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

![Screen Recording on Mac with Built-In Tools: Screenshots & Videos Without Extra Apps](/api/v1/images/5b06235c-85d6-42d3-ae5c-4cce66272877)

## 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."