Screen recording on a Mac is a built-in feature that allows users to capture video of their screen activity, as reported by Apple Support. Using either the Screenshot toolbar or QuickTime Player, Mac users can easily record their entire screen or a selected portion, with options to include audio and show mouse clicks for more detailed demonstrations.
The Screenshot Toolbar, introduced in macOS Mojave, provides an intuitive way to capture screen recordings on Mac. Here's a concise guide to using this built-in tool:
Open the Screenshot Toolbar by pressing Command + Shift + 512
Choose recording options:
Configure settings by clicking Options:
Stop recording by clicking the Stop button in the menu bar or pressing Command + Control + Escape12
Access the recording from your chosen save location (default is desktop)12
The Screenshot Toolbar also offers additional features like showing mouse clicks and remembering your last selection, enhancing the versatility of your screen recordings34.
QuickTime Player is a versatile tool for screen recording on older macOS versions. Here's a concise guide to using QuickTime Player for screen recording:
Open QuickTime Player from the Applications folder
Go to File > New Screen Recording
Configure settings:
Click the arrow next to the Record button to select audio input source
Choose to show mouse clicks in recording (optional)
Start recording:
Click the Record button
Click anywhere on the screen to record the entire screen
Or drag to select an area, then click Start Recording
Stop recording:
Click the Stop button in the menu bar
Or press Command + Control + Escape
QuickTime Player automatically opens the recording for playback, editing, or sharing12
After recording, you can trim the clip in QuickTime Player or save it for further editing in other applications.2
CleanShot X is a comprehensive screen capture and recording tool for Mac that offers advanced features beyond the built-in macOS options. Here's an overview of its key capabilities:
Screen recording with options for full screen, window, or custom area capture1
Built-in annotation tools for highlighting, drawing, and adding text to screenshots1
Scrolling capture for long pages or documents1
GIF creation from screen recordings1
Quick access overlay for easy sharing and editing1
Self-timer for delayed captures4
Desktop clutter hiding feature for clean screenshots1
Text recognition from images (OCR functionality)5
Cloud integration for instant sharing5
Video trimming and basic editing capabilities3
CleanShot X is available for a one-time purchase, with an optional subscription for updates and cloud storage.2 Its native Mac app design ensures smooth performance and integration with the operating system.1