How to Record Your Screen on a Mac

A selected portion keeps unrelated menus, files, and applications out of frame. Use the whole screen when the viewer must see movement across the desktop or between windows. Apple also exposes a selected-window recording option on newer macOS versions, but the whole-screen and selected-portion choices cover the broadest supported workflow.

Set the rectangle before opening a menu that disappears when clicked elsewhere. Check whether tooltips, sheets, and popovers remain inside the area. If the procedure crosses outside it, enlarge the selection or use the whole screen rather than recording an incomplete explanation.

Options controls the save destination, timer, microphone, and pointer behavior. Choose a named folder when several takes are likely, and select the correct microphone if narration matters. A timer gives you time to restore the initial screen state after clicking Record.

macOS screen recording does not guarantee that every app or protected item can be captured. Keep the operating system current, respect any app restriction, and make a short test with the same window and microphone. Play that test outside the Screenshot tool so you can hear the saved result.

Apple saves screen recordings as MOV files. Watch the complete take for notification banners, usernames, recent files, autofill suggestions, browser tabs, and spoken information outside the lesson. Remove a failed take when it contains something that should not be shared.

Save Replay accepts MOV when the browser can decode and prepare the file. Open it locally, keep the first necessary state and final result, preview the selected range, and upload the prepared clip. If the browser reports that it cannot prepare the source safely, convert or record in a compatible format rather than sending the full original by mistake.