How to Record Your Screen on Mac

Recording your Mac’s screen is a straightforward task. You can do it with a few clicks using two native methods or third-party software if you want more advanced tools.

How to record your screen using the Screenshot toolbar

Note: This method only records audio from your Mac’s microphone or any plugged-in microphone, not system audio.

1. Pull up the “Screenshot toolbar” by pressing Shift + Command + 5 or using “Spotlight Search.”

2. In the “Screenshot toolbar,” you can Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion.

3. Before hitting Record, make sure to set up the following by clicking on the Options button:

• • Save to
  • Timer
  • Microphone
  • Options

4. Once your “Options” are all set, hit Record to start.

5. To stop screen recording, click the Stop Screen Recording button on the menu bar or “Screenshot toolbar.”

6. You should find the video file at the “Save to” location you picked before starting your recording and at the bottom right of your screen if you checked “Show Floating Thumbnail” under “Options.”

How to launch the Screenshot toolbar using QuickTime Player

Note: This method only records audio from your Mac’s microphone or any microphone plugged in, not system audio.

1. Launch “QuickTime Player” using “Launchpad” or “Spotlight Search.”

2. At the menu bar, click File and select New Screen Recording or press Control + Command + N. You should see the “Screenshot toolbar.”

Third-party alternatives

OBS Studio

Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) Studio is a free and open-source screencasting and live streaming software. It’s available on Mac and has a simple user interface, making it easy for beginners to use.

Here’s how to record your screen using OBS Studio:

1. First, download and install “OBS Studio.”
2. Launch OBS Studio using Launchpad or “Spotlight Search.”

3. Under Sources, click the plus “Add Source” button.

4. Select Display Capture.

5. In the next window, click OK.

6. If you want to capture only a specific part of your screen or a window, right-click on Display Capture under Sources and select Properties.

7. Open the dropdown menu for Crop, pick how you want to crop, and click OK.

8. The display, window, or area you want to capture should reflect in OBS Studio.
9. Once ready, click Start Recording under Controls.

10. If you wish to stop recording, click Stop Recording under Controls.

• • You can find where OBS Studio saves your recording by going into Settings under Controls and opening the Output tab. Next, look at the Recording Path in the Recording section. You can also change the path by clicking on Browse.

Streamlabs Desktop

Streamlabs Desktop is another free and open-source software based on OBS Studio. The interface is almost similar to OBS Studio.

Here’s a step-by-step on how to record your screen using Streamlabs Desktop:

1. First, download and install “Streamlabs Desktop.”
2. Next, launch “Streamlabs Desktop” using Launchpad or “Spotlight Search.”

3. Under the Sources tab, click the plus “Add Source” button.

4. Click Display Capture or Window Capture and click Add Source.

• • Display Capture records everything on your screen.
  • Window Capture records a specific window you select.

5. In the next window, click Add Source.

• • If you selected Window Capture, open the Window dropdown and choose which application you want Streamlabs to capture. Click Done.

6. The Display Capture or Window Capture you added should be under Sources.

7. Once you’re ready to record, click the REC button. It should turn red to signify that the recording started.

8. When you’re finished recording, click again on the REC button.

• • You can check where Streamlabs Desktop saves your recordings by opening Settings, going to the Output tab, and checking the Recording Path under Recording. You can also change the path by clicking on Browse.