority of use cases, and a handful of third-party apps fill the gaps -- especially when you need to capture system audio or add professional editing on top.
This guide covers every method available in macOS Sequoia, Sonoma, and Ventura, including the Screenshot toolbar shortcut, QuickTime Player, OBS Studio, Loom, and ScreenFlow. Each section walks through the full process step by step so you can start recording in minutes.
Last updated: February 26, 2026
Quick Comparison: Mac Screen Recording Methods at a Glance
Before diving into the step-by-step instructions, here is a side-by-side comparison of every method covered in this guide. Use this table to pick the right tool for your situation.
| Feature | Screenshot Toolbar (Cmd+Shift+5) | QuickTime Player | OBS Studio | Loom | ScreenFlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (built-in) | Free (built-in) | Free (open source) | Free tier / Paid plans | $169 one-time |
| System audio recording | No | No (without workaround) | Yes (macOS 13+) | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone recording | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Webcam overlay | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Region selection | Full screen or custom area | Full screen or custom area | Full screen, window, or app | Full screen, window, or custom | Full screen, window, or custom |
| Built-in editing | Trim only | Trim only | No | Trim, stitch, annotations | Full video editor |
| Output format | .mov | .mov | .mkv, .mp4, .mov, .flv | .mp4 (cloud) | .mp4, .mov, .gif |
| Best for | Quick recordings | Simple recordings | Advanced / streaming | Team collaboration | Professional tutorials |
| macOS version required | Mojave (10.14)+ | Any | Monterey (12)+ | Any | Ventura (13)+ |
Method 1: The Screenshot Toolbar (Command + Shift + 5)
The Screenshot toolbar is the fastest way to start a screen recording on any Mac running macOS Mojave or later. It is built directly into the operating system -- there is nothing to install, no app to open, and no account to create. Apple introduced this unified toolbar to replace the older Grab utility, and it handles both screenshots and screen recordings from a single interface.
Step-by-Step Instructions
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Open the Screenshot toolbar. Press Command + Shift + 5 on your keyboard. A floating toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen with five icons -- three for screenshots and two for screen recordings.
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Choose your recording mode. The toolbar offers two recording options:
- Record Entire Screen -- the fourth icon from the left, which looks like a screen with a small record circle. Click this to capture everything visible on your display.
- Record Selected Portion -- the fifth icon, which looks like a screen with a dashed border and a record circle. Click this to draw a rectangle around the specific area you want to capture.
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Configure recording options (optional). Click the Options button on the toolbar to access these settings:
- Save to -- choose where your recording file is saved (Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, Mail, Messages, Preview, or a custom folder).
- Timer -- set a 5-second or 10-second countdown before recording starts, giving you time to prepare.
- Microphone -- select an audio input source to record your voice narration alongside the screen. By default, no microphone is selected and the recording is silent.
- Show Mouse Clicks -- when enabled, a dark circle appears around your cursor during each click, making it easier for viewers to follow your actions.
- Show Floating Thumbnail -- when enabled, a small thumbnail preview appears in the corner of your screen after you stop recording, letting you quickly trim or share the clip.
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Start recording. Click the Record button on the toolbar. If you chose "Record Selected Portion," drag the handles of the selection rectangle to define the area first, then click Record.
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Stop recording. You can stop the recording in two ways:
- Click the Stop button in the menu bar at the top of your screen (it looks like a small square inside a circle).
- Press Command + Control + Escape.
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Edit or save. If the floating thumbnail is enabled, click it to open a Quick Look preview where you can trim the start and end of your recording. The file is saved automatically to whichever location you chose in the Options menu -- by default, this is your Desktop.
Keyboard Shortcut Summary
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open Screenshot toolbar | Command + Shift + 5 |
| Stop recording | Command + Control + Escape |
| Take screenshot (full screen) | Command + Shift + 3 |
| Take screenshot (selection) | Command + Shift + 4 |
When to Use the Screenshot Toolbar
The Screenshot toolbar is the best choice when you need a quick, no-frills recording. It is ideal for:
- Recording a short demo to share with a colleague.
- Capturing a bug or UI issue to attach to a support ticket.
- Recording a specific area of your screen without capturing your entire desktop.
- Any situation where you do not need webcam overlay or system audio capture.
Method 2: QuickTime Player Screen Recording
QuickTime Player has been a part of macOS for decades, and its screen recording feature predates the Screenshot toolbar. While the two tools share the same underlying recording engine on modern versions of macOS, QuickTime Player provides a slightly different workflow that some users prefer -- especially if you want to open the recording directly in QuickTime for trimming and exporting before saving.
Step-by-Step Instructions
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Open QuickTime Player. Find it in your Applications folder, or press Command + Space to open Spotlight and type "QuickTime Player."
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Start a new screen recording. In the menu bar, click File > New Screen Recording, or press Control + Command + N. This opens the same Screenshot toolbar described in Method 1, but launched from within QuickTime Player.
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Choose your recording area. Select either "Record Entire Screen" or "Record Selected Portion" from the toolbar icons.
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Configure options. Click Options to select your microphone input, save location, timer, and mouse click visibility -- the same options available in the standalone Screenshot toolbar.
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Click Record. The recording begins immediately (or after the timer countdown, if you set one).
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Stop the recording. Click the Stop button in the menu bar or press Command + Control + Escape.
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Trim the recording (optional). After stopping, the recording opens automatically in a QuickTime Player window. To trim:
- Go to Edit > Trim (or press Command + T).
- Drag the yellow handles on the timeline to select the portion you want to keep.
- Click Trim.
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Save or export. Go to File > Save (Command + S) to save as a .mov file. To export at a specific resolution, go to File > Export As and choose 4K, 1080p, 720p, or 480p. For maximum compatibility when sharing, 1080p in .mov format works universally.
QuickTime vs. Screenshot Toolbar: What Is the Difference?
On macOS Mojave and later, QuickTime Player's "New Screen Recording" command actually invokes the same Screenshot toolbar. The practical difference is that QuickTime Player provides a more convenient workflow for recording, trimming, and saving as a single sequence -- the recording opens directly in QuickTime for immediate editing instead of landing as a file on your Desktop.
On older versions of macOS (High Sierra and earlier), QuickTime Player had its own standalone recording interface with a small floating window. If you are running an older Mac, QuickTime Player is your only built-in screen recording option.
Method 3: Recording System Audio on Mac (The Missing Feature)
One of the most common frustrations with Mac screen recording is that neither the Screenshot toolbar nor QuickTime Player can record system audio by default. When you record your screen, you can capture your microphone input -- your voice -- but the audio playing through your speakers or headphones (music, video playback, app sounds, system notifications) is not included in the recording.
This is a deliberate architectural decision by Apple. macOS routes audio from applications directly to the output device (speakers or headphones) in a one-way path. There is no built-in "loopback" mechanism that lets a recording app tap into that audio stream.
The Solution: Virtual Audio Drivers
To record system audio on a Mac, you need to install a virtual audio driver that creates a software loopback -- essentially a fake audio device that routes your system's sound output back as an input that recording apps can capture.
Option A: BlackHole (Recommended -- Free and Open Source)
BlackHole is the modern, actively maintained replacement for the now-deprecated Soundflower. It works with macOS Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, and Apple Silicon Macs without issues.
Installation:
- Download BlackHole from github.com/ExistentialAudio/BlackHole. Choose either BlackHole 2ch (stereo -- sufficient for most use cases) or BlackHole 16ch (multi-channel for advanced audio routing).
- Open the .pkg installer and follow the prompts. You may need to grant permission in System Settings > Privacy & Security.
- Restart your Mac if prompted.
Setting Up a Multi-Output Device:
After installing BlackHole, you need to create a Multi-Output Device so you can hear your audio through your speakers AND route it to the virtual device simultaneously.
- Open Audio MIDI Setup (search for it in Spotlight or find it in Applications > Utilities).
- Click the + button in the bottom-left corner and select Create Multi-Output Device.
- In the new Multi-Output Device, check both your regular output (e.g., "MacBook Pro Speakers" or your headphones) and BlackHole 2ch.
- Make sure your regular speakers are listed first and set as the "Master Device" so audio timing stays in sync.
- Right-click the Multi-Output Device and select Use This Device for Sound Output -- or go to System Settings > Sound > Output and select the Multi-Output Device.
Recording with BlackHole:
- Open the Screenshot toolbar (Command + Shift + 5) or QuickTime Player.
- Click Options and under the Microphone section, select BlackHole 2ch.
- Start your recording. The system audio is now being captured through the BlackHole virtual input.
- When you are finished, remember to switch your sound output back to your regular speakers or headphones in System Settings.
Option B: Soundflower (Legacy)
Soundflower was the original virtual audio driver for macOS and worked the same way as BlackHole. However, Soundflower is no longer actively maintained, and compatibility with macOS Sonoma and Sequoia is unreliable. If you are on a recent version of macOS, use BlackHole instead. Soundflower may still work on older systems (macOS Catalina and earlier) if you already have it installed.
System Audio Recording Comparison
| Feature | BlackHole | Soundflower | OBS (macOS 13+) | Loom | ScreenFlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free | Free | Free tier / Paid | $169 |
| Actively maintained | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Silicon support | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| macOS Sequoia compatible | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Setup complexity | Moderate | Moderate | Low | None | None |
| Requires Audio MIDI Setup | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Method 4: OBS Studio (Free, Open Source, Advanced)
OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) is a free, open-source application primarily known for live streaming, but it is also one of the most powerful screen recording tools available on any platform. It offers granular control over video quality, audio sources, scene composition, and output format -- making it the top choice for creators who need more than basic recording.
Installation
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Download OBS Studio from obsproject.com. The macOS release supports macOS 12 (Monterey) and newer.
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Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag OBS Studio into your Applications folder.
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On first launch, macOS will ask you to grant permissions:
- Screen Recording -- required for OBS to capture your display.
- Microphone -- required if you want to record voice narration.
- Accessibility -- may be required for certain capture modes.
Grant these in System Settings > Privacy & Security.
Initial Setup
When you open OBS for the first time, the Auto-Configuration Wizard appears. Choose "Optimize just for recording" (unless you also plan to stream) and follow the prompts. Set your base resolution to match your monitor (typically 1920x1080 or 2560x1440 for Retina displays) and choose 30 or 60 FPS.
Adding a Screen Capture Source
- In the Sources panel at the bottom, click the + button.
- Select macOS Screen Capture. This source is based on Apple's ScreenCaptureKit framework.
- Choose your capture mode:
- Display -- records your entire screen.
- Window -- records a specific application window.
- Application -- records all visible windows for a chosen app.
- Name the source and click OK.
Recording System Audio in OBS
On macOS 13 (Ventura) and later, OBS can capture system audio natively through ScreenCaptureKit without needing BlackHole or any virtual audio driver. When you add a macOS Screen Capture source, check the "Capture Audio" option in the source settings. This captures the audio output from the selected display, window, or application directly.
On macOS 12 (Monterey), you will need BlackHole or a similar virtual driver to capture system audio, following the same setup described in Method 3.
Configuring Recording Output
- Go to Settings > Output.
- Under the Recording tab, configure:
- Recording Path -- where your files are saved.
- Recording Format -- MKV is recommended for recording (it is resilient to crashes), but you can also choose MP4, MOV, or FLV.
- Encoder -- select Apple VT H264 Hardware Encoder for the best performance on Mac, or x264 for software encoding.
- Recording Quality -- "High Quality, Medium File Size" works well for tutorials; "Indistinguishable Quality, Large File Size" for maximum fidelity.
- Under Video, set your output resolution and frame rate.
Starting and Stopping a Recording
- Click Start Recording in the bottom-right Controls panel.
- Perform your screen activity.
- Click Stop Recording when finished. Your file is saved to the path you specified.
When to Use OBS
OBS is the best choice when you need:
- Full control over video quality and encoding settings.
- Multi-source scene composition (screen + webcam + overlays + text).
- System audio recording without extra drivers (macOS 13+).
- A free tool with no watermarks, time limits, or account requirements.
Method 5: Loom (Free Tier Available -- Best for Team Collaboration)
Loom takes a different approach to screen recording. Instead of saving a video file to your computer, Loom records your screen and instantly uploads the video to the cloud, generating a shareable link. This makes it exceptionally fast for asynchronous communication -- recording a quick update for your team, explaining a process to a client, or creating an internal training video.
Key Features
- Screen + webcam recording -- capture your screen with a circular webcam overlay in the corner, giving your recordings a personal touch.
- Instant sharing -- as soon as you stop recording, Loom generates a link you can paste anywhere. No file uploading, no waiting for rendering.
- AI-powered features -- automatic transcription, AI-generated summaries, and auto-titles for every recording.
- Viewer engagement tracking -- see who watched your video, how much they watched, and when they dropped off.
- Comments and reactions -- viewers can leave timestamped comments and emoji reactions directly on your video.
- Free tier -- record up to 25 videos at 720p with a 5-minute time limit per video. Paid plans remove these restrictions and add HD/4K recording.
How to Record with Loom
- Download the Loom desktop app from loom.com/download or install the Chrome extension.
- Sign in or create a free account.
- Click the Loom icon in your menu bar and choose your recording mode:
- Screen + Camera -- records your screen with a webcam bubble.
- Screen Only -- records just your screen.
- Camera Only -- records just your webcam.
- Select whether to record the full screen, a specific window, or a custom area.
- Click Start Recording.
- When finished, click the Stop button in the Loom toolbar. Your video is automatically uploaded, and the share link is copied to your clipboard.
When to Use Loom
Loom is ideal when your primary goal is communicating with other people rather than producing a polished video file. It excels at:
- Quick team updates and walkthroughs.
- Asynchronous code reviews and design feedback.
- Client presentations and progress reports.
- Internal documentation and onboarding videos.
Method 6: ScreenFlow (Paid -- Professional Screen Recording and Editing)
ScreenFlow by Telestream is a Mac-exclusive application that combines a powerful screen recorder with a full-featured video editor. It is the tool of choice for professional tutorial creators, course instructors, and anyone who needs to record, edit, and publish polished videos entirely on their Mac.
Key Features
- Simultaneous multi-source recording -- capture your screen, webcam, microphone, and system audio all at once, with each source on a separate track for independent editing.
- Built-in video editor -- a timeline-based editor with transitions, text annotations, callouts, zoom-and-pan animations, and motion graphics.
- Stock media library -- access over 500,000 royalty-free images, audio clips, and video clips (included with Super Pak plans).
- iOS device recording -- capture your iPhone or iPad screen by connecting it to your Mac via USB.
- Caption editor -- add ADA-compliant closed captions to your videos.
- Direct publishing -- export and upload directly to YouTube, Vimeo, Wistia, and other platforms.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard License | $169 (one-time) | ScreenFlow application |
| Super Pak | $248 (one-time) | ScreenFlow + 1 year Stock Media Library |
| Super Pak+ | $287 (one-time) | ScreenFlow + 1 year Stock Media Library + Premium Support |
When to Use ScreenFlow
ScreenFlow makes sense when:
- You produce tutorial videos, online courses, or product demos regularly.
- You need to edit your recordings with professional transitions, callouts, and annotations without switching to a separate app.
- You want to record system audio natively without configuring virtual audio drivers.
- You are willing to invest in a one-time purchase for a polished, Mac-native workflow.
macOS Sequoia: Privacy Permissions for Screen Recording
Starting with macOS Sequoia (15.0), Apple introduced more granular privacy controls for screen recording. When any third-party app attempts to record your screen for the first time, macOS prompts you to grant explicit permission. This permission must be re-authorized periodically -- currently once per month, and after every system reboot.
How to Manage Screen Recording Permissions
- Open System Settings (click the Apple menu > System Settings).
- Navigate to Privacy & Security > Screen Recording.
- You will see a list of all apps that have requested screen recording access. Toggle each app on or off as needed.
- If an app is not listed, it has not yet requested permission. Launch the app and attempt a recording -- macOS will prompt you to grant access.
What This Means in Practice
- Built-in tools are unaffected. The Screenshot toolbar and QuickTime Player are part of macOS and do not require separate permissions.
- Third-party apps need explicit approval. OBS, Loom, ScreenFlow, and any other recording software must be authorized in Privacy & Security before they can capture your screen.
- Monthly re-authorization. If a third-party recording app suddenly stops working, check Privacy & Security first -- macOS may have revoked its permission as part of the monthly cycle.
Screen Recording Tips and Best Practices
Before You Record
- Close unnecessary apps and notifications. Turn on Focus mode (formerly Do Not Disturb) to prevent notification banners from appearing in your recording. Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar, then click Focus to activate it.
- Clean up your Desktop. If you are recording your entire screen, move personal files and folders off the Desktop or use Stage Manager to keep only the relevant app windows visible.
- Set your display resolution. If you are recording a tutorial for viewers on smaller screens, consider reducing your display resolution to 1920x1080 in System Settings > Displays so text and UI elements appear larger and more readable.
- Test your microphone. Open System Settings > Sound > Input and speak to verify your mic is working and the input level is appropriate. A dedicated USB microphone or headset produces significantly better audio than the MacBook's built-in microphone.
During Recording
- Narrate as you go. Explain each step out loud as you perform it. This is especially important for tutorials -- viewers need to hear what you are doing and why.
- Use keyboard shortcuts. Clicking through menus is slower and harder for viewers to follow. Use keyboard shortcuts whenever possible and mention them verbally (e.g., "I will press Command + C to copy this text").
- Pause when needed. If you make a mistake or need to collect your thoughts, pause your narration but keep recording. You can trim or cut the dead air later -- it is much easier than trying to stitch multiple separate recordings together.
- Keep mouse movements deliberate. Move your cursor slowly and deliberately so viewers can follow along. Rapid, jerky mouse movements make recordings difficult to watch.
After Recording
- Trim the beginning and end. Almost every recording has a few seconds of dead space at the start (while you reach for the Stop button) and the end. Trim these in QuickTime Player, the floating thumbnail editor, or your video editing app.
- Export in the right format. For sharing on the web, YouTube, or social media, export as .mp4 with H.264 video and AAC audio. This is the most universally compatible format. If you recorded in .mov (the macOS default), most platforms accept it, but .mp4 is safer.
- Check the file size. A 10-minute 1080p recording at 60 FPS can easily be 1 GB or more. If file size is a concern, reduce the resolution to 720p or the frame rate to 30 FPS when exporting.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Problem: Command + Shift + 5 Does Nothing
- Check your macOS version. The Screenshot toolbar requires macOS Mojave (10.14) or later. If you are on an older version, use QuickTime Player's File > New Screen Recording instead.
- Check keyboard settings. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Screenshots and verify that the shortcuts are enabled and not reassigned to something else.
- Restart your Mac. A simple restart can resolve transient issues with the screenshot service.
Problem: No Audio in the Recording
- Microphone not selected. Open the Screenshot toolbar, click Options, and verify that a microphone is selected. If "None" is selected, the recording will be silent.
- System audio requires a virtual driver. Remember, macOS does not capture system audio by default. You need BlackHole or a similar virtual driver (see Method 3), or use OBS on macOS 13+ with the ScreenCaptureKit audio capture option.
- App permissions. For third-party apps, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and ensure the app has permission.
Problem: Recording Is Laggy or Choppy
- Close resource-intensive apps. Screen recording uses CPU and GPU resources. Close apps you are not using, especially other video or graphics applications.
- Reduce resolution or frame rate. Recording at 4K/60 FPS requires significant processing power. Try 1080p/30 FPS instead.
- Check available disk space. Screen recordings require substantial free disk space. If your startup disk is nearly full, recordings may stutter or fail. Aim for at least 10 GB of free space.
- Use hardware encoding. In OBS, select the Apple VT H264 Hardware Encoder instead of x264. Hardware encoding offloads the work to your Mac's dedicated media engine, dramatically reducing CPU load.
Problem: Third-Party App Cannot Record Screen
- Grant screen recording permission. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording and make sure the app is toggled on.
- Re-authorize after macOS update. macOS Sequoia may revoke screen recording permissions after system updates or as part of its monthly re-authorization cycle. Check the toggle and re-enable it if needed.
- Restart the app. After granting permissions, you may need to quit and relaunch the app for the change to take effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are my screen recordings saved?
By default, recordings made with the Screenshot toolbar or QuickTime Player are saved to your Desktop. You can change this by clicking Options in the toolbar and selecting a different location under "Save to." OBS saves to whatever path you configure in Settings > Output. Loom uploads to the cloud automatically.
What format are Mac screen recordings in?
The built-in tools save recordings as .mov (QuickTime Movie) files using the H.264 codec. OBS can output .mkv, .mp4, .mov, or .flv depending on your settings. ScreenFlow uses its own project format during editing and exports to .mp4, .mov, or animated .gif.
Can I record my Mac screen with a timer or scheduled recording?
The Screenshot toolbar supports a 5-second or 10-second countdown timer, but there is no built-in way to schedule a recording to start at a specific time. For scheduled recordings, you would need a third-party tool or an Automator/Shortcuts workflow combined with shell commands.
How long can I record my Mac screen?
There is no built-in time limit. The only constraint is available disk space. A 1080p recording at 30 FPS uses roughly 1--2 GB per 10 minutes, depending on the complexity of what is on screen. A 60-minute recording could easily be 6--12 GB. Make sure you have sufficient free space before starting a long recording session.
Can I record a specific application window instead of my entire screen?
Yes. Both the Screenshot toolbar (using "Record Selected Portion") and OBS (using "Window Capture" or "Application Capture") allow you to record a specific area or window. The Screenshot toolbar's selection method is manual -- you drag a rectangle -- while OBS lets you select a specific window from a dropdown list.
Turn Your Screen Recordings into Short-Form Content
Screen recordings are a goldmine for short-form content. If you record long tutorials, product demos, webinars, or walkthroughs on your Mac, the most valuable moments are buried inside those lengthy files. Manually scrubbing through a 45-minute recording to find the best 30-second clip for TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts is tedious work that most creators never get around to doing.
Viral Clips uses AI to analyze your full-length screen recordings and automatically extract the most engaging, shareable moments -- turning one long recording into multiple short-form clips ready for social media.
Why Viral Clips is perfect for screen recording creators:
- AI-powered clip detection finds the most interesting moments from your tutorials, demos, and walkthroughs automatically -- no manual scrubbing required.
- Supports videos from 5 minutes to 4 hours, covering everything from quick screen recordings to full-length webinars and course sessions.
- Automatic vertical reframing converts your horizontal Mac screen recordings into vertical format optimized for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.
- Built-in branded captions add professional subtitles to every clip, boosting accessibility and engagement on platforms where viewers watch without sound.
- Batch output generates multiple clips from a single recording, giving you a week's worth of social content from one screen recording session.
Stop letting great content stay buried in long screen recordings. Let Viral Clips find and format the best moments for you. Try it at viralclips.video.
