When you want to capture something on your Mac device and one screenshot is not enough, you will be glad to know that there are several ways to record your screen. Whether you want to capture the whole screen or just part of it or record your voice or other sounds simultaneously, Mac has all the tools you need.
If you want to learn more about how to record screen on Mac, you have come to the right place. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to do it using built-in macOS apps and free third-party software.
How to Record Screen on Mac
There are two built-in programs you can use to record screen on your Mac device: Screen Capture Toolbar and QuickTime. In this section, we will walk you through the steps of recording with the screenshot toolbar. This app is available if you're using macOS Mojave or newer and offers plenty of recording options.
How to Record Entire Screen on Mac Using Screen Capture Toolbar
With the screenshot toolbar, you can choose to record the whole screen, part of it, or capture a still image.
To capture the entire screen, follow the steps below:
- Press "Shift + Command + 5" to launch the screenshot toolbar. Recording controls will appear on your screen.
- Click the second icon from the right to start recording.
- Click anywhere on the screen to start recording or press "Record" on the toolbar.
- Once you're done, tap the stop recording icon (the rectangle icon) in the menu bar. Or use the "Command + Control + Esc" shortcut to stop recording.
How to Record Part of the Screen on a Mac Using the Screen Capture Toolbar
If you only want to record a specific section of your screen, follow these instructions:
- Press "Shift + Command + 5" to open the screenshot toolbar. Commands will appear at the bottom of the screen.
- Select the first icon from the right. It's the one with the dotted lines.
- Select the screen area you want to record by dragging the lines.
- Press "Save".
- Select the stop recording icon from the menu bar when you're done.
Screen capture toolbar options
This useful tool has many options to make screen recording easier. Check them out before you start recording by tapping "Options" in the controls. Here are the available options:
- Save to – Here you can customize where you want to save your recordings.
- Timer – Choose whether you want to start recording right away or after a specific time.
- Microphone – You can record your voice or other sounds while you record the screen.
- Show Floating Thumbnail – Choose if you want the thumbnail to appear on your screen.
- Remember last selection – Choose whether to apply the last selection to future recordings.
- Show Mouse Clicks – Customize how your cursor appears on the recording.
How to Record Screen on Your Mac with Computer Audio
The two built-in macOS programs are great when you want to record your screen, but they can't capture computer audio. If you want to record your screen and internal sound, you'll need to install a virtual audio driver, change your sound settings, and then use the screen capture toolbar or QuickTime.
We recommend using Black Hole as it transmits sound without additional latency. For easier navigation, we've divided the steps into four sections.
Follow these instructions to set up Black Hole:
- Open your browser and visit this website to install Black Hole.
- Enter your email address, first name, and last name, then tap "Subscribe to Free Download on Mac." After a few minutes you will receive an email with the download information.
- Open the email and tap the download link.
- Tap “BlackHole 16ch” to download it.
- Enter your password and complete the installation process.
Now that you've installed Black Hole, let's adjust the settings in Audio MIDI Setup:
- Open "Audio MIDI Setup".
- Tap the plus sign in the lower left corner and select "Create aggregate device".
- Rename the device. We recommend using "Input" so that you can easily find it later.
- Select “BlackHole 16 Channels”.
- Select the plus button again and press "Create multiple output device".
- Rename it to "Screen recording with audio" and select "Built-in output" and "BlackHole 16ch". Make sure "Integrated Output" is above "BlackHole 16ch". Check if "Built-in Output" is selected as the master device at the top. Advice: If you don't see "Built-in Output," select "MacBook Speakers."
The third section is to customize the sound settings on your Mac:
- Open System Preferences.
- Tap "Sound".
- Open the "Output" tab and select "Screen recording with audio".
The last section is for recording your screen with audio. The steps vary depending on the tool you are using.
If you are using the screenshot toolbar, follow these steps:
- Press "Shift + Command + 5" to launch the screenshot toolbar.
- Press "Options" and select "Input" under "Microphone".
- Select "Record" or click anywhere on the screen to start recording.
If you're using QuickTime, follow these steps:
- Open the Applications folder and select QuickTime.
- Select "File", then choose "New Screen Recording".
- Tap the arrow next to the recording icon and select "Input" under "Microphone."
- Select the red recording icon to start recording your screen with internal audio.
How to Record Screen on Mac with Voice Recording
If you want to record tutorials, instructional videos, games, etc., it is essential to learn how to record screen with your voice. For this, you can use both the screenshot toolbar and QuickTime. As mentioned, the screenshot toolbar is only available for those who have macOS Mojave or newer.
How to Record Screen on Your Mac with Voice Recording Using Screen Capture Toolbar
- Press "Shift + Command + 5" to open the screenshot toolbar. Recording controls will appear at the bottom.
- Press "Options".
- Choose a microphone under the "Microphone" tab.
- Select whether you want to record the entire screen or a specific part and press "Record" or click on the screen.
- Once you're done, tap the stop recording icon (the rectangle icon) in the menu bar. Or use the "Command + Control + Esc" shortcut to stop recording.
Advice: Adjust the volume to monitor the sound of your voice.
How to Record Screen on Your Mac with Voice Recording Using QuickTime
If you don't have the screen capture toolbar, you can use QuickTime to record the screen and your voice:
- Go to the Applications folder and open QuickTime.
- Press "File" and select "New Screen Recording" from the drop-down menu.
- Tap the arrow next to the recording icon to customize your settings.
- Select your microphone.
- Tap the recording icon or click on the screen to start recording. Adjust the volume once you start recording to get a better feel for your sound.
- Tap the stop recording icon when you're done. QuickTime will automatically open your recording so you can save or edit it.
How to Record Your Screen on a Mac with QuickTime
QuickTime Player is an integrated application that allows all Mac users to record their screens, regardless of the operating system they are using.
Follow the instructions below to use QuickTime to record your screen:
- Open the Applications folder and launch QuickTime.
- Tap "File" in the top left, then tap "New Screen Recording".
- Tap the red recording icon to start recording your screen. Optional: Tap the arrow next to the recording icon to customize settings like microphone, how your cursor looks, and more.
- Tap the square icon in the menu bar or use the "Command + Control + Esc" shortcut to stop recording.
When you're done recording, QuickTime automatically opens the file. Here you can save, share or edit it.
Create screen recordings with just a few clicks
No matter what version of macOS you have, you can use built-in programs for screen recording. Screen Capture Toolbar and QuickTime are free and easy-to-use tools that make screen recording easy. Although they have many useful options, these programs do not support computer audio recording. For this, you will need to install a virtual audio driver.
We hope this article helped you learn how to record screen on Mac using various methods. Plus, we hope you've learned more about what options to use to get the most out of your recordings.
Have you ever recorded your screen on a Mac? Did you use the built-in tools or a third-party app? Tell us in the comments section below.
