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QuickTime Record Screen & Audio Guide

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QuickTime Record Screen & Audio Guide

QuickTime Player can record your Mac’s screen with system audio, but it does not capture sound by default. You’ll need a virtual audio driver (like BlackHole) to route the Mac’s audio into the recording, or you can record with a microphone for voice-over. This guide explains the exact steps, the audio limitation, and the best workarounds.

What QuickTime Screen Recording Can and Cannot Do

QuickTime Player (built into every Mac) has a built-in screen recording feature that captures video in high quality. It can record the entire screen or a selected portion, and it can also record video from a connected camera. However, it does not record internal system audio (like music, game sounds, or notifications) on its own. When you start a screen recording, the only audio source you can select is a microphone, which picks up ambient sound—not the sound your Mac is playing.

This limitation is a common frustration, especially for people who want to record a tutorial, a gameplay clip, or a video call. The good news is that macOS provides a way to capture system audio by installing a free virtual audio driver. Once installed, you can select that driver as the microphone input in QuickTime, and it will record the sound your Mac outputs.

How to Record Screen with QuickTime (Basic Method)

Here’s the standard procedure for recording your screen with QuickTime Player:

  1. Open QuickTime Player (found in the Applications folder).
  2. On the menu bar, click File > New Screen Recording.
  3. A small control bar appears with a red record button and a dropdown arrow next to it. Click the arrow to choose your microphone and video quality.
  4. Click the red record button. You’ll see a prompt: “Click to record the full screen” or “Drag to record a portion of the screen.” Choose one.
  5. When you’re done, click the stop button in the menu bar (the square icon) or press Command+Control+Esc.
  6. A preview window appears. You can save the recording by pressing Command+S and choosing a location.

This method captures video flawlessly, but the audio will only come from the microphone you selected. If you don’t select any microphone, the recording will have no audio track at all.

How to Record System Audio (The Virtual Driver Fix)

To capture the sound your Mac plays (music, videos, game audio), you need to install a virtual audio driver that acts as a “loopback” device. The most common free option is BlackHole, an open-source driver that routes audio from your Mac’s output to an input that QuickTime can record. Here’s how to set it up:

  1. Install BlackHole: Download the latest version from the official GitHub page (or via Homebrew with brew install blackhole-2ch). Install the package and restart your Mac if prompted.
  2. Create a Multi-Output Device: Open Audio MIDI Setup (in Applications/Utilities). Click the “+” button in the bottom-left and choose “Create Multi-Output Device.”
  3. Add your speakers and BlackHole: In the right pane, check both your built-in speakers/headphones and “BlackHole 2ch.” This sends audio to both your ears and the virtual driver.
  4. Set the Multi-Output as your system output: Go to System Settings > Sound > Output and select the Multi-Output Device you just created.
  5. In QuickTime: When you start a new screen recording, click the dropdown arrow and select BlackHole 2ch as the microphone. Now QuickTime will record the system audio.

This method works reliably, but it has a caveat: you won’t be able to hear the audio while recording unless you use the Multi-Output Device. If you don’t create the Multi-Output, you’ll hear nothing (since the audio goes to BlackHole instead of your speakers).

Alternative Methods: Built-in Screen Recording and Third-Party Apps

If you don’t want to install extra software, macOS has a built-in screen recording tool that does capture system audio without any workaround. Here’s how it compares:

  • macOS Built-in Recorder (Cmd+Shift+5): This tool, introduced in macOS Mojave, can record the entire screen or a selected area. It has an “Options” button where you can choose the microphone. However, it also does not record system audio by default—but you can select “BlackHole” as the microphone if you installed it. The advantage is that it’s more intuitive and offers a timer and mouse click display.
  • Third-party apps (OBS, ScreenFlow, Camtasia): These are more powerful but often paid or complex. OBS Studio is free and can capture system audio natively on Mac (using a virtual audio driver or its own audio capture). ScreenFlow and Camtasia are paid but offer built-in system audio capture and editing.

For most users, the QuickTime + BlackHole method is the simplest free solution. If you don’t need system audio, the built-in Cmd+Shift+5 tool is even easier.

Common Problems and Troubleshooting

Even with the right setup, things can go wrong. Here are the most frequent issues and how to fix them:

  • No audio after recording: Check that you selected the correct microphone in QuickTime (the dropdown arrow). If you chose “None,” there will be no audio track. Also verify that the Multi-Output Device is still selected in System Settings.
  • Audio is out of sync: This can happen with long recordings. Try recording in shorter segments, or use a third-party app like OBS which has better sync handling.
  • Can’t hear audio while recording: This is normal with BlackHole alone. You must create the Multi-Output Device to hear sound through your speakers while sending it to BlackHole.
  • BlackHole doesn’t appear in QuickTime: After installing, restart your Mac and open QuickTime again. If it still doesn’t show, check that the driver is loaded by opening Audio MIDI Setup and looking for “BlackHole 2ch.”
  • Screen recording is not allowed: If you see a black screen or a warning, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording and make sure QuickTime Player is enabled.

If you’re still having trouble, try restarting your Mac after installing the driver—this resolves most driver-related issues.

How to Choose the Right Method for Your Needs

Your choice depends on what you’re recording and your comfort with installing software:

  • Recording a tutorial with voice-over: Use QuickTime with just your microphone. No extra setup needed.
  • Recording a gameplay or a video with system audio: Use QuickTime + BlackHole, or the built-in Cmd+Shift+5 tool with BlackHole selected as the microphone.
  • Recording a video call (Zoom, FaceTime): QuickTime can record the screen, but it won’t capture the other person’s audio unless you route it through BlackHole. For simplicity, use a third-party app like OBS.
  • Long or professional recordings: Consider OBS Studio (free) or ScreenFlow (paid) for better control and reliability.

Remember that QuickTime is great for quick, simple recordings, but it lacks advanced features like editing, multi-track audio, or webcam overlay. If you need those, a dedicated app is worth the investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can QuickTime record system audio without third-party software?

No. QuickTime only allows you to select a microphone as the audio source. Without a virtual audio driver like BlackHole, it cannot capture the sound your Mac is playing. The built-in screen recorder (Cmd+Shift+5) has the same limitation.

Is BlackHole safe to install?

Yes, BlackHole is an open-source project hosted on GitHub. It’s widely used and considered safe. However, like any kernel extension, it requires you to grant permission in System Settings, and you should download it from the official source to avoid malicious versions.

Does QuickTime record audio from a microphone and system audio at the same time?

No, QuickTime only records one audio input at a time. You can either record your microphone or the system audio (via BlackHole), but not both simultaneously. To do that, you would need a third-party app that supports multi-track audio.

Why is my QuickTime recording silent when I select BlackHole?

This usually means you haven’t set your system output to the Multi-Output Device. When BlackHole is selected as the input, the audio goes to BlackHole, not to your speakers. You must create a Multi-Output Device in Audio MIDI Setup and select it as your output to hear the audio while recording.

Can I record only a portion of the screen with QuickTime?

Yes. When you start a new screen recording, you can drag to select a specific area instead of clicking to record the full screen. This is useful for recording a single window or a small region.

Does QuickTime record at 60 frames per second?

QuickTime’s screen recording uses the screen’s refresh rate, which is typically 60Hz on most Macs. However, the actual frame rate may vary depending on the system load. For exact control over frame rate, use a third-party tool like OBS.

Final Thoughts

QuickTime is a reliable, free tool for screen recording on Mac, but its lack of system audio support is a significant limitation. By installing a virtual audio driver like BlackHole, you can overcome this and capture both video and sound. For more complex needs, consider the built-in Cmd+Shift+5 tool or a dedicated third-party app. Whichever method you choose, you’ll be able to create clear, professional-looking recordings with a little practice.

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