How to screen record on Mac with audio
Press Shift, Command and 5, click Options, choose a microphone, then click Record. On macOS 27 Golden Gate or later you can also choose Include System Audio to capture the sound your Mac plays. On macOS Tahoe 26 and earlier, Apple's built-in recorder lists only a microphone, so you need a recorder app such as Viddy to get system audio.
How do you screen record on a Mac with audio for free?
Every Mac has a screen recorder in the Screenshot app. These steps follow Apple's own guide, checked November 2026.
- 1
Open the Screenshot app
Press Shift, Command and 5 together. A toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen.
- 2
Choose what to record
Click Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion. On macOS Tahoe 26 or later there is also Record Selected Window.
- 3
Choose a microphone
Click Options in the toolbar and pick a microphone under Microphone. This records your voice. Pick None to record without it.
- 4
Turn on system audio (macOS 27 or later)
In the same Options menu, choose Include System Audio to record the sound your Mac plays. You can keep a microphone selected as well. On macOS 26 and earlier this option is not there.
- 5
Click Record
Click Record in the toolbar. Recording starts and a stop button appears in the menu bar.
- 6
Stop the recording
Click the stop button in the menu bar, or press Command, Control and Esc. The video saves to your desktop unless you changed Save to in Options.
Does the Mac's built-in screen recorder capture system audio?
Yes on macOS 27 Golden Gate or later, through the Include System Audio option in the Screenshot app. Apple's support page gives that option only for macOS 27 or later.
On macOS Tahoe 26 and earlier, Apple's guide lists a microphone as the only audio source.
To see your version, open the Apple menu and choose About This Mac.
How do you screen record with audio in QuickTime Player?
Open QuickTime Player from Applications, then choose File, New Screen Recording, or press Control, Command and N. If the Screenshot toolbar opens, follow the steps above.
If the Screen Recording window opens instead, click the arrow next to Record to choose a microphone. Apple suggests wearing headphones with a microphone so the speakers do not feed back into the recording. Apple's QuickTime steps mention a microphone only, not system audio.
How do you record your screen, mic and system audio with Viddy?
Viddy is a Mac app that records your microphone and your Mac's sound together, then gives you a link with a transcript. It captures system audio through Apple's ScreenCaptureKit, the same framework macOS uses for screen capture.
- 1
Download Viddy for Mac
Get the Apple Silicon or Intel build from the download page and sign in with Google.
- 2
Allow Screen Recording and Microphone
macOS asks for both. Viddy needs a relaunch after you grant Screen Recording; the microphone works right away.
- 3
Keep system audio on
In Preferences, the option Record other people's audio is on by default. It records what your Mac plays, such as a video, an app or the other side of a call.
- 4
Choose a source and a microphone
Pick a screen, a window, an app or a region you drag. For a call or a video playing on your Mac, choose Screen (not Window) so the sound comes with it. Then choose your microphone and check the level meter moves when you speak.
- 5
Start and stop with Cmd+Shift+R
Press Cmd+Shift+R to start. To stop, press it again or click the square Stop button on the floating bar. With the upload mode set to While recording, the link is ready when you stop.
What does Viddy give you that the built-in recorder does not?
The Screenshot app saves a video file to your desktop. Viddy records the same screen and sound, then gives you more to work with afterwards.
- A transcript made on your own Mac, with timestamps. Click a line to jump to that second. Transcripts are English only.
- Bookmarks while you record: press Cmd+Shift+I to mark an important moment, or Control+N to write a note pinned to that second.
- Mute and pause mid-recording: Cmd+Shift+M mutes your mic, Cmd+Shift+U mutes your mic and system audio, and Cmd+Shift+P pauses. Paused time is cut out; muted stretches stay as silence.
- A share link where viewers read the transcript and leave notes pinned to a moment.
- Ask Claude about any recording, for example "find where I explained the export settings". You connect Claude, Claude Code or Cursor through MCP with your own Claude or Cursor account (there is no chat box inside Viddy), and it reads your transcripts and notes, searches what was said and suggests cuts you approve.
How do you record a video call's audio on a Mac?
The other people on a call come out of your Mac's speakers, so you need system audio for their voices and the microphone for yours. Viddy records both, and no bot joins the call.
Record the whole screen (choose Screen, not Window) so the call's sound is in the video. You are responsible for telling the other people that you are recording.
Can you screen record with audio on a Mac without installing anything?
Yes, with the built-in Screenshot app above, or in the browser at viddy.lol/record. The browser recorder works in a recent Chrome, Edge or Firefox and needs a Viddy sign-in.
In Chrome or Edge, choose Tab to record one browser tab with that tab's sound, plus your mic. Browsers do not record a window's sound, so for a web page with audio, pick Tab.
Why does my Mac screen recording have no sound?
The most common cause is the microphone set to None in Options. Open Options again before you record and pick a microphone.
If the video plays without the sound from your Mac, your macOS version may not have Include System Audio, or the option was not chosen. Check the version in About This Mac.
If the microphone is chosen but nothing is heard, check that the recording app has Microphone access in System Settings under Privacy and Security. Viddy shows a warning when no sound arrives from the mic, and before you start a recording with the mic off.
Free or Pro
The free plan records your screen, mic and system audio in the Mac app, with transcripts and share links. Start free. Pro is $100 a year, or $10 a month.
| Feature | Free$0 | Pro$100 a year |
|---|---|---|
| Recording | 5 hours a month | Unlimited* |
| How long recordings are kept | 12 months | No time limit |
| AI task lists | 20 a month | |
| Live caption credit | Your own Deepgram key | 100 minutes included, or your own key |
| Share links, transcripts and timestamped notes |
* Fair use applies, and is printed on the pricing page.
Questions
Does Shift-Command-5 record audio on a Mac?
It records your microphone if you choose one under Options. On macOS 27 Golden Gate or later it can also record system audio when you choose Include System Audio. Checked on Apple's support page, November 2026.
How do I screen record on a Mac with internal audio?
On macOS 27 or later, press Shift, Command and 5, click Options and choose Include System Audio. On earlier versions, use a recorder app that captures system audio, such as Viddy, where it is on by default.
Can QuickTime Player record system audio?
Apple's QuickTime Player steps list only a microphone as the audio source. Apple notes that New Screen Recording may open the Screenshot toolbar instead, and there macOS 27 or later offers Include System Audio.
Can I record my voice and my Mac's sound at the same time?
Yes. In the Screenshot app on macOS 27 or later, keep a microphone selected and also choose Include System Audio. In Viddy, the mic and system audio are recorded separately and mixed into one video.
Can I mute my mic during a Mac screen recording?
In Viddy, press Cmd+Shift+M to mute your mic, or Cmd+Shift+U to mute your mic and system audio. The muted part stays in the video as silence, so the timing does not change.
Is Viddy free?
Yes, Viddy has a free plan that includes the Mac app, system audio, transcripts and share links. See pricing for the limits and the Pro plan.
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