How to Record a Livestream on Mac

Recording a livestream on a Mac lets you save a copy of a live broadcast—whether it’s a webinar, a gaming session, a concert, or a friend’s stream—so you can watch it later or share it with others. This guide covers the built-in macOS screen recording tool (which works for most livestreams), plus what to do when the stream uses DRM or needs audio capture. You’ll need a Mac running macOS Mojave (10.14) or later, and the livestream should be playing in a browser or app you can see on your screen.

What You’ll Need

• A Mac with macOS Mojave (10.14) or newer (for the built-in screen recorder)
• The livestream open and playing in a browser or app
• Enough free storage space (a 1-hour 1080p recording is roughly 1–2 GB)
• Optional: an external microphone if you want to add your own commentary

Step-by-Step

1. Open the livestream in your preferred browser or app. Make sure the video is playing and the window is visible on your screen. If the stream is in fullscreen, you can still record it, but you’ll need to exit fullscreen first to access the recording controls.
2. Start the screen recorder by pressing Shift + Command + 5 on your keyboard. This opens the screenshot and screen recording toolbar at the bottom of your screen.
3. Choose your recording area. You have two main options:
   • Record Entire Screen: Click the icon that looks like a full monitor. This captures everything on your display.
   • Record Selected Portion: Click the icon that looks like a dashed rectangle. Then drag to select just the browser window or the area where the livestream is playing. This is usually better because it keeps the file smaller and avoids capturing unrelated notifications.
4. Select a microphone (optional). Click the Options button in the toolbar. Under Microphone, choose None if you only want the stream’s audio, or select your built-in mic or an external one if you want to narrate. If you pick a mic, your voice will be mixed with the stream’s audio.
5. Click the Record button (the circle icon) in the toolbar. A small stop-sign icon appears in the menu bar at the top-right of your screen, letting you know recording is active.
6. Let the livestream play. Do not switch to other apps or minimize the recording window unless you want those actions captured. The recording continues until you stop it.
7. Stop the recording by clicking the stop icon in the menu bar, or by pressing Shift + Command + 5 again and clicking the square stop button in the toolbar.
8. Find your recording. By default, the file is saved to your Desktop as Screen Recording YYYY-MM-DD at HH.MM.SS.mov. If you set a different save location in the Options menu, look there instead.

Common Mistakes

• Not selecting the right audio source. If you choose “None” for the microphone, the recording will still capture the system audio from the livestream (as long as it’s not DRM-protected). If you choose your built-in mic, you’ll hear yourself and background noise, which can ruin the recording.
• Recording the entire screen when you only need the video. This creates larger files and may capture private notifications or other windows you didn’t intend to show.
• Forgetting to stop the recording. The recording keeps going until you press stop. If you close the livestream window, you’ll record your desktop wallpaper or other apps.
• Running out of storage. Long recordings at high resolution can fill your disk quickly. Check available space before starting.
• Recording a DRM-protected stream. Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and some other streaming services use digital rights management that blocks screen recording. The video will appear black or the audio will be missing.

Tips

• Use “Record Selected Portion” to keep the file size down and avoid capturing unrelated screen content.
• Close or mute notifications before recording to avoid interruptions in the video or audio.
• If you want to record only the stream’s audio (no video), you can use a free app like Audacity with a virtual audio cable, but the built-in screen recorder doesn’t offer audio-only mode.
• To record a stream that’s in fullscreen, first exit fullscreen, start the recording, then re-enter fullscreen. The recording will capture the fullscreen video.
• If you need to edit the recording, you can trim it in the QuickTime Player app (File > Trim) or import it into iMovie for more advanced editing.
• Check the file size after recording. If it’s too large, you can convert it to a compressed format using the free HandBrake app.

Troubleshooting

• The recording shows a black screen or no video. This almost always means the stream is DRM-protected (Netflix, Hulu, etc.). The built-in recorder cannot capture these. Try using a different browser (sometimes Safari blocks it while Chrome doesn’t, or vice versa), but there’s no guaranteed fix. For non-DRM streams, make sure you’ve selected the correct display or window in the recording toolbar.
• The audio is missing or too quiet. Check that the stream’s volume is turned up and not muted. Also, in the recording Options, make sure the microphone is set to “None” if you want only system audio. If the audio is still missing, try restarting the browser or app and starting the recording again.
• The recording stops unexpectedly. This can happen if your Mac runs out of storage space. Free up space and try again. It can also happen if the screen recorder loses permission—go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording and make sure your browser or app is checked.
• The recording is choppy or laggy. Close other apps that use a lot of CPU or memory. Lower the resolution of the livestream (if the platform allows it) to reduce the load. You can also try recording a smaller portion of the screen.
• I can’t find the recording. Check your Desktop first. If it’s not there, open the Options menu in the screen recording toolbar (Shift + Command + 5) to see where the save location is set. Also check your Downloads folder.
• The stop button is not responding. Press Shift + Command + 5 again and click the stop button in the toolbar. If that fails, press Command + Control + Esc to force-quit the screen recording process (this may lose the current recording).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record a livestream on Mac without any extra software?
Yes, the built-in screen recorder (Shift + Command + 5) works for most livestreams that aren’t DRM-protected. It records both video and system audio.

Why is my recording just a black screen?
This usually means the stream uses DRM protection (like Netflix or Hulu). The screen recorder can’t capture protected content. For other streams, check that you’ve selected the correct window or screen area.

Will the recording include the livestream’s audio?
Yes, as long as the stream isn’t DRM-protected and you haven’t set the microphone to a device that blocks system audio. The built-in recorder captures system audio by default.

Can I record a livestream in the background while using other apps?
If you record the entire screen, you’ll capture whatever you do. If you record a selected portion, you can work in other windows, but they won’t be in the recording. The recording continues even if you switch apps, as long as the selected area remains visible.

How much storage space do I need?
A 1-hour recording at 1080p is roughly 1–2 GB. At 720p, it’s about 0.5–1 GB. Check your available storage before starting a long recording.

Can I record a livestream from a website like Twitch or YouTube?
Yes, these platforms don’t use DRM for most streams, so the built-in screen recorder works fine. Just make sure the video is playing in a visible window.

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