Screen Recording on Mac with Built-In Tools: Screenshots & Videos Without Extra Apps

How to do it

1. Press Cmd+Shift+5 — a recording panel appears at the bottom of your screen.
2. Choose screenshot mode: Entire screen, single window, or selected area.
3. Choose video mode: Record the full screen or just a selected portion.
4. Adjust options: Click "Options" in the panel to set:
   • Save location (Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, Mail, etc.)
   • Timer (5 or 10 second delay)
   • Show mouse pointer (yes/no)
   • Microphone for audio recording (for videos)
5. Start recording: Click "Record."
6. Stop video: Click the Stop button in the menu bar (top right) — or press Cmd+Ctrl+Esc.

Why this helps

macOS has had a full screenshot and recording tool built in since Mojave (2018). You don't need QuickTime or OBS for simple screen recordings. The panel remembers your last settings — next time, one shortcut is all you need.

Bonus tips

• Use the timer: Set it to 5 seconds — gives you time to open a menu or tooltip before the screenshot fires.
• Preview thumbnail: After a screenshot, a small preview appears in the bottom right. Click it to instantly crop, annotate, or share.
• Quick shortcuts: Cmd+Shift+3 = full screen screenshot, Cmd+Shift+4 = select an area — the fast lane without the panel.
• Change save location: By default, recordings land on your Desktop. Change it permanently via "Options."