How to Record Your MacBook Air Screen: Complete Guide to Built-in Screen Recording

Learn how to capture video tutorials, gameplay, presentations, and demonstrations using macOS’s powerful built-in screen recording feature. No third-party software needed—everything you need is already on your MacBook Air.

What is Native Screen Recording?

macOS includes a built-in screen recording tool accessible through the Screenshot app that captures everything happening on your display in real-time. This feature records video and audio simultaneously without requiring any third-party software installation. The native tool offers flexible options for capturing your entire screen, a specific window, or just a portion of your display—making it ideal for tutorials, presentations, gameplay, and technical documentation. Current as of: macOS 11.3+ (2021)

Why Use This Feature?

• No software to install: Recording is built into macOS, saving time and storage space
• Record audio and video simultaneously: Capture both your screen and microphone or system sounds in one file
• Flexible capture options: Choose between recording your entire screen, a single window, or a custom-defined area
• Professional quality output: Saves recordings in high-quality .mov format suitable for editing, sharing, or converting to other formats

Things to Consider

• File size: Screen recordings create large video files; a one-hour recording can consume 1-3GB of storage depending on resolution
• Audio configuration required: You must select your audio source (microphone, system audio, or both) before recording—no audio records by default
• Cursor visibility: Your mouse cursor is visible by default; disable it in settings if you want a cleaner video

How to Record Your Screen - Step by Step

1. Open the Screenshot app: Press Shift + Command + 5 simultaneously. The Screenshot app toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen with recording and capture options.

2. Select your recording type: Click the fourth icon (Record Entire Screen) to capture your whole display, or click the fifth icon (Record Selected Portion) to define a custom recording area by clicking and dragging across your screen.

3. Configure audio settings: Click the “Options” button in the Screenshot toolbar. Choose “Microphone” to record your voice, “System Audio” for computer sounds (music, app notifications), or select both for complete audio capture. Move the volume sliders to balance your audio levels.

4. Choose where to save: In the Options menu, click “Save to” to select your recording destination (Desktop, Documents, or a custom folder). Select your preferred location so you can easily find your recording later.

5. Customize cursor visibility: Still in Options, toggle “Show Mouse Pointer” on if you want your cursor visible during the recording (useful for tutorials), or leave it off for cleaner video. On macOS 11.3 and newer, click “Pointer Style” to customize how your cursor appears.

6. Start recording: Click the red “Record” button or press Enter. A red recording timer appears in your menu bar showing elapsed time. Perform your demonstration, navigate tutorials, or capture gameplay as needed.

7. Stop recording: Click the red timer in your menu bar and select “Stop”, or press Control + Command + Escape to end the recording. Your video automatically saves to your chosen location as a .mov file.

8. Verify and convert your recording: Open Finder and navigate to where you saved the recording. To convert .mov files to .mp4 for better compatibility with websites and devices, right-click your recording, select “Quick Look”, then click “Share” and choose your conversion format. Alternatively, use QuickTime Player (open it from Applications > Utilities) to open your .mov file and export it as .mp4.

You now have a professional-quality screen recording saved on your MacBook Air, ready to share with colleagues, embed in presentations, or edit further. Use this native feature for tutorials, gameplay clips, technical documentation, or any situation where you need to show exactly what’s happening on your screen.