3 Steps to Screen Recording on Your Mac

Screen recording on your Mac allows you to capture video and audio of your computer screen. This handy feature has many great uses – from creating tutorials and webinars to recording gameplay and applications in action.

In this comprehensive guide, we will outline the 3 main methods for easily recording your screen on a Mac:

Using Built-In Keyboard Shortcuts
With Wondershare UniConverter Software
QuickTime Player App

We will compare the pros and cons of each approach to help you decide which screen recording option may work best for your needs. Follow along as we dive into step-by-step instructions for recording your screen on a Mac!

Method 1: Built-In Keyboard Shortcuts

Since 2018‘s macOS Mojave update, Apple has included quick keyboard shortcuts to start a screen recording session. It‘s feature built right into your Mac – no extra software downloads required!

Here is how to record your screen using keyboard shortcuts:

Step 1: Initiate the Screenshot Toolbar

Press the Command⌘ + Shift⇧ + 5 keys on your keyboard. This will pull up the handy Screenshot toolbar at bottom of your screen.

From here, you have various options for capturing screens, windows or selections – plus a record button for videos.

Step 2: Choose Record Entire Screen or Portion

Next, decide if you want to record your full display or just a portion:

Full Screen – Click the record icon from the toolbar to capture everything on your screen.
Partial Screen – To record a section instead, select the square outline icon then click and drag to make a selection box around the area you want to record.

Tip: You can reposition or resize the selection box as needed before starting the recording.

Step 3. Click the Record Button

Once you‘ve chosen your capture area, tap the circular record button on the right side of the toolbar.

Your screen recording will now start capturing everything in the selected portion of your display.

Step 4. End the Recording

When you‘re finished capturing, go up to the menu bar and click the Screen Recording icon to end the session. You can also use the Command + Control + Esc keyboard shortcut to stop recording.

By default, your screen recording will be automatically saved to your desktop for easy access.

Benefits:

Simple and fast to start recording
No extra apps or programs needed
Records system audio and microphone (if authorized in settings)

Drawbacks:

Limited editing capabilities
Can only save recordings to desktop
No webcam overlay option

Overall, the built-in keyboard shortcuts method offers a super quick and convenient way to capture your Mac‘s screen. But it lacks finer controls and customization abilities.

Next, let‘s look at how third-party software can provide more robust screen recording and editing tools…

Method 2: Wondershare UniConverter Software

For more control over your screen recordings on a Mac, we recommend using the popular Wondershare UniConverter program.

This software gives you plenty of customization so you can capture high-quality, polished videos of your screen activity.

Here is how to record your screen using Wondershare UniConverter:

Step 1. Launch Wondershare UniConverter

Download and install the UniConverter software on your Mac device. Open the program and select Screen Recorder from the left-side menu.

This will open the screen and webcam recording tools.

Step 2. Configure Your Recording Options

Next, choose your desired video settings:

Select Full Screen to record your entire display
Or pick Custom then adjust the frame size for a partial screen capture

You can also drag the corners of the preview to resize for picture-in-picture webcam.

Step 3. Set Additional Preferences

Dive into the Advanced Settings to further customize:

Video quality
Output format
Frame rate
Record timer
Storage location
Webcam and microphone preferences

This gives you granular control over your recording configurations.

Step 4. Click Record and Add Annotations

When ready, click the red Record button to start capturing your on-screen activity.

As your recording, you can open the Annotations menu to add text boxes, drawings, arrows and more on top of your video. Great for tutorials!

Step 5. Stop Recording and Export

To end, simply hit the Stop button. Your screen recording will now be available in the designated save location on your Mac.

You can now edit, share or export the video as needed.

Advantages of Wondershare UniConverter:

Robust recording customization
Annotations for tutorials
Picture-in-picture webcam
Share directly to YouTube or video platforms

Downsides:

Steeper learning curve
Must download and install software

For those looking to produce polished, professional-grade screen recordings, Wondershare UniConverter has all the tools you need. Though it requires more setup than quick keyboard shortcuts.

Method 3. QuickTime Player App

Finally, another option for recording your screen on Mac is the built-in QuickTime Player application. This free utility allows simple screen capture and basic edits.

Follow these instructions to record with QuickTime Player:

Step 1. Open QuickTime Player

Launch QuickTime from your applications folder. It comes pre-installed on most Macs.

Step 2. Select "New Screen Recording"

At the top menu, click File > New Screen Recording to open the capture tools.

Step 3. Click the Record Button

Press the red record button to start capturing your entire screen.

Or, you can drag to select an area for a partial screen recording before hitting record.

Step 4. End Recording

When finished, click the black Stop square button or use Command + Control + Esc to end the recording.

By default, your screen video will open immediately in QuickTime player for previewing.

Step 5. Save Recording

If satisfied with the recording, save it with File > Save or Cmd+S. Choose a name and location on your Mac.

QuickTime Benefits:

Simple screen recorder already on your Mac
Intuitive interface and basic editing tools

Limitations:

Less recording options than dedicated software
Fewer output choices for sharing

As you can see, QuickTime Player provides an easy built-in screen capture solution. But lacks some of the more advanced features of robust recording programs.

Recommendation: Use Keyboard Shortcuts Plus Software

So which screen recording method is right for you?

For quick, one-off screen grabs, we recommend using the built-in Mac keyboard shortcuts – no added software required. Just hit Command-Shift-5 then record.

However, for more professional, customized, and shareable screen videos, third-party software like Wondershare UniConverter is the best option.

Better yet, use both! Employ the handy Mac shortcuts to instantly record screens. Then refine videos further in UniConverter for production-ready tutorials, lessons and demos.

This combo allows fast and versatile screen capturing according to your specific needs.

Where Recordings Are Saved

One final tip: to locate your recordings, know where each method saves files by default:

Keyboard Shortcuts: Saved to desktop
Wondershare UniConverter: Choose custom save location
QuickTime Player: Usually your Movies folder

You can always move recordings after the fact as well.

So get out there and start recording your screen on your Mac! Create standout tutorials, product demos, entertaining gameplay videos and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are screen recordings on a Mac free?

A: Yes! You can record your screen for free using the built-in tools like keyboard shortcuts and QuickTime. No paid software is needed.

Q: Can I record my webcam picture-in-picture?

A: Yes, programs like Wondershare UniConverter allow you to capture webcam footage and mic audio while recording your screen. Great for video tutorials!

Q: How do I include sound when recording my screen?

A: Using QuickTime Player, you can select the internal or external mic to record audio with your onscreen video capture.

Q: Where do my Mac‘s screen recordings save to by default?

A: Screen recordings will save to either your Desktop or your Movies folder, depending on the capture method used. You can customize the save location as well.

Continue Learning About Macs!

Hopefully now you feel empowered to record your screen on your Mac! Want to keep expanding your Apple knowledge? Check out these related articles:

Let us know if you have any other questions about recording your screen on a Mac! We‘re happy to help guide you through the process.