How to record your screen with audio on Mac
The short answer: the built-in recorder (⌘⇧5) can record your microphone, but it cannot capture system audio, the sound your Mac is playing. To record internal sound you need a dedicated tool. ShotScreen records screen video to MP4 and captures system audio and the mic together as separate tracks (mic requires macOS 15+).
Step by step
- 1
Know what ⌘⇧5 records
Press ⌘⇧5 for the built-in Screenshot toolbar, then choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion. Under Options you can enable a microphone, but the toolbar does not capture the sound coming out of your Mac (system audio).
- 2
Record with system audio in ShotScreen
Press ⌘⇧6 in ShotScreen and pick an area, a window or the whole screen. ShotScreen records to MP4 (H.264) and can capture your Mac's system audio and your microphone at the same time, kept as separate tracks.
- 3
Choose your frame rate
Record at 24, 30 or 60 fps depending on whether you are demoing an app, walking through a document, or capturing something with motion. The cursor can be included too.
- 4
Trim and export
When you stop, ShotScreen opens a trim editor with draggable in and out handles and a live scrubber, so you can top-and-tail the clip before you export or drag the finished MP4 into another app.
Why ⌘⇧5 misses your system sound
Apple's Screenshot toolbar was built for quick screen recordings with optional narration, so it only wires up microphone input. The audio playing through your speakers (a video, a call, an app's sound effects) is never recorded. That is fine for a talking-head demo, but it is the reason tutorials and bug reports where the on-screen sound matters need a different tool.
What ShotScreen records
ShotScreen uses ScreenCaptureKit to record an area, a window or the full screen to a hardware-encoded MP4. It captures system audio and your microphone as separate tracks, records at 24, 30 or 60 fps, and can include the cursor. When you stop, a trim editor lets you cut the start and end with a live scrubber, and you can play back at 1×, 1.5× or 2× before exporting. Everything happens on your Mac.
FAQ
Does the Mac ⌘⇧5 screen recorder capture system audio?
No. The built-in recorder can record your microphone, but it does not capture system audio, the sound your Mac is playing. To record internal sound you need a tool like ShotScreen, which captures system audio and mic as separate tracks.
How do I record my screen with internal sound on a Mac?
Press ⌘⇧6 in ShotScreen, choose an area, window or full screen, and enable system audio. It records to MP4 with your Mac's internal sound, plus the microphone if you want narration on a separate track.
Do I need a newer macOS to record the microphone?
Screen recording with system audio works on macOS 13 and later. Microphone capture in ShotScreen requires macOS 15 or newer. ShotScreen requires a Mac with Apple Silicon; Intel Macs are not supported.
Record your screen with real sound
ShotScreen is free to use, with 5 popup-free captures a day. System audio, 60 fps recording and the trim editor are included from the start.
Related guides: Where screenshots go · Screenshot part of the screen · Annotate a screenshot · Screenshot shortcuts · FAQ