The fastest way: use Mac's built-in screen recording tool
Mac comes with a screen recording feature built into the operating system — you do not need to download anything. Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the screenshot and recording menu. A toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen with five buttons: the first two are for still screenshots, the third captures a selected portion of your screen as video, the fourth records your entire screen, and the fifth opens options.
Click the button for the type of recording you want. If you choose to record a portion of your screen, drag to select the area. If you choose to record the entire screen, the button changes to "Record" — click it to start. A countdown appears in the corner, then recording begins. To stop, click the stop button in the menu bar at the top of your screen, or press Control + Command + Esc.
When you stop recording, a thumbnail appears in the corner of your screen. Click it to preview the video, edit it, or save it. If you do nothing, the video saves automatically to your Desktop after a few seconds.
Key Takeaways
- Press Shift + Command + 5 to open Mac's built-in screen recording tool — no download needed.
- Choose whether to record your entire screen or just a selected portion before you start.
- Stop recording by clicking the stop button in the menu bar or pressing Control + Command + Esc.
- Your video saves to the Desktop automatically, or you can click the thumbnail to preview and edit before saving.
- The default format is MOV, which plays on Mac and most video players, but you can convert it later if needed.
Where the video saves and how to find it
By default, screen recordings save to your Desktop with a filename like "Screen Recording 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM.mov". The file appears there automatically a few seconds after you stop recording, or you can click the thumbnail that appears in the corner to save it immediately.
If you want to change where videos save before you record, click the Options button (the rightmost icon in the toolbar) and choose a different location from the "Save to" dropdown. You can save to your Documents folder, Downloads, or any other location on your Mac.
Recording audio with your screen video
By default, Mac records video only — no sound. To include audio, click the Options button in the toolbar and look for "Microphone". Choose your microphone from the dropdown. If you want to record system audio (sounds from your Mac itself, like music or video playback), you will need a third-party tool, because the built-in recorder does not capture system audio.
When you record with your microphone on, the audio appears in the same video file as the screen recording. You can hear both your voice and the sounds from your screen at the same time.
Editing your video after recording
After you stop recording, a thumbnail appears in the corner of your screen. Click it to open a preview window where you can trim the beginning or end of the video. Drag the handles at either end of the timeline to cut out unwanted sections, then click "Done".
The built-in editor does not let you add text, transitions, or effects — it only trims. For more detailed editing, you can open the video in iMovie (which comes free on most Macs) or another video editor. The file is a standard MOV video, so any video editing software on your Mac can open it.
Changing the video format or quality
The built-in screen recorder saves videos in MOV format at the resolution of your screen. If you need a different format like MP4, you can convert the file after recording using QuickTime Player (which comes on every Mac). Open the MOV file in QuickTime, go to File > Export As, and choose MP4 from the format dropdown.
The quality of your recording depends on your screen resolution and the complexity of what you are recording. If you record a simple document or spreadsheet, the file size stays small. If you record video or animation, the file grows larger. You cannot adjust quality settings in the built-in recorder itself.
Troubleshooting common recording problems
If the Shift + Command + 5 shortcut does not work, check that you are using the correct keys. On some older Mac keyboards, you may need to hold Function as well. If the toolbar does not appear, try the shortcut again.
If your recording stops unexpectedly, your Mac may have run out of storage space. Check how much free space you have by clicking the Apple menu, selecting "About This Mac", then clicking "Storage". Screen recordings take up space quickly — a one-hour recording can use several gigabytes. If you are low on space, delete old files or move videos to an external drive before recording.
If audio is not recording even though you selected a microphone, check your Mac's sound settings. Go to System Settings > Sound and make sure your microphone is not muted and is set as the input device. Some applications may also block microphone access — check System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone to see which apps have permission.
When to use third-party recording tools instead
Mac's built-in recorder works well for most tasks, but it has limits. It cannot record system audio (sounds from your Mac), it cannot record multiple monitors at once, and it offers no editing beyond trimming. If you need any of these features, you will need a third-party tool.
Popular alternatives include ScreenFlow (paid, Mac only), OBS Studio (free, works on Mac and Windows), and Camtasia (paid, includes editing tools). These tools cost money or have a learning curve, so start with the built-in recorder and move to a third-party tool only if you need features it does not have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I record just one window instead of my whole screen?
Yes. Press Shift + Command + 5, then click the third button to record a selected area. You can drag to select just the window you want, or drag around a smaller portion of your screen. The recording captures only what is inside your selection.
What if I want to record system audio, like music or video playing on my Mac?
The built-in screen recorder cannot capture system audio. You will need a third-party tool like OBS Studio (free) or ScreenFlow (paid). These tools can record both your screen and the audio your Mac is playing at the same time.
How do I share my screen recording with someone else?
The video file saves as a MOV file on your Desktop. You can email it, upload it to cloud storage like iCloud or Google Drive, or send it through messaging apps. MOV files are large, so if the file is bigger than your email limit, use cloud storage instead.
Can I record my screen while using other apps?
Yes. Once you start recording, you can open other applications and use your Mac normally. The recording continues in the background and captures everything on your screen, including any windows you open or close during the recording.
What happens if I close my Mac or it goes to sleep during recording?
If your Mac goes to sleep, the recording stops. If you close the lid on a laptop, the screen goes dark and the recording captures a black screen. Keep your Mac awake and the screen on while recording. You can prevent sleep by going to System Settings > Lock Screen and setting "Turn display off after" to "Never" before you record.