Record your Mac screen, with or without sound

Why it happens

Every Mac has a screen recorder built into the Screenshot toolbar, so you don't need to install anything. Sound is optional: you choose a microphone for your voice, and on macOS 27 you can also include the sound your Mac plays. Recordings are saved as movie files, on your desktop unless you pick somewhere else.

How to fix it

1. Press Shift-Command-5. The Screenshot toolbar appears near the bottom of the screen.

2. Click Record Entire Screen, or Record Selected Portion and drag the frame around the area you want.

   Screenshot toolbar›Record Entire Screen

3. To record your voice, click Options and choose a microphone under Microphone. To record the sound your Mac plays, such as a video or an app, turn on Include System Audio in the same menu. Options also lets you pick where to save, set a timer and show your mouse clicks.

4. Click Record on the toolbar. If you chose the whole screen, you can also click any screen to start recording it.

5. When you're done, click the Stop button in the menu bar, or press Command-Control-Escape.

6. A small preview appears in the bottom-right corner. Click it to trim or share the recording, or leave it and it saves by itself.

Include System Audio is in the Options menu on macOS 27. macOS 26 may not have it. If you don't see it there, the built-in recorder captures your microphone only.

Still not fixed?

1. Recording has no sound? Press Shift-Command-5, click Options and choose a microphone under Microphone for your voice. For the Mac's own sound, turn on Include System Audio there too, then record again.

   Screenshot toolbar›Options›Microphone

2. If Shift-Command-5 does nothing, check the screenshot shortcuts are switched on in Keyboard Shortcuts.

   Keyboard›Keyboard Shortcuts…›Screenshots

3. Can't find the file? Look on your desktop for a file named Screen Recording followed by the date. If you changed Save to in Options, it's in that place instead.

4. Recordings take a lot of space. If recording stops early, free up space in Storage and try again.

   General›Storage

5. If the toolbar won't record at all after a restart and a macOS update, contact Apple Support.