How to Record a Video on a Mac

You can record video on a Mac with its built-in camera, capture your screen, or do both at once. The steps below use tools included with macOS, so you usually do not need to install an app; check that your camera and microphone are connected and that you have enough free storage before you start.

What You’ll Need

A Mac with a built-in camera, or an external USB camera connected to it. For screen-only recording, a camera is not necessary.
A microphone if you want spoken audio. Your Mac’s built-in microphone works, or you can connect a headset or external mic.
Free disk space for the recording, and a quiet, well-lit place if you are filming yourself.

Step-by-Step

Choose what you want to record. To film yourself or a subject with a camera, use QuickTime Player. To record the screen, use the Screenshot toolbar. If you want your face over a screen recording, use a video-conferencing or screen-recording app that supports a camera overlay; the built-in Screenshot toolbar does not add one.
Open QuickTime Player for a camera video. Open the Applications folder and launch QuickTime Player. From the menu bar, choose File > New Movie Recording. A preview from the Mac’s camera should appear. If it does not, check that the camera is connected and that no other app is using it.
Pick the camera and microphone. Click the small arrow or options menu beside the record button. Choose the camera and microphone you want, if the menus are available. Select a microphone that responds when you speak; disconnect or mute other audio devices if the wrong one is selected. The menu may also offer a quality setting. Higher quality can create larger files.
Frame the shot and check the sound. Position the Mac or camera so the subject is in view. Put light in front of the subject rather than behind them, and make a short test recording to check the picture and audio. Keep the microphone close enough to capture speech clearly, but out of the camera frame if possible.
Start recording. Click the red record button. Speak or perform the action you want to capture. Avoid moving the Mac, touching the microphone, or covering the camera while recording.
Stop and save the camera recording. Click the stop button in the menu bar or QuickTime controls. QuickTime opens the recording for review. Choose File > Save, select a folder, enter a descriptive filename, and click Save. If you close a new recording without saving, you may lose it.
Open the screen-recording controls when capturing the display. Press Shift-Command-5. The Screenshot toolbar appears. Choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion. For a selected portion, drag its frame over the area you want to capture and adjust the edges before recording.
Set screen-recording options. Click Options in the toolbar. Choose a save location under Save to. If you need narration, choose a microphone under Microphone; otherwise, leave it set to none. Options may also let you set a timer or show mouse clicks.
Record and stop the screen capture. Click Record. When finished, click the stop button in the menu bar, or press Command-Control-Esc. The recording is saved to the location shown in Options, often as a movie file. Click its thumbnail, if it appears, to review or trim it.
Check the finished file. Open the saved video and play it from beginning to end. Confirm that the image, sound, and screen area are right before sharing it. If you need a different file format, export or convert a copy using an app that supports the format you need; keep the original until the new file has been checked.

Common Mistakes

Choosing the wrong recording method: QuickTime’s New Movie Recording captures a camera feed, not your desktop. Use the Screenshot toolbar for screen capture.
Forgetting to select a microphone: A screen recording can be silent if no microphone is chosen. A camera recording may also use an unexpected input device.
Closing without saving: Stop the recording, then save it to a folder you can find. Do not assume every app saves a camera recording automatically.
Recording the wrong screen area: With Record Selected Portion, check the highlighted frame before starting. Menus, notifications, or private windows may otherwise appear in the video.
Starting without a test: A brief test catches a blocked camera, quiet microphone, poor framing, or distracting background before you make a longer take.

Tips

Use a simple filename that includes the subject and date, and save recordings in a dedicated folder.
Close unnecessary apps and silence notifications before a screen recording. This reduces interruptions and helps keep the screen uncluttered.
For clearer speech, record in a quiet room and speak toward the microphone. Avoid placing the Mac near fans or other steady noise.
Keep the Mac connected to power for a long recording, and check available storage first. Video files can grow quickly, especially at higher quality.
If a clip needs only a shorter beginning or ending, use QuickTime Player’s trimming controls and save a copy when you want to preserve the original.

Troubleshooting

The camera preview is black or unavailable: Quit other apps that might be using the camera, then reopen QuickTime Player. Check that an external camera is plugged in securely and switched on. In System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera, allow the relevant app to access the camera, then quit and reopen it. Menu names can vary slightly across macOS versions.
The microphone records no sound: In the recording options, choose the intended microphone. Check its connection and, if applicable, its mute switch. Open System Settings > Sound > Input and check that the correct input is selected and its input level responds when you speak. Also check microphone permission under Privacy & Security > Microphone.
The screen recording has no narration: Press Shift-Command-5, open Options, and select a microphone before recording. If access is denied, enable microphone access for the recording app in Privacy & Security settings, then restart the app.
The recording will not start or save: Check that the Mac has free storage and that the chosen save folder is accessible. Try a different folder, such as Documents, and restart the app. If an external drive is involved, confirm that it is connected and available.
The saved video is missing: Check the location selected under Screenshot toolbar Options > Save to, or the folder selected in QuickTime’s Save dialog. Search Finder for the filename or for recent movie files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record video on a Mac without installing anything?
Yes. QuickTime Player records from a camera, and the Screenshot toolbar records the screen. Both are included with macOS.

How do I record my Mac screen with sound?
Press Shift-Command-5, select a screen-recording option, open Options, and choose a microphone. macOS screen recording captures microphone audio, but it does not normally record system audio directly through this toolbar.

Where does a Mac screen recording go?
It goes to the location listed in the Screenshot toolbar’s Options under Save to. If you did not change it, check the default location shown there.

Can I record myself and my screen at the same time?
The built-in Screenshot toolbar records the screen but does not place a camera view over it. Use an app with a camera-overlay feature if you need both in one video.

What format is a Mac recording saved in?
QuickTime recordings and Screenshot toolbar captures are commonly saved as .mov files. The exact format and available export options can depend on the app and macOS version.

Why is my Mac video recording silent?
The wrong microphone may be selected, its input may be muted, or the app may lack microphone permission. Check the recording options, Sound input settings, and Privacy & Security permissions.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →