MotionShineShort answer: in QuickTime Player, choose File, then New Screen Recording, click the arrow next to the Record button and pick a Microphone. That records your voice. Apple's QuickTime section lists only the microphone and Show Mouse Clicks. It does not mention system audio, which is the sound your Mac plays. Checked on 23 October 2026 on Apple's page "How to record the screen on Mac", dated 14 September 2026.
Steps: record the screen with your voice
These are the steps from Apple's page.
- Open QuickTime Player from your Applications folder.
- From the File menu, choose New Screen Recording, or press Control-Command-N.
- Click the arrow next to the Record button.
- Under Microphone, choose the microphone. Use the volume slider to check it.
- Click Record. Click anywhere to record the whole screen, or drag to pick an area and click Start Recording.
- To stop, click Stop in the menu bar or press Command-Control-Esc. QuickTime opens the recording so you can play, edit or share it.
Apple warns about one thing: if you hear audio feedback, lower the volume or use headphones with a microphone. If your voice sounds wrong, test the mic first with the free webcam and mic test, which runs in your browser.
Does QuickTime record the sound your Mac plays?
Apple's page, in the QuickTime section, does not mention system audio or internal audio. So it does not say you can, and it does not give a setting to turn it on.
Here is what Apple's page does say, and it is for the Screenshot app, not QuickTime: in macOS 27 Golden Gate or later, choose Include System Audio in Options. That is the only place the page lists it.
| Question | What Apple's page says |
|---|---|
| Record your voice in QuickTime | Yes, choose a Microphone |
| System audio in QuickTime | Not mentioned |
| System audio in the Screenshot app | Include System Audio, macOS 27 Golden Gate or later |
| Pick a microphone in the Screenshot app | Yes, in Options |
If you are on an older macOS, or you want the sound in QuickTime, the options are in how to screen record on Mac with audio. For a walkthrough without a plugin, see how to record computer audio on Mac without a plugin.
If the recording has no sound
- Wrong microphone. Open the arrow next to Record and check the Microphone choice. "None" records no voice.
- The volume slider is at zero. Move it up and watch it react while you speak.
- Mac sound was expected. If you wanted a video's sound, that is system audio, and Apple's QuickTime section does not cover it.
- The app has no permission. Open System Settings, Privacy & Security, and check the microphone and Screen & System Audio Recording lists.
- Headphones and speakers. Feedback can spoil a take. Apple suggests headphones with a microphone.
Tips for clean voice audio
- Use headphones with a microphone, as Apple suggests, so the speakers do not feed back into the take.
- Watch the volume slider while you speak. If it barely moves, pick another microphone.
- Record a ten second test, play it back, then record the real one.
- Close apps that make notification sounds. Those sounds come from your Mac, not your mic, but a speaker can pass them into the mic.
Use QuickTime or something else?
Keep QuickTime if you need a voice-over on a quick clip and you want nothing installed. After you stop, trim in the same window, then use convert QuickTime to MP4 on Mac if a site wants MP4.
Switch if you need zooms, a smoother cursor and a place to add music, text or captions later. MotionShine, by the maker of this blog, is a free Mac screen recorder with a full editor that has a voice over lane and on-device captions. Free exports go up to 720p at 30 fps, with no watermark and no time limit. Pro unlocks 1080p, 1440p, 4K and 60 fps. It is not worth installing for a one-off quick clip. If you are unsure which to pick, the best screen recorders for Mac compares them.
FAQ
How do I record my screen with audio in QuickTime Player?
Choose File, New Screen Recording, click the arrow next to Record, pick a Microphone and click Record.
Can QuickTime record internal audio?
Apple's QuickTime section does not mention it. Apple lists Include System Audio for the Screenshot app on macOS 27 Golden Gate or later.
Why is my QuickTime screen recording silent?
Check the Microphone choice and the volume slider. Then check the microphone permission in System Settings.
How do I stop the recording?
Click Stop in the menu bar or press Command-Control-Esc. See how to stop a QuickTime screen recording.
Is there an audio-only option in QuickTime?
Apple's page for screen recording does not describe one.
