Desktop Screen Recorders for Mac: How to Record Your Screen

A Mac can record its desktop without extra software. Recent macOS versions include a screen recording toolbar, and QuickTime Player can also record the screen. Third-party desktop screen recorders add features such as system audio capture, webcam overlays or editing. This guide covers the built-in route first, then explains when a separate app makes sense.

Before you start

Check your macOS version in the Apple menu under About This Mac. The Screenshot toolbar with recording controls is available in macOS Mojave and later. On older versions, QuickTime Player is the built-in option.

The built-in tools record locally and save the file to your Mac. A third-party recorder may work locally or may upload recordings to an online service. Read the app's own documentation and privacy terms to confirm where files are stored and processed before you record anything sensitive.

• Close windows, notifications and tabs you do not want captured.
• Make sure there is enough free disk space, since screen recordings can be large.
• Connect and select the microphone you plan to use, if you want narration.
• Decide whether you need system audio, because the built-in tools may not capture sound played by apps.

Step-by-step instructions

Using the Screenshot toolbar (macOS Mojave and later):

• Press Shift-Command-5 to open the Screenshot toolbar.
• Choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion. For a portion, drag the frame to the area you want.
• Click Options to set the save location, a timer, the microphone and whether to show mouse clicks.
• Click Record. If you are recording the full screen with several displays, click the display you want to capture.
• To stop, click the stop button in the menu bar or press Command-Control-Esc.

Using QuickTime Player:

• Open QuickTime Player and choose File, then New Screen Recording.
• On Mojave and later this opens the same Screenshot toolbar described above. On older versions, a recording window appears where you can pick a microphone from the arrow menu next to the record button.
• Start the recording, then stop it from the menu bar when you are done.
• Save the file if QuickTime Player prompts you to.

The first time an app records the screen or microphone, macOS asks for permission. On macOS Ventura and later, these settings are in System Settings under Privacy & Security. On earlier versions, look in System Preferences under Security & Privacy, on the Privacy tab. You can turn access off again at any time, which keeps the setup reversible.

If you choose a third-party Mac desktop screen recorder, look for the features you actually need: system audio capture, webcam picture-in-picture, region presets, export formats or trimming. Confirm each feature in the app's documentation for your macOS version rather than relying on a general description.

Check the output

By default, built-in recordings are saved to the Desktop as a movie file, unless you changed the save location in Options. A thumbnail may appear briefly in the corner of the screen after you stop; clicking it opens the recording for trimming or sharing.

• Play the file from start to end and confirm the correct display or region was captured.
• Listen for narration and check that the right microphone was used.
• Check whether app or system sound is present if you expected it.
• Open the file in the app or service where you plan to use it, since some tools prefer other formats.
• Check the file size before sharing or uploading; long full-screen recordings grow quickly.

If you need a different format or a smaller file, export or convert it with a video tool you trust, and keep the original until you have confirmed the converted copy plays correctly.

Common problems and next steps

Recording shows only the wallpaper or a blank window: the app likely lacks screen recording permission. Enable it in the Privacy settings described above, then quit and reopen the app. Some protected content, such as certain streaming video, may appear black by design.

No sound in the recording: check that a microphone was selected in Options and that the app has microphone permission. If you need sound from apps or video calls, the built-in recorder may not capture it on your macOS version; a third-party recorder or an audio routing tool is the usual next step. Respect the consent of other call participants before recording them.

Shift-Command-5 does nothing: your macOS version may predate the Screenshot toolbar, or the shortcut may have been changed in Keyboard settings. Use QuickTime Player instead, or restore the shortcut.

Cannot find the file: open the Screenshot toolbar, click Options and check the selected save location. A recording that was stopped abnormally may not have been saved.

If the built-in tools cover your needs, they are the simplest option for desktop screen recording on a Mac. Move to a dedicated desktop screen recorder for Mac when you need system audio, a webcam overlay or editing, and verify its storage and privacy handling first.