How To Screen Record On Mac [Complete Guide]

Screen record on Mac with QuickTime Player. You can use QuickTime Player to record a portion of your screen, an entire screen, or a selected window.

It’s also possible to record your voice, a video camera, or your Mac’s audio.

1. Open QuickTime Player (it’s in the Applications folder of your Mac).
2. Choose File > New Screen Recording and click to view a menu of options for where to record from: To record the entire screen, click anywhere on the screen.
3. To record a portion of the screen, drag to select an area. To move the entire selection, drag from within the selection. To cancel making a recording without saving it, press the Esc (Escape) key before clicking to record.
4. To start recording, click anywhere on the screen. While you’re recording, you can open menus and switch between apps — anything you do is recorded.
5. A red banner appears across the top of your screen when QuickTime is recording.
6. To pause recording, press Command-Control-Esc (Escape). Click Resume to resume recording if you paused it earlier. The red banner remains across the top of your screen until you stop recording.

 

 

How To Screen Record on Mac – Introduction

If you are looking for how to screen record on Mac, then you have come to the right place. Today I will show you three ways on how to screen record on Mac.

Why would you want to screen record? There are many reasons why using a screen recorder can be helpful to you and your business.

For example, if you have ever been asked a question about your computer and have wanted to show someone else the answer, then this could be an option for you.

A quick video reply could save you hours of repeating yourself or answering the same questions over and over again. Another way to use it is by showing people how to do something in a program that they might not understand.

If they are struggling with something on their computer, and you know what the problem is, then making a short video and sending it over could save them time  and money. It’s also great for tutorials, especially if you are trying to teach someone online how to do something with their computer.

You could show them how it’s done step-by-step in real-time! I even use it when I am writing my blog posts, so that when I mention something in one of my articles and need to show an image

1. How To Screen Record on Mac (Mojave and Catalina) Using the Screenshot Toolbar

If you’re used to taking screenshots on your Mac, the most recent updates have added a great new feature to the process: the ability to record your screen without having to download more software or use a third-party extension.

Using the Screenshot Toolbar First of all, make sure your computer is fully up to date. If you’re running an older version of macOS than Catalina or Mojave, you won’t be able to use this feature.

If your computer is up to date and you still don’t have this option, check with Apple support. The Screenshot Toolbar To take a screenshot, press Shift + Command + 5 on your keyboard.

You might also see a screenshot option in your Touch Bar if you have a Mac with a Touch Bar — just click it.

Either way, a floating toolbar will appear at the bottom of your display for taking screenshots.

Screen Record On Mac Step #1. Press Shift + Command + 5 Together

Before you can start capturing your screen, you need to access the built-in screen recorder tool on your Mac. To do that, press Shift + Command + 5 together on your keyboard.

This will open a small window in the bottom-right corner of your screen. Here, you can see all the options available for recording your screen.

You can choose to record part of the screen, the entire screen, or record using a specific app like Safari. You can also capture a video of yourself using the camera on your Mac.

To start recording your screen, click on Options at the bottom-left corner of the window. This will open a new panel where you’ll be able to customize all the settings for recording.

This is the easiest way to start recording your Mac’s screen. With a single keystroke, you can start recording the full screen, a selected portion, or a specific window.

To get started, press Shift + Command + 5 together. This brings up the on-screen controls for screen recording. The controls give you the ability to record your entire screen, record a portion of your screen or capture a specific window on your screen.

Screen Record On Mac Step #2. Configure Your Screenshot Toolbar

In your screenshot toolbar, you’ll see a few options that may be useful for screen recording.

First, you can choose where to save your screenshot or screen recording. Clicking on the Options button will allow you to choose a folder on your Mac to save your file.

Next, you can set a timer if you want to delay when the screenshot is taken. For example, if you’re taking a screenshot of an animation and want to time it perfectly so it looks just right in the screenshot, then add a timer.

In order to make things easier, we’d recommend you to configure your screenshot toolbar. For this purpose click on the “Options” button. In the newly opened window you’ll need to customize options that suit your needs most of all.

For example, if you want to add a delay between when you press the keyboard shortcut and when screenshots are taken set it up here. There is also an option called “Show Floating Thumbnail”.

If you turn it on, you’ll see a small thumbnail image in the corner of your screen for a few seconds after taking a screenshot. When everything is done, close the window by pressing “Done”.

Screen Record On Mac Step #3. Record the Whole Screen Or a Specific Section

You’ll now be able to choose whether to record the whole screen, or a specific section of it. Next, click on Options in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.

This will allow you to set voice and microphone audio levels, as well as the ability to show mouse clicks in your recording. You’ll need to click on each option and then click on the white circle beside the mic or camera to enable these options.

If you want your voice to be heard in the recording, be sure that “Internal Microphone” is selected for your microphone audio. Click Start Recording (the red button) when you are ready to begin recording.

Once you’ve chosen a recording format, press the Record button. Once the three-second countdown is over, you can begin recording your screen.

If you’re just recording your entire display, click anywhere on the screen. But if you want to record a specific section of your display, click and drag to select it.

Once you’re finished with your recording, press Stop in the menu bar. You can also press Command + Control + Esc on your keyboard to end the recording.

Steps to Record Your Entire Screen on Mac

Mac is a very powerful operating system. It has many advanced features and one of the most useful feature is screen recording.

You can record your whole screen or just a part of it. You can also record audio from your microphone or any other external device that you may connect to your Mac.

Another great feature of it is that you can add custom text and annotations to your videos.

Recording The Entire Screen

The first way to record your screen is using the QuickTime Player app. It’s pre-installed in all Apple computers. Simply click on the Launchpad icon in the Dock, search for QuickTime Player and click on its icon to open it.

Click on File option in the Menu bar at the top left corner of the computer screen and select New Screen Recording from its drop down menu. A small window will appear with a record button and an arrow next to it.

Click on that arrow to expand drop down menu where you can choose whether you want to record entire screen, a part of it or audio from both built-in microphone or external source. 

Steps to Record a Portion of Your Screen on Mac

If you want to record your screen on Mac, you first need to know the difference between recording your entire screen and recording a portion of it. It’s very simple: If you want to record your entire screen, go to the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen and click on “System Preferences.” Next, click on “Keyboard” and then “Shortcuts.”

From there, select “Screen Shots” on the left-hand side of the window. You’ll see an option that reads “Save picture of selected area as file.” Make sure this box is checked.

Now, when you open an app or application window that you want to record, press Command+Shift+4.

Your cursor will turn into a little crosshair symbol, which you can use to drag and create a rectangle around the area that you want to record. Once you release your click, it will automatically take a screenshot of just the portion of your screen that was within the rectangle. The image will be saved as a PNG file on your desktop.

Screen Record On Mac Trim Your Recording

To trim the recording, open up QuickTime Player and go to File > Open. Then select the video file that you just recorded. Next, navigate to Edit > Trim, then click and drag the left handle to trim the beginning of the video.

Similarly, click and drag the right handle to trim the end of the video. Once you’ve trimmed your video down to the desired size, you can go to File > Save As… and save a copy of the video if you want to keep a trimmed version of it separate from your original recording.

This will create a new trimmed version of your screen recording that is separate from your original recording. When you are done recording, click Stop. A new window will pop up that lets you save it or record more.

To cut out a section of your recording, click the Trim button on the upper-right of the window. This will put you in the trimming mode. To crop out a section of your video, drag the beginning and end markers to where you want your clip to start and end, then click Trim.

2. How To Screen Record on Mac (All Versions) With QuickTime Player

Recording your Mac’s screen is as easy as using QuickTime Player. By default, it’s included in macOS and OS X and ready to go.

Here’s what you need to know to record your Mac’s screen with QuickTime Player.

Open QuickTime Player (located in the /Applications/ folder). Select File > New Screen Recording in the menu bar.

When the Screen Recording window appears, click the downward arrow next to the Record button and choose a microphone or select None if you don’t want audio in your recording. To start recording, click the red Record button.

If you’re recording from an external display, you can also hold down Option as you click to record from a different display than the built-in one — great when recording a video call on your laptop!

To stop recording, either click on the Stop button in the menu bar or press Command-Control-Escape (Escape). Your recorded movie shows up as a new file in Finder — simply double-click it to watch it!

3. How To Screen Record on a Mac Using Third-Party Software

Screen recording on a Mac isn’t as simple as hitting the Print Screen key on your keyboard. Apple only added a native screen recorder to macOS in 2018, and it lacks some of the features users need for proper screencasts.

If you’re using an older version of macOS or don’t want to bother with QuickTime Player, here are the best third-party options for screen recording on a Mac.

QuickCast

QuickCast is a simple app that lets you record and upload to YouTube or Vimeo in seconds.

It has a clean interface, too, so you can easily customize your video’s thumbnail and title before uploading.

Screenflow

Screenflow is one of the most popular paid apps for screen recording on a Mac. The software is especially great if you’re creating tutorials because you can edit your video right in the app (as opposed to switching between programs).

However, Screenflow also has its own learning curve and isn’t cheap — the software costs $129.

Best Screen Recording Software For macOS

If you are a content creator, you probably have to record your screen from time to time. Whether it is for making tutorial videos or for recording your gameplay, there are many reasons to record your screen.

While Mac has a built-in feature to do this, there are other better options out there that provide more features. If you are looking for an alternative to the default QuickTime Player app for recording the screen on macOS, then be sure to check out these five free software options.

iShowU HD: The Best Screen Recorder For Mac iShowU HD is a top favourite app among Youtubers and video creators because of its amazing features and ease of use. You can record anything on your Mac’s screen with this software which makes it ideal for making tutorial videos, creating product demos and much more.

In terms of support, iShowU HD offers support for all popular video formats and codecs including H264, HEVC, ProRes and even RAW. You can also add audio tracks from both internal and external sources.

iShowU HD also supports live streaming which makes it easy to stream straight from your Mac without using any additional software or hardware. 

1. Snagit

TechSmith’s Snagit lets you easily create images and videos to give feedback, create clear documentation, and show others exactly what you mean. Capture your screen.

Capture your whole desktop, a region, a window, or a scrolling screen.

Capture any webpage. With Snagit’s intuitive editing tools you can quickly annotate and enhance your captures with special effects like borders, callouts, highlighting, and more. Record video from your screen or webcam.

Record anything on your screen or webcam to create training videos and presentations. From tutorials to demos, product walkthroughs and beyond – the only limit is your imagination!

Share where you want, when you want. Store images and recordings in the cloud to share them easily across all of your devices.

Or save images as JPEG or PNG files locally (for PC).

Features

Snagit offers a wide range of powerful features to help you create high-quality images and videos. From quick screen grabs to full-length video recording, Snagit captures anything on your monitor.

Then add text, arrows, callouts, and highlights to provide additional information and polish your screenshot.

Here are the key features:

Capture anything on your screen

Capture any image or video from your computer screen.

Grab the entire desktop, a single application, a region of your choosing, or even record your screen with the built-in Screen Recorder.

Save time with simplified sharing

No need to email huge files or upload to the web.

Once you’ve captured something, it’s easy to send it right where you need it. Share screenshots and videos through Gmail, Dropbox, Google Drive, FTP, or an instant messaging client such as AIM®, Skype®, or MSN® Messenger.

Create easy step-by-step visual instructions Snagit makes it easy to make quick screen recordings or capture multiple screenshots in a row and then easily combine them into custom graphics.

Use Snagit’s Markup tools such as Text Callouts and Step tools to guide people through workflows and communicate efficiently.

Pros

 Overlay images: Overlay arrows and shapes on your images to call attention to a specific element.

Annotate screenshots: Add text or arrows to highlight a specific point.

Video capture: Record your screen, webcam, and audio together for more dynamic video tutorials.

2. Screencast-O-Matic

Screencast-O-Matic is a screen capture software that records video and audio and captures desktop screen activity. Screencast-O-Matic allows you to create screencasts and edit them with the online editor featuring annotation tools.

You can also record webcam only or record screens with webcam for video tutorials, promotions, and presentations. You can upload your videos to Screencast-O-Matic’s free server or YouTube.

The platform also lets you download videos as MP4, GIF, or shareable links. The recording area resizes easily by dragging the corners of the window so you can choose what part of the screen you want to capture.

Screencast-O-Matic’s video editor lets you add annotations, change the volume, crop and rotate videos. You can also trim away parts of your video, add text boxes and callouts, use arrows to point at something in your recording, highlight areas on your screen, and more.

Features

Screencast-O-Matic makes it easy for you to record your screen, edit your video and share your videos with others. The Pro Recorder gives you full control over the recording process.

The Online Recorder uses Java which works on PC and Mac. This can be a good option for recording if you do not have administrator privileges on your computer or if you have a slow internet connection.

Editing your video can be done in Screencast-O-Matic’s Video Editor. You can trim the beginning and end, add captions and titles, add effects and transitions, and more.

You can save videos privately or share them publicly on YouTube, Facebook

Pros

There are many benefits to using Screencast-O-Matic. The first one is that it’s free, and you can start and finish a recording right away.

There’s no need to download any software, create an account or install anything. Screencast-O-Matic is also easy to use; anyone can learn how to use it within minutes. It allows you to record from webcam, computer screen or both at the same time.

You can edit your video and add images, text, audio and even music. You can also upload videos directly to YouTube or save them as MP4s.

What Is Screen Recording?

Screen recording is a feature that allows you to capture what’s happening on your computer screen. This can be anything from a PowerPoint presentation to a video call with your boss.

Screen recording is a valuable tool for professionals who want to share information with their colleagues. But it can also be used by casual users to show friends how to do something they’re struggling with on their computer, like resetting a password or navigating an online shopping site.

Screen recording software, also known as screencasting software or screen capture software, allows you to record your computer’s screen and share it with others. You can use it to demonstrate a task or teach someone how to do something on a computer.

You can also record your voice and webcam to provide a more personal touch.

Most people use screen recording software for the following tasks:

• Recording presentations, whiteboard lectures, and other classroom instruction
• Creating tutorials for software or work processes
• Creating videos for a personal YouTube channel
• Recording themselves talking about their work or hobbies

How To Screen Record on Mac – Frequently Asked Questions

With the introduction of OS X Yosemite, Apple added native screen recording functionality to Mac. Screen recording on Mac is a feature that allows you to record everything that’s happening on your Mac’s screen.

This tool can be useful for creating training videos, recording webinars, and even capturing computer gameplay.

How do I enable screen recording on my Mac?

Screen recording can easily be found in your Mac’s QuickTime Player. Follow these steps to enable it: Open QuickTime Player from your dock or Applications folder in Finder. Select “File” from the menu bar and choose “New Screen Recording.”

You’ll now see a prompt asking you to choose the microphone source for audio recording in your video. Select “Internal Microphone” or another audio source if you want to include sound in your video.

There’s also an option to record audio with mouse clicks included (which is great for tutorials). Click “Start Recording.”

How To Screen Record on Mac – Summary

How to screen record on a Mac: 

1. Open QuickTime Player. It’s in the Applications folder, unless you dragged it somewhere else. The icon is a white circle with a black movie camera in it. 

2. Click File > New Screen Recording from the top menu bar.

3. A small menu will appear with a clickable red button.

4. Click the button to start recording your screen on Mac.

5. Click anywhere on your screen to end the recording, or press Command-Control-Esc (Escape).

6.  In the dialog that appears, click Save to save the recording as a QuickTime file.