How do I install the app on macOS?

After checkout, you'll receive an email with your license key and a download link for the DMG installer. Download the file, open it, and drag the app into your Applications folder. The first time you launch the app, you'll be prompted to enter your license key to activate it.

What permissions does the app need?

You'll need to grant permissions for Screen Recording, Microphone (if recording audio), Camera (if using webcam), and Accessibility (for mouse tracking) in System Preferences > Security & Privacy.

Is this really a one-time purchase?

Yes! Pay once, use forever. This includes all current features and all future updates. No hidden fees, no subscriptions, no surprises.

What's your refund policy?

We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're not completely satisfied, just email us and we'll refund your purchase, no questions asked.

Which macOS versions and devices are supported?

Mac Screen Recorder supports Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and later) running macOS 12 Monterey or newer. Intel-based Macs are not supported.

How to Screen Record on Mac With Audio (System Sound + Mic)

How to Screen Record on Mac With Audio (Internal Sound + Mic)

Recording your Mac screen *with sound* is where most people get stuck — and it is not your fault. The built-in tools have a deliberate limitation that catches everyone out. Here is what is going on and how to capture both your screen audio and your voice.

Quick answer

The built-in macOS toolbar (Shift + Command + 5) and QuickTime only record your microphone — not the internal system audio playing on your Mac. To record both the sound from your apps and your own voice, you need a recorder that captures system audio, such as Mac Screen Recorder, where you enable both sources and they are mixed in sync.

Why the built-in tools only record your mic

For privacy reasons, macOS does not allow the screenshot toolbar or QuickTime Player to capture the audio playing *through* your Mac. They can only record from a connected or built-in microphone. That means if you screen record a video, a video call, or any app sound with the built-in tools, the result is effectively silent — unless that sound happens to leak into your microphone.

This is the single most common reason people search for how to record their Mac screen with audio and come up frustrated.

How to record system audio and your voice together

Mac Screen Recorder captures system (internal) audio and your microphone at the same time, so your narration and your app sound land in one synced recording.

Open Mac Screen Recorder.
Enable system audio capture and select your microphone.
Grant Screen Recording and Microphone permissions in System Settings → Privacy & Security (first run only).
Choose the full screen or a specific window to record.
Click record, then stop when done and export to MP4, WebM, or GIF with the audio embedded.

What you get beyond audio

Because Mac Screen Recorder is built for polished video, the same recording also gets:

✓Auto Zoom & Smart Follow for a cinematic, edited look.
✓Click effects and custom cursors to guide viewers.
✓Webcam picture-in-picture to add your face.
✓No watermarks and no time limits.

The bottom line

If you only need your voice over a recording, the built-in mic option is enough. But to capture the actual sound playing on your Mac — for tutorials, app demos, or reaction videos — you need a recorder that captures system audio. Mac Screen Recorder does that, plus the polish, for a one-time $19.

Record your screen with full audio

System sound + mic, in sync. One-time $19, no subscription.

Frequently asked questions

Why can’t I record internal audio on my Mac?

macOS does not let the built-in screen recorder or QuickTime capture system (internal) audio for privacy reasons — they only record from a microphone. To record the sound playing on your Mac, you need a dedicated screen recorder that captures system audio, such as Mac Screen Recorder.

How do I record my Mac screen with both system sound and my voice?

Use a recorder that can capture system audio and the microphone at the same time. In Mac Screen Recorder, enable both audio sources before you record and they are mixed in sync, so viewers hear your app audio and your narration together.

Does the Shift+Command+5 toolbar record sound?

It records audio only from the microphone you select under "Options". It does not capture the internal sound playing through your Mac, so screen recordings of videos, calls, or apps will be silent unless that sound also reaches your mic.

What format are recordings with audio saved in?

Mac Screen Recorder exports recordings with embedded audio to MP4 (most compatible), WebM (for the web), or GIF (silent, for short clips), up to 4K resolution.