How to Record Screen on Mac (Complete Step-by-Step Guide)

Capturing what’s happening on your screen is a surprisingly useful skill. You might need to create a tutorial for a colleague, show a software bug to tech support, save a fleeting webinar, or record gameplay to share with friends. Whatever your reason, your Mac comes equipped with powerful, easy-to-use tools to get the job done, and there are even more advanced options available when you need them.

This guide will walk you through every method, from the hidden-in-plain-sight features built right into macOS to professional-grade third-party applications. We will provide clear, step-by-step instructions, uncover useful tips, and help you choose the right tool for any situation.

This comprehensive guide will cover:

• Using the native macOS Screenshot Toolbar (the easiest method).
• A complete walkthrough of recording with QuickTime Player for more control.
• An introduction to OBS Studio for professional-level recording.
• Tips for recording high-quality audio along with your video.
• Solutions to common screen recording problems on a Mac.

Before You Start: Essential Screen Recording Etiquette

Before you hit the record button, it’s important to consider privacy and legality. If you are recording a video call, a presentation, or any content that involves other people, always get their explicit consent first. Recording private conversations without permission can have serious legal consequences depending on your location. Likewise, be mindful of copyrighted material. Recording a paid webinar or streaming service for redistribution is often a violation of their terms of service. Always record responsibly.

Method 1: The Screenshot Toolbar (The Easiest Way)

For most quick recording tasks, you don’t need to open a single application. macOS has a built-in screen capture utility that is powerful, simple, and instantly accessible with a keyboard shortcut. This is the go-to method for 90% of screen recording needs.

Step 1: Open the Screenshot Toolbar

The magic happens with a simple key combination.

1. Press Shift + Command + 5 on your keyboard.
2. A control bar will appear at the bottom of your screen. This is the Screenshot and Screen Recording Toolbar.

This toolbar gives you options for taking screenshots and, more importantly for us, recording your screen. The icons are divided into two sections: capturing images (the first three on the left) and recording video (the next two).

Step 2: Choose Your Recording Area

You have two options for recording video:

• Record Entire Screen: This option is represented by the icon of a screen with a solid outline and a circle in the corner. If you select this, your cursor will change to a camera icon. Clicking anywhere on the screen will begin recording everything that happens on your entire display.
• Record Selected Portion: This is the icon of a screen with a dotted outline and a circle in the corner. When you choose this, a resizable box will appear. You can click and drag the box to position it over the specific area you want to record. You can also drag the corners and edges to resize it precisely. This is perfect for focusing on a single application window and hiding a messy desktop.

Step 3: Configure Your Recording Options

Before you start, click the Options button on the toolbar. This menu gives you several crucial settings:

• Save to: This lets you choose where your finished video file will be saved. The default is the Desktop, but you can also choose Documents, Clipboard, or another specific folder. Setting this up beforehand saves you from hunting for the file later.
• Timer: You can set a 5 or 10-second delay before the recording begins. This is extremely useful for getting your mouse pointer in position or opening the necessary windows before the capture starts.
• Microphone: This is the most important setting for capturing audio. If you want to record your voice (for a tutorial, for example), you must select a microphone from this list. Choose Built-in Microphone or any external USB mic you have connected. If you don’t select a microphone, your video will be silent.
• Show Mouse Clicks: Ticking this box will add a black circle animation around your pointer every time you click. It’s a fantastic visual aid for tutorials, as it shows your viewers exactly where you are clicking.

Step 4: Start and Stop the Recording

Once you have your area selected and options configured:

1. Click the Record button on the control bar. If you chose to record a selected portion, the button will be inside that selection box.
2. The recording will begin immediately (or after your chosen timer delay).
3. A small, circular Stop button will appear in the Mac menu bar at the very top of your screen. This indicates that a recording is in progress.
4. When you are finished, click this Stop button.

Step 5: Trim and Save Your Video

As soon as you stop recording, a thumbnail of the video will appear in the bottom-right corner of your screen.

• Do Nothing: If you ignore the thumbnail, it will automatically save the full recording to your chosen location after a few seconds.
• Quick Edits: Click on the thumbnail to open a preview window. Here, you can perform simple trims. Click the Trim icon (a rectangle with arrows) at the top. Drag the yellow handles at the beginning and end of the timeline to remove unwanted footage. Click Done to save the trimmed video.
• Share: From the preview window, you can also click the Share button (a square with an upward arrow) to send the video via Mail, Messages, AirDrop, and more.

Method 2: Using QuickTime Player for More Control

Long before the Screenshot Toolbar existed, QuickTime Player was the standard for screen recording on a Mac. It’s still pre-installed and offers a slightly different set of features, making it a valuable tool to know.

Step 1: Open QuickTime Player

You can find QuickTime Player in your Applications folder. The easiest way to open it is by using Spotlight Search: press Command + Spacebar, type “QuickTime Player,” and press Enter.

Step 2: Start a New Screen Recording

1. With QuickTime Player open, click File in the top menu bar.
2. Select New Screen Recording from the dropdown menu.

You might notice that this action brings up the exact same Screenshot and Screen Recording Toolbar we used in Method 1. Apple has unified these features. However, QuickTime provides a dedicated interface for managing the recording.

Step 3: Configure and Start Recording

The process is identical to the one described in Method 1.

1. Choose to record the entire screen or a selected portion.
2. Use the Options menu to select your microphone and save location.
3. Click the Record button to begin.
4. When finished, click the Stop button in the top menu bar.

Step 4: The QuickTime Difference: Post-Recording Edits

Here is where using QuickTime Player shines. Unlike the simple thumbnail preview from the first method, stopping a recording initiated through QuickTime automatically opens the full video file in the QuickTime Player application. This gives you more powerful editing tools before you even save the file.

• More Than Just Trimming: Go to Edit in the menu bar. Here you can do more than just trim (Command + T). You can also Split Clip (Command + Y) to cut your video into multiple segments, which you can then reorder or delete.
• Combine Clips: You can drag and drop other video files directly into the QuickTime timeline to combine them into a single movie. This is great for adding an intro or outro to your screen recording.
• Rotate and Flip: Under the Edit menu, you can also flip or rotate your video if it was recorded in the wrong orientation.

Step 5: Save and Export Your File

Once you’ve finished editing in QuickTime, you must manually save your file.

1. Go to File > Save.
2. Give your recording a name and choose where to save it.
3. Alternatively, use File > Export As to get more control over the final output. You can choose to export in resolutions like 4K, 1080p, or 720p, which helps manage the final file size.

Method 3: OBS Studio (For Advanced and Pro Users)

When you need professional features like recording multiple sources at once (like your screen and your webcam simultaneously), adding overlays, or even live streaming, you need a more powerful tool. OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) is a free, open-source, and incredibly powerful application favored by streamers, educators, and video professionals.

Step 1: Download and Install OBS Studio

OBS is not a native Mac app, so you’ll need to download it from the official website: obsproject.com. Download the Mac version, open the DMG file, and drag the OBS icon into your Applications folder.

When you first open OBS, macOS will ask for permissions to access your screen, microphone, and camera. You must grant these permissions for the software to work. You may need to go to System Settings > Privacy & Security and manually enable OBS for Screen Recording, Camera, and Microphone access.

Step 2: Understanding the OBS Interface

The OBS interface can be intimidating at first. Let’s break down the key panels:

• Scenes (bottom left): A scene is a layout of all the elements you want to record. You can have a scene for your screen, another for just your webcam, and another with both.
• Sources (next to Scenes): A source is an individual element within a scene. This could be your display, a webcam, an image, a text overlay, or your microphone.
• Audio Mixer: This is where you can see and control the volume levels of all your audio sources.
• Controls (bottom right): This panel has the all-important Start Recording button.

Step 3: Set Up a Simple Scene for Screen Recording

Let’s create a basic setup to record your screen and microphone.

1. In the Scenes panel, click the + button to create a new scene. Give it a name like “Screen and Mic.”
2. Now, move to the Sources panel. Click the + button and select Display Capture. A dialog will appear; just click OK. You should now see your screen mirrored in the OBS preview window.
3. Click the + button in the Sources panel again. This time, select Audio Input Capture. Give it a name (e.g., “My Microphone”) and in the next window, select your desired microphone from the Device dropdown. Click OK.
4. You should now see two items in your Audio Mixer: “Desktop Audio” and the microphone you just added. “Desktop Audio” captures sounds from your Mac (like app notifications or video playback), while your microphone captures your voice.

Step 4: Configure Settings and Start Recording

1. In the Controls panel, click Settings.
2. Go to the Output tab. Under the Recording section, set your Recording Path (where files are saved) and choose a Recording Format (MKV is default and safer, but MP4 is more common).
3. Go to the Video tab to set your resolution and frame rate (FPS). 1920×1080 and 30 or 60 FPS are standard.
4. Click OK to save your settings.
5. When you’re ready, click Start Recording. Minimize the OBS window and perform your actions.
6. When finished, bring the OBS window back up and click Stop Recording. Your video will be saved to the path you specified.

OBS has a steep learning curve, but its power is unmatched for complex recording projects, and it’s completely free.

Bonus: How to Record Your iPhone or iPad Screen on Your Mac

Did you know you can use your Mac to record the screen of a connected iPhone or iPad? This is perfect for creating app demos or tutorials.

1. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac using a Lightning or USB-C cable.
2. Open QuickTime Player.
3. Go to File > New Movie Recording.
4. A window will appear, likely showing your Mac’s built-in webcam. Next to the red record button, there is a small downward-facing arrow. Click it.
5. Under the “Camera” section, select your connected iPhone or iPad. Your device’s screen will now be mirrored in the QuickTime window on your Mac.
6. Click the Record button to start capturing everything you do on your iPhone or iPad. Click it again to stop.
7. You can then edit and save the video file just like a regular screen recording.