How to Record Part of Your Screen on Mac
Recording your entire screen often captures more than you need—desktop clutter, sensitive tabs, notification badges, and irrelevant windows all end up in your final video. Region recording lets you capture only the portion of your Mac screen that matters. This guide walks you through every method for recording part of your screen on macOS, from the built-in Screenshot Toolbar to professional tools with editing and zoom effects.
1. TL;DR
macOS has built-in region recording via Cmd+Shift+5—select “Record Selected Portion,” drag to choose your region, and click Record. It's fast, free, and requires no downloads. For professional results, ScreenBuddy lets you record any region of your screen and then add auto-zoom effects, trim and crop, apply gradient backgrounds, and export as MP4—all without leaving the app. If you need a polished recording for a tutorial, demo, or social media post, ScreenBuddy saves hours of post-production work.
2. Method 1: macOS Cmd+Shift+5 (Built-in)
The Screenshot Toolbar is the fastest way to record a portion of your Mac screen. It's available on macOS Mojave (10.14) and later, requires zero setup, and works with any app or window. Here's how to use it step by step:
Open the Screenshot Toolbar
Press Cmd + Shift + 5 on your keyboard. A floating toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen with screenshot and recording options.
Select "Record Selected Portion"
Click the dashed-rectangle icon in the toolbar. This is the fifth button from the left. A resizable selection box appears on your screen.
Drag to Choose Your Region
Click and drag the edges or corners of the selection box to define exactly which part of your screen you want to record. You can also click and drag the center of the box to reposition it.
Configure Options (Optional)
Click "Options" in the toolbar to set a save location, enable a countdown timer (5 or 10 seconds), choose whether to show mouse clicks, and select a microphone for audio recording.
Click Record
Click the "Record" button in the toolbar. The selected portion of your screen is now being captured. Everything outside the region is excluded.
Stop Recording
Click the Stop button in the menu bar (top-right of your screen) or press Cmd + Control + Esc. Your recording is saved as a .mov file to your chosen location (Desktop by default).
Limitations: The Screenshot Toolbar records in MOV format only, offers no editing capabilities (no zoom, no backgrounds, no trimming beyond basic QuickTime trim), and does not capture system audio without a third-party virtual audio driver. If you need to edit your region recording or export as MP4, you'll need a dedicated tool like ScreenBuddy.
3. Method 2: QuickTime Player
QuickTime Player has supported screen recording for years and works on all modern macOS versions. While the Cmd+Shift+5 toolbar is generally faster, QuickTime Player gives you an alternative entry point and is familiar to long-time Mac users. Here's the step-by-step process for recording a region:
Open QuickTime Player
Find QuickTime Player in your Applications folder or search for it with Spotlight (Cmd + Space). Launch the app.
Start a New Screen Recording
Go to File > New Screen Recording in the menu bar. A recording control panel appears with a Record button and an Options dropdown.
Select a Region to Record
After clicking the Record button, your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click and drag to select the portion of the screen you want to capture. The selected region is highlighted.
Begin Recording
Click "Start Recording" inside the selected region. QuickTime begins capturing everything within the boundaries you defined.
Stop and Save
Click the Stop button in the menu bar or press Cmd + Control + Esc. QuickTime opens the recording in a new player window. Go to File > Save or File > Export As to save in your preferred quality.
QuickTime exports as MOV by default. It supports basic trimming (Edit > Trim) but nothing more advanced. For zoom effects, custom backgrounds, or MP4 export, you'll need to bring the recording into a dedicated editor. For a complete walkthrough of QuickTime's capabilities and where it falls short, see our full screen recording guide.
4. Method 3: ScreenBuddy (Record + Edit + Export)
ScreenBuddy is a macOS app designed specifically for screen recording and editing. Unlike the built-in tools, it combines recording with a full post-production workflow—so you can record a region of your screen, add zoom effects, apply backgrounds, trim, crop, and export as MP4 without switching between multiple apps. Here's how it works for region recording:
Record Your Region
Open ScreenBuddy and start a new screen recording. Select the region of your screen you want to capture. ScreenBuddy records natively on macOS with full system audio support.
Add Auto-Zoom Effects
ScreenBuddy's auto-zoom follows your cursor clicks automatically, magnifying important areas without any manual keyframing. You can also add manual zoom events (1.25x to 5x) at specific points on the timeline.
Trim and Crop
Use the built-in timeline to trim the start and end of your recording. Crop the video frame to remove any extra space or adjust the aspect ratio for your target platform.
Apply a Background
Choose from 18 gradient background presets. ScreenBuddy adds padding, rounded corners, and a subtle shadow around your recording, making it look polished and professional.
Export as MP4 or GIF
Export your finished recording as an MP4 file (universally compatible) or as a GIF for quick sharing. No watermarks, no time limits, no subscription.
Workflow Tip: You don't have to record in ScreenBuddy to use its editing features. Import any existing recording—from Cmd+Shift+5, QuickTime, OBS, or any other source—and add zoom effects, backgrounds, and more. ScreenBuddy works as both a recorder and a standalone editor.
5. Why Region Recording Matters
Recording your full screen is the default for most people, but region recording is almost always the better choice for professional content. Here's why capturing only part of your screen produces better results:
Cleaner Demos and Tutorials
Region recording eliminates distractions. Your viewer sees only the app, browser tab, or workflow you want to show them. No desktop icons, no dock, no notification badges pulling their attention away from your content.
Hide Sensitive Information
Full-screen recordings often accidentally capture personal messages, email notifications, bookmarks, or other sensitive information. Region recording ensures you only share what you intend to share.
Smaller File Sizes
A region recording captures fewer pixels per frame, resulting in significantly smaller file sizes. A 1280x720 region recording is roughly half the file size of a 2560x1440 full-screen capture at the same quality settings.
Focused Content for Social Media
Social media platforms favor specific aspect ratios. By recording a region that matches your target format (16:9 for YouTube, 1:1 for Instagram, 9:16 for Reels/TikTok), you avoid awkward cropping or letterboxing in post-production.
Whether you're building a product demo, creating a tutorial, or documenting a bug, region recording gives you a cleaner starting point that requires less editing and looks more professional in the final output.
6. Tips for Better Region Recordings
Getting the most out of region recording on your Mac comes down to planning your capture area and understanding aspect ratios. These tips will help you produce cleaner, more professional recordings every time:
Choose the Right Region Size
Match your region to the content you're recording. For a single app window, size the region to fit the window exactly. For a workflow spanning multiple areas, record a wider region and use zoom effects (in ScreenBuddy) to highlight specific parts during playback.
Use Standard Aspect Ratios
16:9 (1920x1080, 1280x720) for YouTube and general video. 1:1 (1080x1080) for Instagram and LinkedIn posts. 9:16 (1080x1920) for Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. Recording in your target ratio avoids cropping artifacts.
Capture Audio Separately if Needed
macOS region recording captures microphone audio through the Options menu but not system audio by default. If you need system audio (app sounds, browser audio), install BlackHole (free) or use ScreenBuddy which captures system audio natively.
Record Larger, Crop Later
When in doubt, record a slightly larger region than you think you need. It is easy to crop down in post-production (ScreenBuddy has a built-in crop tool), but impossible to expand a region after the recording is done.
Position Your Region Before Recording
Arrange your app windows and content before pressing Record. Move the app you want to capture to the center of your screen, resize it to your target dimensions, then position the recording region around it precisely.
Add a Background for Polish
A raw region recording often looks bare when embedded in a presentation or webpage. Use ScreenBuddy to add a gradient background with padding and rounded corners. This turns a plain screen capture into a visually appealing asset.
7. Region Recording FAQ
Can I change the recording region while recording on Mac?
No, once you start a region recording on macOS using Cmd+Shift+5, the selected area is locked for the duration of the recording. You need to stop the recording and start a new one to change the region. Plan your region carefully before pressing Record. If you need flexibility, record a larger area and crop in post-production with ScreenBuddy.
What resolution should I use for region recording?
For most use cases, record at 1920x1080 (1080p) or higher. If recording for social media, use 1080x1920 for vertical video (9:16) or 1080x1080 for square (1:1). For tutorials and demos aimed at YouTube or websites, 1920x1080 (16:9) is the standard. ScreenBuddy lets you crop and resize after recording, so you can always adjust later.
Can I add a background to my region recording?
Yes. With ScreenBuddy, you can add beautiful gradient backgrounds to any region recording. After recording a portion of your screen, import the video into ScreenBuddy and choose from 18 gradient presets. The app adds padding, rounded corners, and a subtle shadow around your recording to make it look polished and professional.
How do I record a specific app window instead of a custom region?
Press Cmd+Shift+5 and select "Record Entire Screen," then hover over the specific window you want to capture. Alternatively, in QuickTime Player, choose File > New Screen Recording and click on the window you want. For more precise control, use ScreenBuddy which lets you record any region and then crop precisely in the built-in editor.
Does region recording on Mac capture audio?
macOS region recording with Cmd+Shift+5 captures microphone audio if you enable it in Options, but it does not capture system audio (sounds from apps, browsers, etc.) by default. To record system audio, install a free virtual audio driver like BlackHole. ScreenBuddy handles both microphone and system audio capture natively without extra software.
How do I record part of my screen for a social media post?
Use Cmd+Shift+5 and drag to select a region matching your target aspect ratio: 1080x1920 for Instagram Reels and TikTok (9:16), 1080x1080 for Instagram feed (1:1), or 1920x1080 for YouTube and Twitter (16:9). For the best results, record a slightly larger area and use ScreenBuddy to crop to the exact dimensions and add a gradient background before exporting as MP4.
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Record Any Region. Edit Like a Pro.
Record part of your screen, add zoom effects, apply backgrounds, and export as MP4—all on your Mac.
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