Received a new MacBook Pro M5 as birthday gift and could not figure out the way to screen record on mac with system audio. I know macOS has built-in screen recording options, though I am confused about the difference between recording system sound and recording from the microphone.I would appreciate some guidance on the best free screen recorder for mac. Is it possible to record the screen with audio using the built-in tools, and if so, what settings should I check first?If Mac only supports microphone audio by default, I would also like to know whether there is a reliable way to record internal audio.

The built-in screen recording feature in macOS is a free screen recorder for mac. As an official system tool, it is also the most convenient free screen recording option, requiring no additional software downloads.In short: The built-in screen recording feature records only microphone audio; it does not record system audio.How to Use free screen recorder for mac1. Press Shift + Command + 52. A control bar will appear at the bottom of the screen3. Select:Record Entire ScreenRecord Selected Area4. Click Options—you will see:MicrophoneNo MicrophoneNo System Audio option5. Click to recordLimitation: The built-in recorder cannot record internal/system audioThough this native tool serves well for basic screen capture needs, its lack of system audio recording is a clear downside. If you need to record both desktop sound and voice at the same time, you will need to look for other third-party alternatives.

If you find other software too complicated, this suite is undoubtedly an excellent best screen recorder for mac on the Mac platform; it’s easy to set up and very user-friendly.What You Need:QuickTime Player BlackHole How to Use the best screen recorder for macStep 1: Install the softwareStep 2: Open Audio MIDI Setup, click + → Create Multi-Output DeviceCheck the boxes for the software and MacBook speakersStep 3: In Audio MIDI Settings, right-click on Software → Use this device for sound outputStep 4: Open QuickTime → File → New Screen Recording, then click the arrow next to the Record buttonUnder Microphone, select Software, then click RecordStep 5: Reset the microphone settings to their original state.You can record system audio without downloading any additional software, making it ideal for creating simple tutorials or game clips. However, be sure to switch the audio output back to its original settings after recording to avoid audio issues.ConsIt lacks advanced recording features, such as frame rate control, custom bitrate settings, or scheduled recording.After recording is complete, you must manually restore the system audio settings; otherwise, you won’t be able to hear any sound from your Mac.

OBS Studio is a reliable open-source utility, well-suited as a free screen recorder for mac for capturing on-screen content together with system audio.It can record your display, internal system sound, and microphone input simultaneously, which works well for making tutorials, gameplay footage, and general screen captures.Download and install the Apple Silicon version of the software from the official website. After launching the application, add a display capture source to select the screen area you want to record.Then add an Audio Output Capture source to pick up system sound. You can also add an Audio Input Capture source if you want to include microphone audio. Once configured, start the recording function.When finished, stop the recording, then go to File → Show Recordings to locate your saved video files.As a practical free screen recorder for mac, it runs smoothly on M5-series Mac devices, supports high-resolution recording, and provides adjustable configuration options for everyday and professional use cases.It’s free, with no watermarks and no time limits on recordings. Setup takes just a few simple steps, and its wide range of features makes it a reliable choice for everyday screen recording needs.

Kap is a lightweight, open-source tool that works well as best screen recorder for mac, suitable for quick screen captures and GIF creation.Instructions: Download and install the software from the official website. Open the application, select the recording area, choose the output format, and then click the record button. If you want to record system audio, simply use the BlackHole virtual audio driver.Its advantages include a clean, minimal interface, support for multiple export formats, no watermarks, and being completely free and open-source.Its drawbacks include the lack of native system audio recording capabilities (requiring the setup of additional software), limited advanced features compared to other screen recording software, and occasional stability issues during extended recording sessions.This makes It is choice as best screen recorder for mac for users who prioritize simplicity and quick exports over complex customization. It is ideal for creating short clips, tutorials, and GIFs without the learning curve of more advanced tools.

When using Snapzy as your screen recorder for Mac, you get features that are usually locked behind a paywall in other apps. It is not just a basic recorder; it is a complete tool for capturing and editing.Here are the key recording features:Multiple Recording Modes: You can record your entire screen, a selected area, or a specific application window .System & Microphone Audio: It allows you to include system audio (the sound coming from your Mac) and microphone audio (your voice) in your recordings . This solves the common macOS problem where you can only record microphone audio by default.Scrolling Capture: It supports capturing long web pages or documents that require scrolling, which is very useful for tutorials. After you finish your screen recorder for Mac session, Snapzy allows you to:Trim the video: Cut the beginning or end to remove mistakes.Adjust quality and dimensions: Optimize the video file size and resolution.Edit audio: Adjust the sound levels or edit the audio track.Export to multiple formats: Save your final video as a MOV, MP4, or even a GIF.

The best free screen recorder for mac apple silicon m5?

12 Replies

PhoenixAdler
Iron Contributor
Apr 29, 2026
If you find other software too complicated, this suite is undoubtedly an excellent best screen recorder for mac on the Mac platform; it’s easy to set up and very user-friendly.
What You Need:
QuickTime Player
BlackHole
How to Use the best screen recorder for mac
Step 1: Install the software
Step 2: Open Audio MIDI Setup, click + → Create Multi-Output Device
Check the boxes for the software and MacBook speakers
Step 3: In Audio MIDI Settings, right-click on Software → Use this device for sound output
Step 4: Open QuickTime → File → New Screen Recording, then click the arrow next to the Record button
Under Microphone, select Software, then click Record
Step 5: Reset the microphone settings to their original state.
You can record system audio without downloading any additional software, making it ideal for creating simple tutorials or game clips. However, be sure to switch the audio output back to its original settings after recording to avoid audio issues.
Cons
It lacks advanced recording features, such as frame rate control, custom bitrate settings, or scheduled recording.
After recording is complete, you must manually restore the system audio settings; otherwise, you won’t be able to hear any sound from your Mac.
Stonehu
Iron Contributor
Apr 29, 2026
The built-in screen recording feature in macOS is a free screen recorder for mac. As an official system tool, it is also the most convenient free screen recording option, requiring no additional software downloads.
In short: The built-in screen recording feature records only microphone audio; it does not record system audio.
How to Use free screen recorder for mac
1. Press Shift + Command + 5
2. A control bar will appear at the bottom of the screen
3. Select:
Record Entire Screen
Record Selected Area
4. Click Options—you will see:
Microphone
No Microphone
No System Audio option
5. Click to record
Limitation: The built-in recorder cannot record internal/system audio
Though this native tool serves well for basic screen capture needs, its lack of system audio recording is a clear downside. If you need to record both desktop sound and voice at the same time, you will need to look for other third-party alternatives.

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The best free screen recorder for mac apple silicon m5?