How-to

How to record the screen on a Mac: built-in shortcut, QuickTime and Xscreen

Three ways to record a Mac screen: Shift-Command-5, QuickTime and Xscreen. How to capture system audio, add zoom and a mockup, and export in 4K.

By , founder of Xscreen · Updated · 7 min read

Founder of AI First and Xscreen. Writes for operators who need cinematic product demos on Mac and Windows.

Short answer

The fastest way to record a Mac screen is Shift-Command-5 (or Shift-Command-5 → Record). QuickTime does the same with a few more options. Neither captures system audio without a virtual device, and neither adds cinematic zoom or a 3D mockup. Xscreen records the screen, mic and system audio, then lets you add zoom and a device mockup and export in 4K — locally, on Apple Silicon.

Method 1: Shift-Command-5 (built-in)

On macOS Mojave and later, press Shift-Command-5. Pick entire screen or a region, optionally a microphone, then Record. Stop from the menu bar. Apple’s own steps: Apple Support.

Limits: no system (internal) audio without a virtual driver such as BlackHole; no zoom, no mockup, no 4K export control. Fine for a 20-second bug report. Thin for a product launch.

Method 2: QuickTime Player

File → New Screen Recording. Same capture stack as the toolbar. Same audio and polish limits.

Method 3: Xscreen (zoom, mockup, 4K)

  1. 1

    Install or open in the browser

    Download the notarized Apple Silicon app, or use Chrome / Edge / Brave.

  2. 2

    Record screen, mic and system audio

    Choose the display, optional webcam bubble, microphone and system audio.

  3. 3

    Place zooms

    On the timeline, mark the action and set the focus point.

  4. 4

    Mockup and background

    Drop the clip into a 3D iPhone or MacBook, or a browser frame.

  5. 5

    Export 4K

    MP4, transparent WebM or GIF. No watermark. The file never leaves the Mac.

Frequently asked questions

Can macOS record in 4K natively?

It records at the display’s native resolution. A Retina 14-inch MacBook Pro captures enough pixels for a 4K export, but the built-in recorder does not give you a 4K export picker, zoom or a device mockup.

How do I record Mac system audio?

The built-in recorder will not. Use a virtual device (BlackHole) plus QuickTime, or use Xscreen, which captures system audio in the app.

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