How to Screen Record on Mac
Three ways to record your screen on macOS, from the simplest built-in option to a full recording and editing workflow.
Method 1: The Built-in macOS Recorder
Every Mac has a screen recorder built in. No downloads needed.
- Press Cmd+Shift+5 to open the screenshot toolbar
- Choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion
- Click Options to select your microphone (system audio is not available)
- Click Record
- Click the Stop button in the menu bar when done
Limitations: No system audio capture. No editing. No camera overlay. No zoom effects. Saves a raw .mov file.
Method 2: OBS Studio (Free, Open Source)
OBS is free and powerful, but designed primarily for streaming. It works well for screen recording if you don't mind the setup.
- Download OBS Studio from obsproject.com
- Create a new Scene and add a Display Capture source
- For system audio on Mac, install a virtual audio driver (BlackHole or similar)
- Add an Audio Input Capture source for your microphone
- Click Start Recording
- Click Stop Recording when done
Limitations: Steep learning curve. No built-in editing. No zoom effects. System audio requires a virtual driver. Best for streamers or users who want maximum capture control. ShipClip vs OBS.
Method 3: ShipClip (Record, Edit, Share)
If you need polished output (demos, walkthroughs, presentations), ShipClip handles the full workflow.
- Download ShipClip (under 5 MB, macOS 14+)
- Choose your screen, microphone, and camera sources
- Click Record: system audio is captured automatically
- When done, edit in the timeline: trim, adjust volume per track, tweak zoom ranges
- Share a link (with viewer analytics) or export a local file
ShipClip records your mouse clicks during capture and automatically generates zoom effects on playback. Your screen, mic, system audio, and camera are separate tracks you can edit independently.
Price: $9.99/mo $4.99/mo (founder pricing). 7-day free trial, no credit card. See pricing.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Built-in | OBS | ShipClip | |
|---|---|---|---|
| System audio | No | With driver | Built-in |
| Separate audio tracks | No | Yes | Yes |
| Zoom-to-click | No | No | Automatic |
| Editing | None | None | Timeline |
| Camera overlay | No | With setup | Built-in + BG removal |
| Sharing | Local file | Local file | Link or file |
| Price | Free | Free |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I screen record on a Mac?
The fastest way is Cmd+Shift+5, which opens the built-in macOS screen recorder. Choose to record the full screen or a selected area, then click Record. For more features like system audio, zoom effects, or editing, use a third-party app like ShipClip.
How do I record my screen with system audio on Mac?
The built-in macOS recorder doesn't capture system audio. You need a third-party app. ShipClip captures system audio natively on macOS 14+, no virtual audio driver needed. OBS can capture system audio but requires a driver like BlackHole.
Can I screen record with my webcam showing?
Yes. ShipClip records your webcam as a separate track and composites it as a picture-in-picture overlay with real-time background removal. Loom also shows your webcam. The built-in macOS recorder does not include a camera overlay.
Where do Mac screen recordings go?
Built-in recorder: Desktop by default (configurable). ShipClip: ~/Movies/ShipClip. OBS: configurable in settings.
How do I record just a part of my screen?
With the built-in recorder: Cmd+Shift+5 → Record Selected Portion → drag to select the area. With ShipClip: choose Window capture mode to record a single window, or record the full display and crop in the editor.
Ready to record? Try ShipClip free for 7 days.
Try ShipClip Free