MotionShineShort answer: on macOS Mojave (10.14), Catalina (10.15) and Big Sur (11), press Shift-Command-5, choose to record the entire screen or a portion, click Record, and click the Stop button in the menu bar when you are done. On macOS High Sierra (10.13) and earlier, open QuickTime Player, choose File, New Screen Recording, and click Record. Apple's pages for those versions show a microphone choice, and none of the pages I read mention recording your Mac's own sound. Checked on 26 October 2026.
First find your version. Click the Apple menu, then About This Mac. The window shows a name and number, such as "macOS Catalina 10.15" or "macOS Big Sur 11".
Which method for which macOS?
| macOS version | Screenshot toolbar (Shift-Command-5) | QuickTime Player, New Screen Recording | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sur (11) | Yes, record entire screen or a portion | Not checked for this version | Apple Mac Help, version 11 page |
| Catalina (10.15) | Yes, record entire screen or a portion | Not checked for this version | Apple Mac Help, version 10.15 page |
| Mojave (10.14) | Yes, record entire screen or a portion | Yes, with Options for microphone and clicks | Apple Mac Help 10.14 and QuickTime Player guide for 10.14 |
| High Sierra (10.13) and earlier | Not found | A QuickTime Player guide page under the 10.13 path gives the same QuickTime steps | Apple QuickTime Player guide |
| Monterey (12) | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked |
Two notes on this table. First, I could not find an Apple page that says Shift-Command-5 "arrived" in a given version, so I rely on what each version's page shows: the Mojave page is the earliest one I found that describes it. Second, I did not read Apple's pages for Monterey or newer on their own old-version paths, because the current page covers newer versions in its own way and its newest options need new macOS releases.
Method 1: Shift-Command-5 (Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur)
Apple's version pages for 10.14, 10.15 and 11 describe the same flow:
- Press Shift-Command-5, or open Screenshot from Launchpad. The tools appear.
- Choose Record the Entire Screen or Record a Selected Portion. For a portion, drag the edges of the frame to set the area.
- Click Options to set a timer delay, show the pointer or clicks, and choose where the file is saved. The 10.14 and 11 pages list these. The 10.15 page lists them in general terms.
- Click Record.
- To stop, click the Stop button in the menu bar.
Apple's pages say recordings are saved as .mov files, and that on Mojave and Big Sur the file name begins with "Screen Recording" and then the date and time. If you cannot find the file afterwards, where do screen recordings go on Mac lists the places.
On Mojave, Apple's page also describes a floating thumbnail in the bottom-right corner, if it is enabled. You can swipe it away to save the file, drag it into another place, or click it to mark up or trim the recording.
Not every option on Apple's current page exists on these old versions. For example, the current page lists recording a selected window as a feature of macOS Tahoe 26 or later, so do not expect it on Big Sur. If the shortcut does nothing, your Mac may be older than Mojave, or the shortcut may be taken by another app. In that case use Method 2.
Method 2: QuickTime Player (any older macOS)
QuickTime Player is in your Applications folder. Apple's QuickTime Player guide for macOS 10.14 gives these steps:
- Open QuickTime Player and choose File, New Screen Recording.
- Open the Options menu. Under Microphone, choose None for no sound or choose a microphone. You can also turn on Show Mouse Clicks in Recording.
- Click Record. Click once to capture the whole screen, or drag to select an area and click Start Recording.
- Click Stop in the menu bar. The guide says you can use the Touch Bar on a Mac that has one.
- Choose File, Save and give the recording a name.
Apple's page says the saved file is an H.264 QuickTime movie with an AAC audio track, if you chose audio. The same page text appears under the 10.13 path as well, but that page does not say that it applies to 10.13, so verify on your Mac. If New Screen Recording is missing from the File menu, your macOS is probably very old, and I did not find an Apple page for that case. How to screen record on Mac with QuickTime Player covers the current version in more depth, and how to stop a QuickTime screen recording covers stopping.
What about sound?
Both older methods give you a microphone choice. Apple's older pages that I read mention the microphone only. They do not mention recording the sound your Mac plays, such as music or a video.
Apple's current page does mention it, for much newer macOS: "Include System Audio" in the Screenshot toolbar is listed for macOS 27 Golden Gate or later. So on Mojave, Catalina and Big Sur, the built-in tools do not capture your Mac's own sound. To record it you need a virtual audio driver or another app. How to record computer audio on Mac without a plugin has the full list by version. If you only need your voice, set the microphone as above. If the recording turns out silent, does Mac screen recording record audio walks through the checks.
If it does not work
- A blank or black recording. On Catalina and later, macOS asks permission to record the screen. Open System Preferences, Security & Privacy, Privacy, and look for Screen Recording. The wording of this menu changed over the years, and I did not check each version's page for it. Screen recording not working on Mac goes through it for current macOS.
- No shortcut response. Use the QuickTime Player method.
- The file is too large to send. The free video compressor shrinks it in your browser. The free MOV to MP4 converter changes the format.
- You cannot find the recording. See the link above on where recordings go.
Is it worth updating your Mac?
That depends on your Mac. Check Apple's own list of which Macs can run a newer macOS before you plan anything, and back up first. Do not update just to record. The old methods above work fine for plain video with a microphone.
What MotionShine needs
This post is by the maker of MotionShine, so here is the product note. MotionShine is a free Mac screen recorder, with auto zoom, a smooth cursor, click effects, motion blur and a built-in editor. According to its download page, it needs macOS 13 or later, which the page says means Ventura and every version after it. So it will not run on Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur or Monterey. If your Mac is on one of those, use the methods above.
If your Mac can run macOS 13, the free export is up to 720p at 30 fps, with no watermark and no time limit. Pro unlocks 1080p, 1440p, 4K and 60 fps.
For a view of what each free option does, free Mac screen recording software compares them.
FAQ
How do I screen record on macOS Mojave?
Press Shift-Command-5, choose the entire screen or a portion, click Record, and click Stop in the menu bar. Apple's 10.14 page says recordings are saved as .mov files.
How do I screen record on an older Mac without Shift-Command-5?
Open QuickTime Player, choose File, New Screen Recording, pick a microphone if you want sound, click Record, then click Stop and save. Apple's QuickTime Player guide for 10.14 lists these steps.
Can an older Mac record the sound my Mac plays?
Not with the built-in tools, per the Apple pages I read. They list a microphone only. Apple lists Include System Audio for macOS 27 Golden Gate or later. For older versions you need a driver or another app.
Where does the recording go on Big Sur?
Apple's 11 page says you can choose a save location under Options. Recording names begin with Screen Recording and the date and time. See the where-recordings-go post for the usual places.
Does MotionShine run on Mojave, Catalina or Big Sur?
No. The download page says macOS 13 or later. Use Shift-Command-5 or QuickTime Player on those versions.
Is there an Apple page for High Sierra's screen recording?
Not found as a separate page that says it applies to 10.13. A QuickTime Player guide exists under the 10.13 path with the same steps, but it does not state its version.
