To screen record on a Mac with audio, you can use the built-in Screenshot Toolbar (Shift-Command-5) for microphone audio. To capture internal system sounds, you need a dedicated app or a free utility like BlackHole to create a virtual audio output that your screen recorder can listen to.

How to Screen Record on Mac with Built-in Tools

macOS comes with two free, easy-to-use tools for basic screen recording: the Screenshot Toolbar and QuickTime Player. Both are excellent for capturing your screen and microphone audio, but neither can record your Mac's internal system audio on its own.

Method 1: The Screenshot Toolbar (Shift-Command-5)

This is the quickest and most modern way to start a screen recording on any recent Mac.

  1. Press Shift-Command-5: This will open a control bar at the bottom of your screen.
  2. Select Recording Area: Choose to record the entire screen (the icon with the solid outline) or a selected portion (the icon with the dotted outline).
  3. Choose Your Audio Source: Click on the "Options" menu. Under the "Microphone" section, select your desired microphone (e.g., "MacBook Pro Microphone" or an external mic). If you don't select a source, no audio will be recorded.
  4. Start Recording: Click the "Record" button. A small stop icon will appear in your menu bar at the top of the screen.
  5. Stop Recording: Click the stop icon in the menu bar, or press Command-Control-Escape.

By default, the video file will save to your Desktop.

Method 2: QuickTime Player

For years, QuickTime Player was the go-to method. It offers the same basic functionality as the Screenshot Toolbar.

  1. Open QuickTime Player: Find it in your Applications folder.
  2. Start a New Recording: In the menu bar, go to File > New Screen Recording.
  3. Select Audio Source: The same control bar from the Screenshot Toolbar will appear. Click the arrow next to the red record button and select your microphone.
  4. Record and Save: Click the record button to start. When finished, click the stop icon in the menu bar. The recording will open in a QuickTime window, where you can trim it and save it via File > Save.

How to Record System Audio and Your Microphone (The Manual Method)

If you need to record both your Mac's internal audio (e.g., a video playing in your browser) and your voice for narration, you'll need to create a custom audio setup. This is a technical, multi-step process, but it's free. It uses a popular utility called BlackHole to route audio internally.

Step 1: Install BlackHole

BlackHole is a free virtual audio driver that lets you pass sound between applications. The easiest way to install it is using Homebrew, a package manager for macOS.

  1. Install Homebrew (if you don't have it): Open the Terminal app (Applications > Utilities) and paste this command: /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
  2. Install BlackHole: Once Homebrew is ready, run this command in Terminal: brew install blackhole-2ch

Step 2: Create an Aggregate Device (Mic + System Audio)

This step combines your microphone and BlackHole into a single input source that a screen recorder can listen to.

  1. Open Audio MIDI Setup: Go to Applications > Utilities and open Audio MIDI Setup.
  2. Create Aggregate Device: Click the + button in the bottom-left corner and select Create Aggregate Device.
  3. Combine Inputs: In the new window, check the boxes for your microphone (e.g., External Microphone) and BlackHole 2ch. The order matters; your microphone should be first.

Step 3: Create a Multi-Output Device (Listen While Recording)

This step ensures you can still hear the system audio through your headphones or speakers while BlackHole sends it to the recorder.

  1. Create Multi-Output Device: In Audio MIDI Setup, click the + button again and select Create Multi-Output Device.
  2. Combine Outputs: Check the boxes for your primary output (e.g., External Headphones) and BlackHole 2ch. Make sure your primary output is selected as the Master Device and check the Drift Correction box for BlackHole.

Step 4: Configure System Settings and Record

  1. Set Sound Output: Go to System Settings > Sound. Under Output, select the Multi-Output Device you just created.
  2. Record: Open QuickTime or the Screenshot Toolbar. In the audio options, select the Aggregate Device as your microphone. Now when you record, you will capture both your voice and the system audio.

Best Screen Recording Apps for Mac

The manual method is powerful but complex. For most people, a dedicated application is a much faster and more reliable solution. Here are some of the best screen recorders for Mac, each suited for different needs.

  • Cinemak: Best for automatically polished videos. Cinemak's unique feature is its post-production engine. The moment you stop recording, it automatically applies dynamic zoom, smooths out jerky cursor movements, and can add a custom background. The core app is free, offering unlimited recording and export in up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. It's ideal for product demos or tutorials where you want a professional look without manual editing. Paid add-ons are available for cloud hosting and AI translation.
  • OBS Studio: Best free option for power users. OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is a free, open-source powerhouse for recording and streaming. It can handle multiple audio and video sources, create complex scenes, and offers granular control over encoding settings. Its power comes with a steep learning curve, making it overkill for simple recordings but perfect for streamers and technical users.
  • Loom: Best for fast sharing and team feedback. Loom is built for asynchronous team communication. It's incredibly fast for recording your screen and camera, then instantly generating a shareable link. The editing features are basic, as the focus is on speed and collaboration, not polished production.
  • Descript: Best for content creators who need powerful editing. Descript is a unique video editor that works like a document. It automatically transcribes your recording, and you can edit the video by editing the text. It's an incredibly efficient way to remove filler words or restructure a presentation. It includes screen recording, but its main strength is the editing workflow.
  • ScreenFlow: Best for professional video production. ScreenFlow is a traditional, full-featured video editor with a powerful screen recording component. It offers a timeline-based editor, advanced animations, and high-quality export options. It's a one-time purchase and is best for users who need to produce highly polished, scripted content.

For those who value a polished output without spending time in a video editor, Cinemak's automatic polishing features offer a compelling alternative to the manual editing required by other tools.

Screen Recorder Comparison for Mac

Tool/Method Price Internal Audio Mic Audio Ease of Use Key Feature
Screenshot Toolbar Free No Yes Excellent Instant, built-in access
BlackHole Method Free Yes Yes Poor Free system audio capture
Cinemak Freemium Yes Yes Excellent Automatic post-production polish
OBS Studio Free Yes Yes Difficult Powerful, highly configurable
Loom Freemium Yes Yes Excellent Instant cloud sharing
Descript Subscription Yes Yes Very Good Edit video by editing text
ScreenFlow Paid (One-time) Yes Yes Good Advanced timeline editor

FAQ

How do I record internal audio on my Mac?

The easiest way is to use a dedicated app like Cinemak, OBS Studio, or Descript, which can capture system audio out of the box. The free but technical alternative is to install BlackHole, create an Aggregate and a Multi-Output device in Audio MIDI Setup, and select them in your system settings and recorder.

Why can't I screen record with sound on Mac?

By default, you can only record sound from a microphone. macOS blocks apps from recording internal system audio for privacy and copyright reasons. To capture system sounds, you must either grant specific permissions to a trusted third-party app or use a workaround like the BlackHole method.

When I screen record on Mac, there is no sound.?

This is usually because no microphone was selected. When you press Shift-Command-5, click 'Options' and ensure a microphone is checked. If you want to record internal audio, you must use a specialized app or the BlackHole setup, as built-in tools won't capture it.

How to record screen with audio while wearing headphones on Mac?

To record system audio while listening on headphones, you must use the BlackHole method. In the 'Multi-Output Device' you create, make sure to check the boxes for both your headphones and for BlackHole. This will route audio to both destinations simultaneously.

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