Choose the export size that fits where the recording will be watched, while staying at or below the source resolution. For a typical screen recording shared online, 1080p is a practical default if QuickTime offers it; choose 720p or 480p when smaller dimensions matter more than fine detail. Exporting at 4K makes sense when the source is 4K and the destination needs it. QuickTime’s export menu is based on the movie, and it dims options larger than the source. Apple’s QuickTime export guide
Check the recording before choosing
Open the movie in QuickTime Player and press Command-I, or choose Window > Show Movie Inspector. Check the movie’s dimensions, frame rate, and data rate. These details help you avoid selecting an export size that cannot add source detail. Apple notes that an exported movie’s exact resolution and data rate depend on the original. Apple’s Movie Inspector guide
A useful rule is to treat the source’s pixel dimensions as a ceiling, not a target you must always match. A 4K source can be exported at 1080p for a smaller, easier-to-share copy. A 720p source cannot gain real detail by exporting at 1080p; QuickTime dims resolutions larger than the movie.
Match the export size to the viewing task
Use 4K when the original has sufficient detail at that size and the recipient or platform specifically benefits from up to 3840 × 2160. It is often unnecessary for a small screen recording that will mainly be viewed in a browser window. Larger dimensions may also mean a larger file, though QuickTime’s final data rate and size depend on the source.
Use 1080p for a general online share or presentation when the recording’s text and interface details need to remain legible. QuickTime’s 1080p export supports up to 1920 × 1080. This is a sound default for a high-resolution screen recording when you do not need to preserve 4K dimensions.
Use 720p when reducing dimensions is useful and the video will be watched at a modest size. QuickTime exports up to 1280 × 720 here, using H.264. Choose 480p for a low-detail preview or a tighter file-size constraint; it supports up to 640 × 480 and also uses H.264. These choices reduce the maximum dimensions, but they do not guarantee a particular file size.
Pick a codec when the menu offers one
For 4K and 1080p, QuickTime provides a Format menu: Smaller File Size exports using HEVC (H.265), while Greater Compatibility uses H.264. Choose H.264 when you want a broadly compatible file for recipients or software that may not support HEVC. Choose HEVC when reducing file size is a priority and the playback destination supports it. Apple documents these menu labels and formats; actual file size varies with the source.
The QuickTime export creates a .mov movie, not an MP4 video. If your recipient or workflow specifically requires MP4, the export menu does not provide that as its video output format. Choose an app or workflow that explicitly supports the required format instead of renaming the .mov extension.
Export and confirm the result
With the recording open, choose File > Export As, then select 4K, 1080p, 720p, or 480p. If you select 4K or 1080p, choose the available codec setting in Format. Name the copy, choose where to save it, and click Save. QuickTime’s export menu also offers Audio Only; it exports an MPEG-4 audio file with AAC, not a video.
When export finishes, reopen the saved copy and press Command-I to inspect its dimensions and data rate. If you need to confirm visual legibility, play the relevant section at the size your recipient will use. This check is especially useful for screen recordings with small text: the resolution label alone does not tell you whether every interface detail remains readable.
If no export options appear, Apple says the recording may be copyright-protected and unable to be distributed. The menu can also vary according to the source movie, so follow the options QuickTime enables rather than expecting every recording to offer every resolution.