How to Record Video on Mac

Sometimes you just need to show, not tell. Maybe it’s a tutorial for your team, a product demo, or you simply want to save that live stream for later. Recording video on a Mac is pretty straightforward, but depending on what you need, there are a few different routes you can take. Let’s break them down.

The Built-in Options on Mac

QuickTime Player

QuickTime has been sitting on your Mac since forever and it does a decent job at simple screen recording.

Open QuickTime Player
Go to File → New Screen Recording
Hit record

The catch: QuickTime doesn’t allow you to record with audio. If you want to capture sound from your Mac (like a Zoom call or a YouTube video), you’ll need to fiddle with extra software.

A screenshot of the file menu from QuickTime player, with the cursor hovered over "New Screen Recording" — File → New Screen Recording

Screenshot Toolbar

macOS also has a neat shortcut.

Press Cmd + Shift + 5
Choose whether you want to record the entire screen or just a section
Hit record

This is fast and built-in, but again, audio is limited. Sound capture isn’t included out of the box.

A screenshot of Mac's built in screenshot tool with a large cursor hovered over the "Record Entire Screen" option.

How to Screen Record with Audio on Mac

This is where most people get stuck. Capturing both your mic and system audio at the same time isn’t really something Apple makes easy. Sure, you can hack together third-party drivers, but it’s messy.

If you want the simple answer: use a dedicated screen recorder. This is where tools like CANVID come in.

Recording on Mac with CANVID

CANVID is a next-generation screen recorder for Mac and Windows. It’s built for people who want their recordings to look professional and engaging without spending hours editing. Here’s what you can do with it:

Capture your screen or a specific window
Record system audio and microphone together without weird setups
Add your webcam in the corner with options to blur, replace, or remove the background
AI audio clean-up so your voice sounds clear even if you’re working in a noisy space
Automatic zooms that follow your clicks to highlight what matters
Edit instantly with built-in tools for cuts, captions, and more
Export in up to 4K or share instantly with a link through CANVID Cloud

It’s basically everything you wish the default Mac tools did.

Step-by-Step: Recording with CANVID

Download and install CANVID.
Open the app and choose whether to record your screen or a window.
Select your microphone and enable system sound.
Turn on your webcam if you want that picture-in-picture look.
Hit record. A floating bar lets you pause or stop whenever you need.
Once finished, polish things up with zooms, cuts, or captions.
Export as MP4 or GIF, or just hit Quick Share to get a link you can send around.

A screenshot of the CANVID app on the pre-recording screen, showing a camera, a chrome window and device selection options at the bottom with a big red record button.

Why CANVID Beats the Default Options

QuickTime and the screenshot toolbar are fine for quick grabs, but they’re limited. CANVID gives you polished recordings right away, without needing extra editing software. You get better audio, cleaner visuals, and pro-level exports without breaking your flow.

FAQ: Recording Video on Mac

Does Mac have a built-in video recorder?
Yes. You can use QuickTime Player or the screenshot toolbar (Cmd + Shift + 5). They’re fine for basic recording but limited when it comes to audio and editing.

How do I record system audio on Mac?
Apple doesn’t allow audio capture natively when using QuickTime and the screenshot toolbar. Apps like CANVID let you record both mic and system audio together.

Can I record my screen and webcam at the same time on Mac?
Not with the built-in tools. With CANVID, you can record your screen and webcam together, complete with background blur or replacement for a professional look.

How do I edit a screen recording on Mac?
QuickTime only trims the ends of a clip. For proper editing (like adding captions, zooms, or cutting sections), you’ll need something like CANVID, which has a built-in timeline editor.

Wrapping Up

So now you know how to record video on Mac, whether you stick with the built-in tools or upgrade to something more powerful. If you just need a quick clip, QuickTime or the screenshot toolbar will do the trick. But if you want recordings that actually look good enough to share with clients, students, or your audience, CANVID is the way to go.

👉 Download CANVID and try it out