Use Mac's Built-In Screen Recording Feature

Your Mac has a screen recording tool built in — you do not need to download anything. Press Shift + Command + 5 and a toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen with five buttons. The rightmost button (a filled rectangle with a dot) starts recording. Click it, then click the area of your screen you want to record, or click "Record Entire Screen" to capture everything.

When you press the record button, a three-second countdown appears, then recording starts. A red dot shows in the menu bar (top right) while recording is active. To stop, click that red dot or press Control + Command + Esc. Your video saves to the desktop by default, though you can change where it goes before you start recording.

The video saves as an .mov file, which plays in QuickTime Player and most other video apps. File size depends on how long you record and how much of the screen you capture — a five-minute full-screen recording is typically 100 to 300 MB.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the screen recording toolbar without installing anything.
  • Choose whether to record your entire screen or just a selected area before the three-second countdown begins.
  • Stop recording by clicking the red dot in the menu bar or pressing Control + Command + Esc.
  • Your video saves as an .mov file on your desktop, and you can move or rename it like any other file.
  • If you need to record audio from your Mac speakers or microphone, check the Options menu before you start.

Selecting What Part of Your Screen to Record

After you press Shift + Command + 5, you see four buttons on the left side of the toolbar. The third button (a rectangle with a crosshair) lets you select a specific area. Click it, then drag across the part of your screen you want to record. A yellow outline shows your selection, and you can adjust the edges by dragging the corners or sides.

The fourth button records the entire screen at once — useful if you are showing multiple windows or switching between apps. If you change your mind about what to record, just click a different button before the countdown starts. The selection stays active until you click elsewhere or press Escape.

Recording Audio From Your Mac or Microphone

By default, screen recording captures no sound. To add audio, click the "Options" button on the toolbar before you start recording. A menu drops down with a "Microphone" setting. Choose your microphone from the list — usually "Built-in Microphone" if you are using your Mac's mic, or an external mic if you have one plugged in.

If you want to record audio playing on your Mac (like music, a video, or someone speaking in a video call), you need a different approach. The built-in screen recording cannot capture your Mac's internal audio directly. Instead, you can use a free app like Soundflower or BlackHole to route your Mac's audio to the microphone input, then select that in the Options menu. This is more technical, but it works when you need to record system audio.

Test your audio before recording anything important. Start a short recording, play some sound or speak into your mic, then stop and listen to the video. If you hear nothing, check that the right microphone is selected and that your Mac's volume is not muted.

Changing Where Videos Save and Viewing Them

Videos save to your desktop by default. To change this, click "Options" on the toolbar and look for "Save to". Choose a different folder from the list — your Documents folder, Downloads, or any other location. This setting stays active for future recordings until you change it again.

To view a video you just recorded, look for a thumbnail that appears briefly in the bottom right corner of your screen. Click it to open the video in QuickTime Player, where you can watch, trim, or share it. If you miss the thumbnail, open Finder, go to wherever you saved the video, and double-click the .mov file.

You can move, rename, or delete recorded videos like any other file. Right-click a video file to see options for sharing it via email, AirDrop, or cloud storage. If the file is large and you want to make it smaller, you can compress it in QuickTime Player by going to File > Export As and choosing a lower quality setting.

Fixing Common Recording Problems

If the Shift + Command + 5 shortcut does not work, your Mac may have a different keyboard layout or a conflicting shortcut. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Screenshots, and check what key combination is listed for "Record selected portion of screen" or "Record entire screen". You can change it there if needed.

If your recording stops unexpectedly or the file does not save, check that you have enough free space on your Mac. Screen recordings take up storage quickly — a one-hour recording can use 1 to 3 GB depending on screen resolution. Open Finder, click your Mac's name in the sidebar, and look at the storage bar at the bottom to see how much space is left.

If your video is choppy or stutters, close other apps before recording. Screen recording uses CPU power, and running many apps at once can slow it down. Restarting your Mac before an important recording also helps. If you are recording a video call or streaming app, make sure your internet connection is stable — a weak connection can cause the video to lag.

When to Use QuickTime Player Instead

QuickTime Player, which comes with every Mac, also records your screen. Open QuickTime Player (search for it in Spotlight), go to File > New Screen Recording, and a toolbar appears similar to the built-in tool. The main difference is that QuickTime gives you slightly more control over audio settings and lets you preview your recording before saving.

Most people find the Shift + Command + 5 method faster because it is one keyboard shortcut instead of opening an app. Use QuickTime Player if you prefer a dedicated app or if you want to record multiple videos in a row without closing and reopening a toolbar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record just one window instead of the whole screen?

The built-in tool does not have a one-window option, but you can select the area around a single window by dragging carefully. For automatic window recording, use QuickTime Player — open it, go to File > New Screen Recording, and hover over a window to highlight it, then click to record just that window.

What format does the video save in, and can I use it on Windows?

.mov files play on Windows with most video players, though some older Windows machines may need a codec installed. If you need a more universal format like .mp4, open the video in QuickTime Player, go to File > Export As, and choose "Video Format" from the dropdown to convert it.

How do I record my screen and my microphone at the same time?

Before you start recording, click Options on the toolbar and select your microphone from the "Microphone" menu. Your voice will be recorded along with everything on screen. Test it first with a short recording to make sure the audio level is loud enough.

Can I edit the video after I record it?

QuickTime Player lets you trim the beginning and end of a video. Open the video, go to Edit > Trim, drag the yellow handles to select the part you want to keep, then click Trim. For more detailed editing, you can use iMovie (free on Mac) or other video editing apps.

Why is my recording file so large?

Screen recordings at full resolution use a lot of storage. A one-hour full-screen recording can be 1 to 3 GB. To make files smaller, record only the area you need instead of the entire screen, or compress the video in QuickTime Player by exporting it at a lower quality setting.