On a Mac, press Shift-Command-5, choose a screen-recording mode, set audio in Options, click Record, then stop from the menu bar.
A missed microphone setting can leave a useful screen capture silent, so open the controls before recording starts. Press Shift-Command-5 when learning how to screen record on a Mac; the toolbar lets you choose the capture area, microphone, timer, save location, and mouse-click indicators.
Apple saves screen recordings as .mov files, and the default save location is the Desktop unless you change Save to. macOS Tahoe 26 also adds a selected-window recording mode on supported Macs, while older supported versions can frame a window with Record Selected Portion.
Screen Recording On A Mac: The Shortcut And Controls
The Screenshot app is Apple’s built-in screen recorder on macOS Mojave 10.14 or later, and Shift-Command-5 opens it directly. The toolbar places still-image controls first and video-recording controls after them, so choose one of the recording icons rather than a screenshot icon.
- Press
Shift-Command-5to open Screenshot. You can also open Screenshot with Spotlight if the shortcut is unavailable. - Choose Record Entire Screen, Record Selected Window on macOS Tahoe 26 or later, or Record Selected Portion. For a portion, drag the frame or its edges until only the area you want is inside it.
- Click Options. Choose a microphone, timer, save location, mouse-click display, and any other recording choices you need.
- Click Record. With Record Selected Window, click the window you want to capture.
- Click the Stop Recording button in the menu bar when finished, or press
Command-Control-Esc. - Click the floating thumbnail if you want to trim or share the recording, or let it save to the chosen location.
A completed recording appears as a .mov file. Apple’s automatic filename begins with Screen Recording and includes the date and time, so the saved file is easy to identify.
How Do You Screen Record On A Mac With Sound?
The built-in Screenshot recorder can add audio from a microphone you select before recording. Open Options, find Microphone, then choose the Mac’s microphone or another connected microphone; selecting None turns microphone capture off.
This setting is meant for narration or other sound picked up by the selected microphone. Apple’s built-in recording instructions do not list Mac system audio as a source in the Screenshot toolbar, so do not assume music, game audio, or an app’s internal sound will be captured just because you can hear it through the speakers.
| Screenshot Control | What It Records Or Changes | Version Or Result |
|---|---|---|
| Record Entire Screen | The full screen | Available with Screenshot recording |
| Record Selected Window | One chosen app window | macOS Tahoe 26 or later |
| Record Selected Portion | An adjustable rectangular area | Drag the frame or its edges |
| Microphone | Narration from the selected input | None records no microphone audio |
| Timer | Delays the start after you press Record | Choose the delay shown in Options |
| Save to | Sets the destination folder | Desktop is the default |
| Show Mouse Clicks | Adds a black circle around pointer clicks | Useful for demonstrations |
| Capture Format | Chooses SDR or HDR on supported Macs | Tahoe 26 can use H.264 for SDR or HEVC for HDR |
Apple documents the version requirement, recording modes, microphone choice, save location, and stop command in Apple’s Mac screen-recording instructions. The page lists macOS Mojave 10.14 or later for the Screenshot workflow and macOS Tahoe 26 or later for selected-window recording.
Why Does Mac Screen Recording Fail Or Save The Wrong Thing?
Most Mac screen-recording problems come from the selected mode, audio choice, shortcut settings, or save destination rather than the recording engine itself. Checking those controls before repeating the capture usually identifies the cause.
| Problem | Likely Cause | What To Do |
|---|---|---|
Shift-Command-5 does not open Screenshot |
The shortcut was changed or disabled | Open Screenshot with Spotlight, or check System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Screenshots |
| The recording has no narration | Microphone is set to None or the wrong input | Choose the intended microphone in Options before recording |
| Record Selected Window is missing | The Mac is not running macOS Tahoe 26 or later | Use Record Selected Portion around that window |
| The recording cannot be found | Save to points somewhere other than Desktop | Open Options and check the selected save location |
| The pointer or clicks are missing | The related display option is off | Enable Show Mouse Pointer or Show Mouse Clicks when available |
| The recording will not stop from the pointer | The Stop Recording button is hard to reach | Press Command-Control-Esc |
| An app window will not record | The app blocks capture of protected content | Use content the app permits you to record; Apple notes that apps such as Apple TV may block window recording |
QuickTime Player As The Alternate Method
QuickTime Player can start a screen recording from its File menu, but current macOS versions hand that job to the Screenshot controls. Open QuickTime Player from Applications, choose File > New Screen Recording, or press Control-Command-N.
If the Screenshot toolbar appears, use the same controls described above. On an older QuickTime recording window, choose the microphone or mouse-click option from the control beside the Record button, click Record, then either click anywhere to capture the whole screen or drag an area and click Start Recording.
QuickTime Player opens the recording after you stop on older workflows, which makes it convenient when you plan to play, trim, or share the clip immediately. The menu-bar Stop Recording button and Command-Control-Esc end the recording.
From Shortcut To Saved Recording
A repeatable workflow sets the area and sound before pressing Record, then checks the saved file before the recording task is finished. Use this sequence when you want fewer retakes:
- Press
Shift-Command-5. - Pick Record Entire Screen, Record Selected Window where supported, or Record Selected Portion.
- Open Options and set Microphone, Save to, Timer, and pointer or click display choices.
- Press Record and perform the action you want to capture.
- Stop with the menu-bar button or
Command-Control-Esc. - Open the floating thumbnail or the saved
.movfile and play a few seconds to confirm the frame and narration are present.
If the file plays with the intended area and microphone audio, the capture is finished and ready to trim, share, or keep.
References & Sources
- Apple Support.“How to record the screen on Mac.”Documents the Screenshot and QuickTime Player workflows, supported versions, recording modes, audio choices, save behavior, and stop controls.