How to Record Your Screen on Mac — Free, Without Downloading Software

macOS has a built-in screen recorder. Press Cmd+Shift+5 and the capture toolbar appears. For basic recording, it works well. Where it falls short: capturing system audio (the sound your Mac plays) is not supported natively — you need to install Soundflower, BlackHole, or a paid app like Loopback to route system audio into a recording.

The free browser screen recorder captures screen + webcam + mic + system audio in one click, with no extra software installation. Works on any Mac running Chrome or Edge. Here is how it compares to QuickTime and when to use each.

What Mac Built-In Screen Recording Does and Does Not Do

macOS offers two built-in screen recording paths:

QuickTime Player: File > New Screen Recording. Simple interface, records full screen or a selected area. Mic audio works, but system audio requires third-party software.

Cmd+Shift+5 (macOS Mojave and later): Modern capture toolbar with record-screen-or-region, timer, and microphone toggle. Same limitation: no system audio without external audio routing.

For recording a silent demo, typing a tutorial narration into your mic, or filming a casual walkthrough without sound effects, the native tools are fine. But if you need to:

• Record a Zoom meeting with both sides of the conversation
• Capture a YouTube or web video playing in Safari
• Include system notification sounds or app audio in a demo

QuickTime cannot do it on its own. You either install a virtual audio device (BlackHole is free but technical to configure) or switch tools.

Using the Browser Screen Recorder on Mac

1. Open Chrome or Edge on your Mac.
2. Go to the screen recorder.
3. Toggle the sources you want: Screen, Microphone, System Audio, Webcam.
4. Click Start Recording.
5. In the macOS sharing dialog, choose: entire screen, application window, or browser tab.
6. If you chose entire screen or window, check "Share system audio" in the dialog for system sound capture.
7. Record. Click Stop when done. Preview and Download.

First-time use will prompt for Screen Recording and Microphone permissions in System Settings. Grant them and restart your browser. After that, recording works seamlessly.

The download saves as WebM. QuickTime does not play WebM natively, but Chrome, VLC, and IINA all do. If you need MP4 for iMovie or Final Cut, convert using our free video converter.

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Mac-Specific Tips for Cleaner Recordings

• Turn off notifications. System Settings > Notifications > enable Do Not Disturb or Focus. Notification banners pop over your recording otherwise.
• Hide the menu bar clutter. If the menu bar shows apps you do not want in the recording (Dropbox sync status, battery percentage, time), consider using Application Window sharing instead of Entire Screen.
• Choose your screen carefully. On a multi-monitor Mac, the sharing dialog shows thumbnails of each display. Pick the correct one — recording the wrong monitor is a common annoyance.
• Use a USB mic if possible. The built-in MacBook mic picks up keyboard clicks and room noise. Even a $30 USB mic dramatically improves tutorial recordings.
• Disable Auto-hide Dock if recording full screen. The Dock appearing and disappearing during the recording looks jittery.

On MacBooks with Touch Bar (older models), recordings do not capture the Touch Bar. If your demo depends on Touch Bar content, screenshot it separately and add it in editing.

Mac Screen Recording: Quick Comparison

Feature	QuickTime / Cmd+Shift+5	Browser Recorder
Pre-installed	Yes	No (page URL)
Screen + mic	Yes	Yes
System audio	No (requires BlackHole or similar)	Yes (check "Share audio")
Webcam overlay	No	Yes (draggable bubble)
Pause and resume	Cmd+Shift+5: yes	Yes
Output format	MOV	WebM
Keyboard shortcut	Cmd+Shift+5	On-screen button
Works offline	Yes	Browser cache required initially

For quick silent recordings, the macOS native tools win on speed (no browser required). For anything involving system audio or webcam overlay, the browser tool removes the need for extra software.

For a cross-platform comparison including Windows and Chromebook, see our platform guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record system audio on Mac without installing BlackHole?

Yes, with the browser-based tool. Chrome and Edge on Mac can capture system audio when you choose "Share audio" in the sharing dialog. This bypasses the macOS limitation that QuickTime has.

Does the tool work on M1, M2, and M3 Macs?

Yes. Any Mac with a modern browser works. Apple Silicon Macs run the browser natively and performance is excellent.

Will the recording save as MP4 or MOV like QuickTime?

The browser tool saves as WebM. If you need MOV or MP4 for Final Cut or iMovie, convert the WebM using our free video converter — it takes seconds.

Can I record a specific area of my Mac screen?

The browser tool records the full screen, a window, or a browser tab. For a custom region crop, record the full screen and then crop afterward using our free video cropping tool.