How to Screen Record on Mac With Audio

Does Screen Recording on Mac Record Audio?

Screen recording on a Mac is a useful skill for anyone, whether you're a student, professional, gamer, or just helping a friend. But without audio, your recording isn’t complete. Audio is essential for making tutorials, documenting bugs, or capturing meetings.

Recording system audio on a Mac can be tricky. While video recording is easy, capturing sounds from apps like YouTube or games requires extra steps. That’s because Apple intentionally blocks the ability to record internal audio due to privacy concerns and to protect copyrighted content. While you can easily record your voice, you’ll need additional tools to capture system audio. For example, QuickTime Player can record your voice, but not app sounds, without third-party software.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to screen record on Mac with audio, and recommend third-party apps for high-quality remote audio recordings.

Built-in Recording Tools in macOS

Before you start recording, it's good to know the built-in tools your Mac offers. macOS provides powerful screen recording options, but they have some limitations with audio. Let’s break them down.

macOS offers two main tools for screen recording: Screenshot Toolbar and QuickTime Player.

• Screenshot Toolbar: Introduced in macOS Mojave, this toolbar lets you quickly capture your screen. You can record the full screen or a selected area, and even choose whether to record with your microphone. It’s great for tutorials, Zoom meetings, or presentations.
• QuickTime Player: QuickTime is a long-time favorite for screen recording. It lets you record your screen and use your microphone. However, to capture system audio, you’ll need extra software, important for people searching how to screen record on Mac with audio QuickTime.

How to Screen Recording on Mac

There are a few easy ways to record your screen on a Mac. Let’s start with the simplest method using the Screenshot Toolbar, and then we’ll cover QuickTime Player for more advanced options.

How to Use Screenshot Toolbar for Screen Recording

The Screenshot Toolbar is probably the easiest way to record on Mac. Let’s break it down step by step.

Accessing the Screenshot Toolbar

Press Shift + Command + 5 on your keyboard. A small toolbar will appear at the bottom of your screen. Here you’ll see options to:

• Capture the entire screen
• Capture a selected window
• Capture a selected portion
• Record the entire screen
• Record a selected portion

The toolbar also has options to choose microphone input and set timer settings.

Recording the Entire Screen

Step 1. Click the “Record Entire Screen” button.

Step 2. Select Options to pick where your file will be saved, add a timer, and choose your microphone.

Step 3. Click Record, and your Mac will start recording everything on your screen.

Step 4. To stop, press Command + Control + Esc or click the stop button in the menu bar.

This method is perfect for presentations or full-screen tutorials.

Recording a Selected Portion of the Screen

Step 1. Click “Record Selected Portion”.

Step 2. Drag to select the area you want to record.

Step 3. Check Options to ensure your microphone is on.

Step 4. Click Record.

Recording only a portion saves file space and keeps the focus on the important area of your screen.

Using QuickTime Player to Screen Record on Mac

QuickTime Player offers a slightly more advanced way to screen record on Mac, especially if you want to know how to screen record on Mac with audio QuickTime. Here’s how to make it work perfectly.

Starting a Screen Recording in QuickTime

Step 1. Open QuickTime Player.

Step 2. Go to File > New Screen Recording.

Step 3. Click the dropdown arrow next to the record button to select your microphone input.

Step 4. Click Record, then choose either full screen or custom area.

Recording System Audio with QuickTime

QuickTime cannot record system audio by default, which often leads people to ask: Does screen recording on Mac record audio from apps? The answer is no, unless you add virtual audio software.

To capture app sounds or game audio, you’ll need virtual audio tools like BlackHole, Soundflower, or Loopback. After installation, select the virtual device as your input. This tricks QuickTime into recording internal audio.

Saving and Editing Your QuickTime Recording

Once done recording:

Step 1. Click Stop.

Step 2. QuickTime will automatically open the recording.

Step 3. Use Trim under Edit for quick cuts.

Step 4. Save in .mov or export to .mp4 for wider compatibility.

How to Capture Audio While Screen Recording

Capturing system audio, sound coming directly from your Mac, like videos, music, or app notifications, requires a bit more work. macOS does not allow this natively due to privacy reasons, but there are reliable ways to do it.

Using Loopback, BlackHole, or Soundflower

Several free and paid tools let you record system audio:

• BlackHole: Free, open-source, lightweight. Works well for routing system audio into QuickTime or OBS.
• Soundflower: Classic option, free, works with older macOS versions. It creates a virtual audio device.
• Loopback: Paid, highly intuitive, allows combining multiple audio sources into one stream. Ideal for podcasters or professional creators.

Setting Up Virtual Audio Devices

Step 1. Install your chosen audio routing software (e.g., BlackHole).

Step 2. Go to System Preferences > Sound > Output and select the virtual device as your output.

Step 3. In QuickTime or your recording app, select the same virtual device as the microphone/input.

Step 4. Test by playing system audio; you should now see sound levels in the recorder.

This method allows full system audio capture, alongside your microphone input, for a professional-quality recording.

Bonus Tip: Best Tool for Remote Screen Recording With Audio on Mac

Sometimes, built-in macOS tools aren’t enough, especially when you need to record high-quality screen activity and capture system audio during a remote session. This is where third-party apps become incredibly useful. Among the many options available, AnyViewer stands out as one of the best tools for remote screen recording on Mac.

AnyViewer is a powerful remote desktop tool that not only lets you control another device smoothly, but also supports clear, synchronized audio and screen recording during remote access. This is especially helpful if you're recording training sessions, troubleshooting a remote computer, or demonstrating software running on another device. Unlike QuickTime or the Screenshot Toolbar, which struggle with system audio, AnyViewer handles both system and microphone audio easily, making the whole process far more reliable.

Why AnyViewer is a great choice for remote screen recording on Mac:

• Smooth Remote Sessions: Provides stable, low-latency remote connections, ensuring your recordings look clean and professional.
• Built-in Recording: You can record the remote screen directly within the app, no extra setup or audio-routing tools required.
• System + Mic Audio Capture: Records internal audio effortlessly, even when the content is coming from a remote device.
• Cross-Platform Support: Works across Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android, which is perfect if you're managing different types of devices.
• Beginner-Friendly: Simple interface with clear recording tools, making it ideal for users who don’t want complex audio routing setups.

Whether you’re teaching someone remotely, troubleshooting a client's computer, recording a product demo, or saving remote gameplay footage, AnyViewer gives you a seamless way to capture both the screen and audio without the limitations of macOS's built-in tools.

This makes it one of the most convenient and reliable third-party solutions for remote screen recording with audio on Mac.

Conclusion

Screen recording on Mac with audio may seem complicated at first, but it’s incredibly doable once you understand the tools, settings, and tricks. Whether you want to learn how to screen record on Mac with audio, record system sounds in QuickTime, or simply want the answer to “does screen recording on Mac record audio?”, this guide has you covered.

With built-in options like the Screenshot Toolbar and QuickTime, plus advanced methods with third-party tools, you can create professional-quality recordings for work, school, gaming, or content creation. With practice, you’ll be producing polished, engaging recordings in no time.