How to Record Part of Your Screen on Mac
Press Cmd+Shift+5, click the dashed-rectangle icon, drag a box around the area you want, and hit Record. That captures a specific portion of your Mac screen in under five seconds, with no downloads required. This guide walks through that built-in shortcut plus two alternatives—QuickTime Player and ScreenBuddy—so you can choose the right tool depending on whether you need a quick capture or a polished recording with zoom effects and gradient backgrounds.
Key Takeaways
- •Cmd+Shift+5 is the fastest path to a region recording on macOS Mojave (10.14) or later. Zero downloads, zero cost.
- •QuickTime Player provides the same recording engine with a traditional app interface (File > New Screen Recording).
- •Screenshot adds selected-window recording in macOS 26 and system audio in macOS 27; check your version.
- •ScreenBuddy (one-time pricing) records, adds auto-zoom, gradient backgrounds, and exports MP4/GIF from one app.
- •A smaller region captures fewer pixels per frame, but the final file size also depends on motion, bitrate, duration, and encoding.
- •19% of video marketers primarily create screen-recorded content, making it the third most common video type behind live action and animation (Wyzowl, 2026).
Method 1: Cmd+Shift+5 (Built-in, Fastest)
Short answer: Press Cmd+Shift+5, click the dashed-rectangle icon, drag a selection box, and press Record. The clip saves as a MOV file to your Desktop.
The Screenshot Toolbar ships with every Mac running macOS Mojave (10.14) or later. Apple introduced it in 2018, and it remains the default screen capture interface across more than 100 million active Mac computers worldwide. No download, no account, no setup required.
Open the Screenshot Toolbar
Press Cmd + Shift + 5 on your keyboard. A floating toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen with five capture modes: three for screenshots and two for recording.
Select "Record Selected Portion"
Choose Record Selected Portion by its label; the icon order varies by macOS version. A resizable selection box appears on screen with drag handles at each corner and edge.
Drag to define your region
Click and drag the corners or edges of the selection box. You can also click the center and drag to reposition it. The region snaps to pixel boundaries automatically.
Set options (optional)
Click "Options" to choose a save location, set a 5- or 10-second countdown timer, show mouse clicks in the recording, or pick a microphone for voiceover audio.
Click Record
Press the Record button. Everything inside the selection box is captured. Everything outside is excluded.
Stop the recording
Click the Stop button in the menu bar (top-right corner) or press Cmd + Control + Esc. Your recording saves as a .mov file to the location you chose (Desktop by default).
Limitations worth knowing: The Screenshot Toolbar outputs MOV only, has no editing tools (no zoom, no backgrounds, no cropping beyond QuickTime's basic trim), and adds built-in system audio only on macOS 27 or later. Older systems may use a supported recorder or a virtual audio route such as BlackHole.
Method 2: QuickTime Player
Short answer: Open QuickTime, go to File > New Screen Recording, click Record, then drag to select your region. The output is identical to Cmd+Shift+5.
QuickTime Player uses the same recording engine as Cmd+Shift+5 but wraps it in a traditional app interface. The output quality and format are identical—both produce MOV files with the same codec settings. Some users prefer this workflow because QuickTime also doubles as a viewer and basic trimmer in the same window.
Open QuickTime Player
Launch it from Applications or use Spotlight (Cmd + Space, type "QuickTime").
Start a new screen recording
Go to File > New Screen Recording. A recording control panel appears.
Select your region
Click the Record button. Your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click and drag to select the portion of the screen you want to capture.
Begin recording
Click "Start Recording" inside the selected area. QuickTime captures everything within those boundaries.
Stop and save
Click the Stop button in the menu bar or press Cmd + Control + Esc. The recording opens in a new QuickTime window. Save with File > Save or export with File > Export As.
QuickTime exports as MOV by default and supports basic trimming (Edit > Trim). For zoom effects, custom backgrounds, or MP4 export, you need a separate editor. For a deeper look at QuickTime's capabilities, see our full screen recording guide.
Method 3: ScreenBuddy (Record + Edit + Export)
Short answer: ScreenBuddy combines recording, zoom effects, backgrounds, and MP4 or GIF export on Mac and Windows under a one-time license. Record, edit, and preview free. A one-time license is required to save or export.
ScreenBuddy replaces the three-tool workflow many Mac users fall into: recording with Cmd+Shift+5, converting MOV to MP4 in Handbrake, and adding zoom effects in a separate video editor. Everything happens in one window. Atlassian's $975 million acquisition of Loom in 2023 confirmed that screen recording has become core infrastructure for product teams—but not everyone needs a cloud subscription. ScreenBuddy runs locally on your Mac with no account required.
Record your region
Open ScreenBuddy and start a new recording. Select the region of your screen to capture. The app records natively on macOS with system audio support built in.
Add auto-zoom effects
Auto-zoom follows your cursor clicks automatically, magnifying the area around each click without manual keyframing. You can also add manual zoom events from 1.25x to 5x at specific points on the timeline.
Trim and crop
Use the built-in timeline to trim the start and end. Crop the video frame to adjust the aspect ratio for your target platform (16:9, 1:1, 9:16).
Apply a gradient background
Choose from 48 backdrop presets — gradients, radiants, wallpapers, and animated. ScreenBuddy adds padding, rounded corners, and a subtle shadow around your recording, turning a raw capture into a presentation-ready clip.
Export as MP4 or GIF
After purchasing a license, export the finished recording as MP4 or GIF. Media processing stays local; internet access is required for activation and update checks.
Import tip: You do not have to record inside ScreenBuddy. Import any existing recording—from Cmd+Shift+5, QuickTime, OBS, or another tool—and add zoom effects, backgrounds, and trim/crop from there.
Side-by-Side Comparison Table
Bottom line: Cmd+Shift+5 handles quick captures. ScreenBuddy handles everything else—editing, backgrounds, MP4 export, system audio—without a subscription.
| Feature | Cmd+Shift+5 | QuickTime Player | ScreenBuddy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (built-in) | Free (built-in) | one-time pricing |
| Region recording | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Output format | MOV only | MOV only | MP4, GIF |
| System audio | macOS 27+ | Via Screenshot on macOS 27+ | Supported capture source |
| Zoom effects | No | No | Auto + manual (1.25x–5x) |
| Backdrop presets | No | No | 48 presets |
| Trim & crop | Basic (QuickTime trim) | Basic trim only | Full timeline editor |
| Annotations | No | No | Yes |
| macOS requirement | Mojave (10.14)+ | Any modern macOS | macOS 12+ |
Why Region Recording Beats Full-Screen Capture
Short answer: Region recording produces smaller files, hides sensitive content by default, and forces you to frame your content before you hit Record—which cuts editing time significantly.
According to TechSmith's 2026 Video Statistics report, 83% of people prefer consuming video for instructional content, and 42% stop watching when a video fails to deliver the information they expected. A tightly framed region recording keeps viewers focused on the relevant interface area and eliminates the distractions that cause drop-offs.
Smaller file sizes
A 1280x720 region contains one-quarter the pixels of a 2560x1440 Retina screen. Fewer pixels per frame means proportionally smaller output files, faster uploads, and lower hosting bandwidth costs.
Built-in privacy
Full-screen recordings capture everything: Slack notifications, email badges, bookmark bars, dock icons. Region recording excludes all of that by default, so you spend zero time blurring sensitive content in post-production.
Less editing needed
When the frame already matches your content, you skip the cropping, masking, and re-exporting steps. For product demos and tutorials, that can save 15 to 30 minutes per video based on my own editing workflow.
Platform-ready aspect ratios
Drag the region to 1920x1080 for YouTube, 1080x1080 for Instagram feed, or 1080x1920 for Reels and TikTok. No letterboxing, no awkward crops, no re-rendering.
For a deeper look at recording workflows, see our product demo video guide or our post on recording tutorials.
Pro Tips for Cleaner Region Recordings
Match the region to a standard resolution
Stick to 1920x1080, 1280x720, 1080x1080, or 1080x1920. Non-standard sizes can cause scaling artifacts on YouTube, Vimeo, and social platforms.
Arrange windows before you press Record
Move the target app to center screen and resize it first. Position the recording region around it. This takes 10 seconds upfront and eliminates 10 minutes of cropping later.
Record slightly larger, crop later
Capture a region a bit wider than needed. You can always crop in post-production (ScreenBuddy has a built-in crop tool), but you cannot expand the frame after the fact.
Handle audio intentionally
Select your microphone in Options. macOS 27 or later also includes system audio; on older versions use a compatible recording app or virtual audio device. Test voice and application sound separately.
Use zoom effects for small UI targets
When recording a compact region, viewers may struggle to read button labels or menu items. Auto-zoom in ScreenBuddy magnifies areas around each click, making your recording legible without increasing the region size.
Add a background for presentations and docs
A raw region recording dropped into a slide deck or Notion doc looks flat. Adding a gradient background with padding and rounded corners turns a plain capture into a polished visual asset.
Fix a Missing, Silent, or Misframed Recording
- Wrong area: Before pressing Record, drag the selection frame to move it or pull an edge to resize it. Stop and start a new take if the target window moves outside the selected area.
- Missing file: Open Screenshot with Shift-Command-5 and check Options > Save to. The chosen location may differ from the Desktop.
- No narration: Check Options > Microphone before recording and make a short test clip. Microphone audio and application audio are separate choices.
- Third-party app shows a blank capture: Check System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording for that app, then retry a short capture.
These controls follow Apple's Screenshot instructions and screen recording permission guidance. For a finished product demo, compare the editing workflows in our Mac recorder guide.
FAQ
Can I change the recording region while recording on Mac?
No. Once you press Record with Cmd+Shift+5, the selected area is locked for the entire session. You must stop the recording, redefine your region, and start again. If you need flexibility, record a wider area and crop afterward in ScreenBuddy or another editor.
What resolution should I use for region recording on Mac?
For tutorials and demos, 1920x1080 (16:9) is the standard. For vertical social media (Reels, TikTok), use 1080x1920. For Instagram feed, use 1080x1080. File size depends on bitrate, duration, and encoding, not resolution alone. Choose a capture area that keeps the interface readable at the destination size.
Does macOS region recording capture system audio?
Screenshot includes a system-audio option on macOS 27 or later; earlier versions expose microphone input without that built-in option. ScreenBuddy supports system-audio recording on compatible Mac setups. Select the available sources and make a short test before a long recording.
How do I record a specific app window instead of a custom region?
On macOS Tahoe 26 or later, press Shift-Command-5 and choose Record Selected Window, then click the window. On earlier versions, use Record Selected Portion and draw a region around the window, or use a recorder with window capture. Record Entire Screen does not select one window.
How do I record part of my screen for social media?
Drag the Cmd+Shift+5 region to match your target platform: 1080x1920 for Instagram Reels and TikTok (9:16), 1080x1080 for Instagram feed (1:1), or 1920x1080 for YouTube (16:9). For polished results, record slightly larger and use ScreenBuddy to crop to exact dimensions and add a gradient background.
Can I add a background to my region recording?
Not with macOS built-in tools. ScreenBuddy lets you add gradient backgrounds with padding, rounded corners, and a shadow to any recording. You can import a Cmd+Shift+5 or QuickTime recording and choose from 48 backdrop presets: gradients, radiants, wallpapers, and animated.
What is the difference between Cmd+Shift+5 and QuickTime Player for region recording?
Both use the same underlying recording engine and produce identical MOV output. Cmd+Shift+5 (introduced in macOS Mojave) is a keyboard-shortcut overlay; QuickTime Player provides a traditional app interface via File > New Screen Recording. For most users, Cmd+Shift+5 is faster.
Is there a free way to record part of my Mac screen?
Yes. Cmd+Shift+5 and QuickTime Player are both free and built into every Mac running macOS Mojave (10.14) or later. They record region selections as MOV files with microphone audio. System audio is available in Screenshot on macOS 27 or later. Built-in capture still lacks the focus effects and timeline editing of a dedicated editor.
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Record Any Region. Edit in One App.
Record part of your screen on Mac or Windows, then add zoom effects and backgrounds. Record, edit, and preview free. A one-time license is required to save or export.
Download ScreenBuddy for Mac & WindowsProcessing stays local. Internet access is required for activation and update checks.