Screen Recorder Shortcut - Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac Screen Recording
Mac has a built-in screen recorder you can trigger with a keyboard shortcut. No downloads needed - just press the right keys and you’re recording.
This guide covers every Mac screen recording shortcut, what each one does, and how to go beyond basic captures when you need professional-looking results. For a broader overview of all recording methods, see our complete guide to screen recording on Mac.
Mac screen recording shortcut
The fastest way to start a screen recording on Mac is Cmd + Shift + 5. This opens the Screenshot toolbar at the bottom of your screen.
From the toolbar, you get three recording options:
- Record Entire Screen - captures everything on your display
- Record Selected Portion - lets you drag a rectangle to record a specific area
- Record Selected Window - captures a single window (macOS Tahoe and later)
How to start and stop recording on Mac
- Press Cmd + Shift + 5 to open the toolbar
- Click Options to configure microphone input, save location, and timer
- Select your recording mode (entire screen or selected portion)
- Click Record or click anywhere on screen to begin
- To stop recording, press Cmd + Control + Esc or click the Stop button in the menu bar
Your recording saves to the Desktop by default (or wherever you set in Options).
QuickTime screen recording shortcut
You can also start a screen recording through QuickTime Player:
- Open QuickTime Player
- Press Control + Cmd + N to start a new screen recording
- This opens the same Screenshot toolbar as Cmd + Shift + 5
QuickTime is useful if you prefer a menu-driven workflow, but the keyboard shortcut gets you to the same place faster.
Quick reference - Mac screen recording shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open Screenshot toolbar | Cmd + Shift + 5 |
| Stop recording | Cmd + Control + Esc |
| New Screen Recording (QuickTime) | Control + Cmd + N |
When built-in shortcuts aren’t enough
The built-in screen recorder handles basic captures well, but it falls short for professional-looking recordings:
- No zoom or pan - you can’t draw attention to specific parts of the screen
- Static cursor - the default cursor is small and easy to lose in recordings
- No editing - you get a raw video file with no way to trim mistakes or add context
- No system audio - capturing internal audio from apps requires a separate virtual audio driver like BlackHole
If you’re recording tutorials, product demos, or anything that needs to look polished, a dedicated screen recorder saves hours of post-production work.
Frequently asked questions
What is the shortcut to screen record on Mac?
Press Cmd + Shift + 5 to open the Screenshot toolbar, then select a recording mode and click Record. To stop recording, press Cmd + Control + Esc or click the Stop button in the menu bar.
How do I stop a screen recording on Mac?
Press Cmd + Control + Esc or click the Stop button (square icon) in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
Can I change the default screen recording shortcut on Mac?
Yes. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Screenshots to reassign the default shortcuts to different key combinations.
How do I screen record with audio on Mac?
Click Options in the Screenshot toolbar and select a microphone. The built-in recorder captures microphone audio but not internal system audio from apps or browsers. For system audio, you need a free virtual audio driver like BlackHole to route app audio to your recorder.
What is the best screen recorder for Mac tutorials?
For quick one-off captures, the built-in Screenshot toolbar works fine. For tutorials and demos that need to look professional, Tight Studio adds zoom animations, cursor highlighting, AI voiceover, and a built-in editor - so your recordings are ready to share without post-production.