Mac's built-in screen recording captures audio by default, but you control which audio source it uses

When you record your screen on a Mac using the built-in Screenshot app, audio recording is turned on automatically. The system will capture whatever sound is playing through your Mac's speakers — music, video dialogue, notification sounds, everything — unless you deliberately turn it off before you hit record.

This matters because you might not want audio in your recording. If you're recording a tutorial and want to add your own voiceover later, or if you're capturing something private where background noise would be a problem, you need to know how to disable it. The good news is the control is right there in the recording interface, taking about two seconds to change.

Key Takeaways

  • Mac screen recording includes audio by default, capturing all sound playing through your speakers at the moment you record.
  • You can turn audio off entirely before recording starts by clicking the microphone icon in the recording options menu.
  • If you want to record audio but change the source — for example, to use an external microphone instead of your Mac's built-in one — you can select a different input device in the same menu.
  • Once recording has started, you cannot change the audio settings; you must stop, adjust, and start a new recording.
  • Third-party recording apps like ScreenFlow or OBS offer more granular audio control if you need to mix multiple audio sources or apply effects.

How to turn audio off before recording

Open Screenshot by pressing Shift + Command + 5 on your keyboard. A menu bar will appear at the bottom of your screen with several icons and options. Look for the microphone icon — it's usually on the right side of the menu. Click it.

A dropdown will appear showing your audio input options. At the top, you'll see "None" — select that. The microphone icon will now show a line through it, indicating audio recording is disabled. Now when you click the Record button and capture your screen, no audio will be saved with the video.

If you change your mind and want audio back on, return to that same microphone dropdown and select your preferred input device instead of "None".

Choosing which audio source to record

By default, Mac records from your system audio — whatever is playing through your speakers. But the microphone dropdown in Screenshot lets you switch to a different input device if you have one connected.

Common alternatives include a USB microphone, a headset with a built-in mic, or an external audio interface. If you plug in a new device and it doesn't immediately appear in the dropdown, restart the Screenshot app or unplug and replug the device. Once it shows up in the list, select it and your recording will use that source instead.

This is useful if you want to record yourself speaking while the Mac plays background music or video, and you want only your voice captured. Plug in a microphone, select it from the dropdown, and record — the system audio will still play through your speakers, but only the microphone input goes into the video file.

What happens if you forget to disable audio

If you start recording and realize partway through that you didn't want audio, you have to stop and start over. There's no way to remove audio from a recording after it's been saved, and you can't mute it retroactively within the Screenshot app itself.

This is why checking the microphone setting before you hit record is worth the five seconds it takes. If you're recording something sensitive — a password manager, a private conversation, a medical form — disabling audio first prevents accidental capture of background information you didn't intend to record.

When to use third-party apps instead

Mac's built-in recording is simple and works for basic screen captures, but it has limits. If you need to record audio from multiple sources at once — your microphone and system audio together, for example — or if you want to apply effects like noise reduction, the Screenshot app won't do it.

Apps like ScreenFlow, OBS Studio, or Camtasia give you separate audio tracks, the ability to adjust levels while recording, and options to mix sources. ScreenFlow costs money but is designed specifically for Mac screen recording. OBS is free and open-source but has a steeper learning curve. Both let you record system audio and microphone input as separate tracks, so you can adjust them independently after recording.

For a simple tutorial or a quick screen grab, Mac's built-in tool is fine. For anything where audio quality or control matters, a dedicated app is worth the time to learn.

Audio file format and where it's stored

When you record your screen with audio on a Mac, the video and audio are saved together in a single MOV file. The file goes to your Desktop by default, though you can change the save location in the Screenshot options menu before you record.

The audio quality depends on your input source. System audio records at whatever bitrate your Mac is playing it at. A microphone input quality depends on the microphone itself — a built-in Mac mic will sound like a built-in mic, and an external USB microphone will sound like that device.

You can move or rename the MOV file after recording, and you can open it in video editing software like iMovie or Final Cut Pro to adjust audio levels, add effects, or extract just the audio track if you need it separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record my screen without audio but add voiceover later?

Yes. Disable audio in the microphone dropdown before recording, capture your screen, then open the MOV file in iMovie or another video editor and add a voiceover track. This gives you full control over timing and lets you re-record if you make a mistake.

Will my keyboard clicks and trackpad sounds be recorded?

No. Mac's screen recording captures audio playing through your speakers, not the physical sounds your keyboard or trackpad make. If you want those sounds in your recording, you'd need to record them separately with a microphone pointed at your desk.

What if I want to record system audio but not my microphone?

Select your system audio source from the microphone dropdown — usually labeled "Internal Speakers" or similar — rather than selecting a microphone device. This records what's playing through your Mac's speakers without capturing your voice or other ambient sound.

Can I change the audio source after I start recording?

No. All audio settings must be chosen before you click the Record button. If you need a different audio source, stop the current recording, change the microphone setting, and start a new one.

Does recording audio use a lot of storage space?

Audio takes up very little space compared to video. A one-hour screen recording with audio is typically 500 MB to 2 GB depending on your screen resolution and the audio quality, with audio contributing only a small fraction of that.