How to Record Screen on Mac: Complete Step-by-Step Guide
Find out how to screen record on a Mac computer using either Screenshot Toolbar or QuickTime Player. It’s easy to do with audio, saving, editing, and sharing.
Introduction
Record Screen on a Mac can be easily done when one wants to record tutorials, video conferences, presentations, gaming sessions, or other procedures in order to resolve a particular problem. There are special tools in macOS that allow you to record either the whole screen or a selected part without any additional software. It does not matter whether one uses the Screenshot toolbar or QuickTime Player; both processes will be very easy and fast. The following article describes how to record the Mac screen, record audio, stop, and save videos.
What Should be Done Before Recording the Mac Screen?
Before beginning the process of record screen, it needs to be ensured that your Mac computer runs a relatively recent version of macOS, which includes the built-in feature of the Screenshot Toolbar. It should also be ensured that there is sufficient available memory on your Mac to store the recording, particularly if you intend to record a lengthy video. If you need to record audio with your video, it is necessary to have a functioning microphone attached to your Mac.
How to Record Your Screen on a Mac Using Shift + Command + 5
To take a screenshot on a Mac, use the Shift + Command + 5 shortcut combination. In such a way, you will have the opportunity to open the Screenshot Toolbar with its useful tools for recording videos and capturing the screen. It is worth noting that there is no need for any software installation. First of all, activate the Screenshot Toolbar through the Shift + Command + 5 shortcut. There are two recording modes offered to you: Record Screen and Record Selected Portion.
Pick one that seems more convenient for you. Before starting to record the video, you may click the Options button and choose the folder to save the video, set a timer, and enable the microphone in case you want to create the audio version of your screen video. Once all the required settings are done, it is time to begin recording. Do anything you want in order to show something, such as operating an application, making a presentation, recording a video tutorial, and so on. Once you are done, you can pause the process using the Stop button in the menu bar or using the following shortcuts: Command + Control + Esc.
Steps to Capture the Whole Screen on a Mac
Screen capturing the whole Mac screen is helpful if you are looking to record screen what is going on all over your computer, for example, during web classes, software demos, presentations, and many more. The Screen Recording feature of your Mac makes the entire process very easy. Hit Shift+Command+5 keys to launch the screenshot toolbar. Select Record Entire Screen from the recording options that pop up. You will notice that the cursor changes to a camera shape. Click any point on the screen to start recording. In case you want to alter the destination folder, set a countdown timer, or select the microphone, click Options prior to clicking the screen. While the recording is taking place, all the screens will be recorded until you stop the recording process. Press the Stop key located on the menu bar of your screen to end the process. The video will be saved automatically on your computer.
How to Record a Selected Part of the Screen
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Step |
Description |
|---|---|
|
1. Open Screenshot Toolbar |
Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the macOS Screenshot Toolbar. |
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2. Select Recording Mode |
Click Record Selected Portion to record only a specific area of the screen. |
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3. Adjust the Recording Area |
Resize and move the selection frame to cover the exact part of the screen you want to record. |
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4. Configure Options (Optional) |
Click Options to choose the save location, set a recording timer, or select a microphone for voice narration. |
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5. Start Recording |
Click Record to begin recording the selected portion. Only the area inside the frame will be captured. |
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6. Stop and Save |
Click the Stop button in the menu bar when finished. The recording will be saved automatically to the selected location. |
How to Record Screen on Mac via QuickTime Player
Another useful tool that can be used for record screen on a Mac is QuickTime Player. This option will suit those users who prefer a convenient interface or need to use some more functions of QuickTime during the process of video creation. First of all, start QuickTime Player from the Applications folder or via Spotlight search. Then click File and select New Screen Recording from the drop-down list. You will see the screen recording options appear. If you want to add audio to your video, then, before you start recording, click the arrow or options and choose one of the available microphones. Now press the Record button and select the whole screen, or just drag to the desired area and press the Record button again. Start doing what you want to record, for example, demonstrate some software, make a tutorial, or save an online presentation. Once done, click Stop in the menu bar. The QuickTime Player will automatically open your video, and you will be able to edit it and save it somewhere.
Where are screen recordings saved on a Mac?
In general, the default location where a record screen gets stored on a Mac is the Desktop, which makes it very convenient for finding your recorded screen quickly. The name of this file usually includes the time when the file was created. In case you wish to change the default place to store the recorded screen, then you need to hit Shift + Command + 5 and select an option named “Options”. From there, you may select another location.
Record Your Screen With Sound on Mac
The process of record screen with sound comes in handy when you want to create a tutorial video, conduct an online lesson, give a presentation, etc. The operating system offers the possibility of making audio recordings through a microphone in the built-in Screenshot toolbar or in the QuickTime application. Unfortunately, the built-in functionality does not support the ability to record the system audio of your Mac. If you wish to use a microphone, press Shift + Command + 5 keys on your keyboard, and click the Options button. In the open drop-down list, select your microphone under the Microphones tab. You can choose to record screen or a selected part and click on the Record button. It is always a good idea to test your microphone before you start recording a long video to make sure you will be heard clearly. It is better to do so in a quiet place in order to minimize background noise. After you finish the recording, stop it using the menu bar and check the result of the recording in the video.
Editing and Distributing Screen Recordings on Mac
|
Task |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Preview the Recording |
After recording, click the thumbnail that appears to open a preview of the video. |
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Trim Before Saving |
Use the built-in trim tool to remove unwanted sections from the beginning or end of the recording before saving. |
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Edit in QuickTime Player |
Open the recording in QuickTime Player, then select Edit → Trim to remove unnecessary parts of the video. |
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Save the Edited Video |
Save the trimmed recording. You can rename the file if needed. |
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Share the Recording |
Share your screen recording using Mail, AirDrop, or Messages. |
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Upload to Cloud Storage |
Upload the video to cloud services such as iCloud Drive, Google Drive, or Dropbox for easy access and sharing. |
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Compress Large Files |
If the recording is too large to upload, compress the file before sharing or uploading it. |
FAQS
Conclusion
Record Screen on mac is easy, as the Mac operating system provides many built-in tools to help you get the job done. Be it the Screenshot Toolbar or the QuickTime Player, recording either your whole screen or any part of it will take only a couple of clicks. You will also be able to record sounds, edit, and share your videos effortlessly without using third-party applications. With the aid of the information provided in this tutorial, you will be capable of creating professional-quality screen recordings.
