How to Screen Record on Mac: 3 Ways (2026 Guide)

There are three good ways to record your screen on a Mac: the built-in screenshot toolbar (Shift + Command + 5), QuickTime Player, and a dedicated recorder like Mac Screen Recorder for polished results. This guide covers all three so you can pick the right one for the job.

Quick answer

To screen record on a Mac, press Shift + Command + 5, choose "Record Entire Screen" or "Record Selected Portion", set your options, and click Record. Stop from the menu bar when you are done. That is all you need for a basic capture — read on for audio, window selection, and a more polished result.

Method 1: The built-in toolbar (Shift + Command + 5)

Every Mac running macOS Mojave or later has a built-in recorder. It is the fastest option for a quick capture.

1. Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the recording toolbar.
2. Choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion.
3. Click Options to pick a microphone, save location, and timer.
4. Click Record to start.
5. Click the stop button in the menu bar (or press Command + Control + Esc) to finish.

Your recording saves to the Desktop by default as a .mov file. It is simple and free — but there is no zoom, no click effects, and no system-audio capture.

Method 2: QuickTime Player

QuickTime Player can also record your screen, with a slightly more familiar window-based flow.

1. Open QuickTime Player from Applications.
2. In the menu bar, choose File → New Screen Recording.
3. Click the arrow next to the record button to select a microphone.
4. Click Record, then click anywhere to record the full screen or drag to select an area.
5. Click the stop button in the menu bar, then choose File → Save to keep your recording.

Like the toolbar, QuickTime is free and built in, but it stops at basic recording — no automatic zoom, effects, or GIF export.

Method 3: Mac Screen Recorder (for polished results)

If you record tutorials, demos, or lessons that other people will watch, the built-in tools leave you doing the polishing by hand. Mac Screen Recorder is a dedicated app that adds the editing automatically as you record:

• ✓Auto Zoom & Smart Follow — cinematic zoom that tracks your cursor and clicks, with no timeline or keyframes.
• ✓Mouse tracking and click effects to guide your viewers.
• ✓Custom cursors for a branded look.
• ✓Webcam picture-in-picture and synced microphone + system audio.
• ✓Export to MP4, WebM, or GIF, up to 4K — with no watermarks or time limits.

Which method should you use?

Use the built-in toolbar or QuickTime for a fast, throwaway capture. If the recording is something you will publish or send to an audience, Mac Screen Recorder gets you a polished result in one click.