How to Screen Record on Mac: A Beginner's Guide for Stunning Results

How to film a screen on a Mac using the Screenshot app

The screenshot app is a built-in macOS tool that lets you capture still images and record your screen without needing any third-party software. It's simple, quick, and perfect for recording tutorials, demos, or walkthroughs directly from your desktop.

Here we will show you how to screen record on Mac and how to stop it:

STEP 1
1. Open the screenshot toolbar

Press Shift + Command + 5 on your keyboard. The screenshot toolbar will open at the bottom of your screen.

STEP 2
1. Choose a recording option

Click on "Record Entire Screen" or "Record Selected Portion," depending on what you want to capture. If you choose to record a portion, drag to adjust the frame accordingly. You can also adjust the microphone settings and enable "Show Mouse Clicks" in the "Options." Then click "Record" to start recording.

STEP 3
1. Stop and edit the recording

When finished, click the "Stop" button in the menu bar. If you want, you can also trim the unwanted parts from the video. Then save this recording to your desired location.

How to screen records on a MacBook using QuickTime Player

QuickTime Player is a pre-installed media app on Mac that not only plays videos but also allows you to record your screen. It's a reliable option for capturing video tutorials, app demonstrations, or any on-screen activity. The interface is straightforward, making it ideal for beginners who want a simple recording tool.

Here's how to screen record on a Mac with internal audio using QuickTime Player:

STEP 1
1. Open QuickTime Player

Open QuickTime Player from the "Applications" folder or by using Spotlight search. Once it opens, click on "File" > "New Screen Recording" from the menu bar.

STEP 2
1. Adjust recording settings

A small window for recording screen activity will appear. Click the "Options" button next to the record button to select your microphone (if necessary), adjust the timing, and enable or disable options such as "Show Mouse Clicks" during recording.

To record your Mac screen without capturing external audio or background noise, you can click the "Options". From the list of microphone options, choose "None." This ensures that no system or external audio is included in the recording.

STEP 3
1. Start and stop recording

Click the "Record" button to begin. Once the screen is recorded, stop it and save it to your device.

While Mac's built-in tools are great for quick and simple screen recordings, they lack the advanced editing features needed to truly enhance your videos. You can't easily add text, transitions, or effects, nor can you precisely trim clips, overlay music or voiceovers, or fine-tune the pacing for social media.

That's where apps like the CapCut desktop video editor come in. This editor provides a user-friendly interface combined with powerful features, which makes it easy to record the screen without a steep learning curve.

The easiest way to record and edit the screen on Mac: CapCut

CapCut desktop video editor isn't just for editing; it now provides an advanced screen recording feature to capture anything on your desktop. Whether you're creating tutorials, gameplay videos, or presentations, the process is smooth. CapCut can automatically analyze portrait videos and suggest tools like auto-captions, face retouching, voice enhancement, and voice changers to speed up editing and enhance the overall experience.

Key features

• Easily record the screen

CapCut allows you to record your full screen or a specific area with just a few clicks. It's ideal for capturing tutorials, meetings, or live demos effortlessly.

• Overlay webcam on recordings

CapCut lets you record the screen and webcam at the same time. This is great for creating reaction videos or adding a personal touch to your tutorials.

• Trim screen recordings quickly

Easily cut scenes or unnecessary parts from your recordings. The trimming tool helps you keep only what's important for a cleaner final video.

• Add text to tutorial videos

You can add text-to-video and highlight key points or instructions directly on your screen. CapCut provides customizable fonts and styles to match your content.

• Insert transitions in demos

Smoothly connect different clips using built-in free video transitions. This keeps your video flowing naturally and makes it more visually appealing.

• Mute or adjust background noise

CapCut lets you reduce or remove background noise from audio to improve clarity. This ensures your voice stands out clearly in your recordings.

How to record and edit the screen with CapCut

First, download CapCut by clicking the button below. Once it's set up, follow these steps to learn how to screen record on Mac with sound.

STEP 1
1. Open the screen recorder

Open CapCut and click on the "Record screen" option from the main interface. Select the area of the screen you want to capture. You can also enable the webcam and microphone to include video and audio in your recording.

STEP 2
1. Record the screen and edit

Click the red "Start recording" icon to begin capturing your screen. Once done, stop the recording by clicking the red box. A pop-up window will appear with options to either "Download" your video or "Edit more." CapCut also suggests recommended tools to enhance your footage.

By selecting "Edit more" or any suggested tool, you'll enter the editing interface, where you can access advanced features like text-to-speech, captioning, key point highlighting, and more to refine and enhance your recording.

STEP 3
1. Export and share

Finally, go to the export section and adjust parameters such as bitrate, format, frame rate, and resolution to optimize video quality. You can save it to your device or share it on social media apps like TikTok or YouTube.

Expert tips to use a screen recorder on Mac

To maximize the quality of your screen recordings on Mac, a few smart adjustments can help enhance clarity and overall quality. Here are some expert-backed tips to streamline your process and enhance your videos with ease:

• Use Shift + Command + 5 for quick access

This keyboard shortcut instantly opens the built-in Mac screen recording toolbar. It's a fast way to start recording without navigating menus.

• Select a specific window or area to record

Recording only the part you need keeps your video clean and focused. CapCut allows you to choose a custom recording area for precise capture.

• Enable the microphone for voice narration

Enable the microphone to add live explanations or instructions to your screen recording. In CapCut, you can easily enable audio input before starting the session.

• Turn on mouse click highlights for clarity

If you're making a tutorial, showing where you click can really help viewers follow along. Use Mac's built-in "Show Mouse Clicks" option to highlight actions visually for better understanding.

• Choose high resolution for better quality

Recording in higher resolution ensures your text and visuals remain sharp. CapCut supports HD and custom resolution settings up to 8K for crystal-clear results.

• Save recordings to the desktop or a custom folder

Select a convenient folder to keep your files organized and easily accessible. CapCut lets you set the export path before saving your video.

• Trim clips using CapCut after recording

Instead of simply trimming, take advantage of CapCut's editing tools to enhance your video. You can split and cut scenes, add text, transitions, or even voiceovers to make your recording more engaging.

Conclusion

To sum up, you now know how to screen record on a Mac using built-in tools. While these options are great for basic recordings, we recommend using the CapCut desktop video editor for more professional results. It not only allows you to record your screen along with webcam footage but also provides powerful editing features like trimming unwanted clips, merging videos, adding text, transitions, and more to enhance recording.

FAQs

1
1. How to screen record on Mac with system audio?

To capture internal system audio on a Mac, you'll need a tool like BlackHole or Soundflower. After installation, set it as your audio input, then record your screen using QuickTime or the screenshot toolbar. For a more advanced solution that includes both recording and editing features, the CapCut desktop video editor is a great alternative.

2
1. How to screen record on Mac using built-in tools?

Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the macOS screenshot toolbar, then choose whether to record the entire screen or a selected portion. Under "Options," you can enable your microphone for voice recording. However, using third-party software like the CapCut desktop video editor provides more flexibility with built-in editing options for a professional-looking final video.

3
1. How to screen records on MacBook Air without QuickTime?

If you prefer not to use QuickTime, you can try the CapCut desktop video editor. It allows you to record your screen and provides access to advanced editing tools, including trimming clips, adding text, inserting captions, and merging scenes, all within a user-friendly interface.