To record your Mac screen with a specific microphone, open Screenshot with Shift-Command-5, choose a screen-recording mode, and select the intended device under Options > Microphone before you start. The checkmark shows the selected input; choose None to record without microphone audio. This guide covers the built-in macOS workflow and what to check if the right microphone is missing or the recording is silent.
Choose the screen recording and microphone before you start
Press Shift-Command-5 to open the Screenshot toolbar. Choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion; on macOS Tahoe 26 or later, Apple also documents a Record Selected Window option. Then click Options, open Microphone, and select the named microphone you plan to speak into. Confirm the checkmark is beside that device, not None. Apple documents choosing a microphone here and choosing None to disable it. Apple: Take screenshots or screen recordings on Mac
If you want to keep the recording in a particular place, choose it under Save to in the same Options menu. Set the capture area, microphone, and save location before clicking Record. When you are ready, start the recording; stop it with the Stop control in the menu bar. The recording appears as a floating thumbnail if that option is enabled, or saves to the chosen location. Apple says screen recordings are saved as .mov files. Apple: Take screenshots or screen recordings on Mac
A useful check before a long demonstration is to make a brief sample, stop, and play it back. Listen for your voice and check that it comes from the microphone you intended. This is a practical verification step, not a separate macOS setting: selecting the device tells the recorder which input to use, while playback confirms the result in your actual setup.
Make sure macOS can see the microphone you want
If the device is missing from Options > Microphone, connect or pair it with your Mac first, then reopen the menu. Check its name carefully when multiple inputs are available—for example, a built-in microphone, a headset, or an external USB microphone. The picker only lets you choose from available inputs; the documented Screenshot controls do not provide a way to create or rename microphone devices.
If the app you use to record asks for permission, review the relevant macOS privacy setting. For third-party apps and websites that capture the screen or audio, Apple documents Apple menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording, where you can review or change access. This permission area governs screen and system-audio recording access; it is distinct from choosing which microphone to record in Screenshot’s Options menu. Apple: Control access to screen and system audio recording on Mac
If you need QuickTime Player
QuickTime Player’s File > New Screen Recording opens the Screenshot controls on current macOS versions, so use Options > Microphone there as well. Apple notes that older screen-recording controls may instead show a separate Screen Recording window; in that interface, click the arrow beside Record and choose a microphone before recording. If you see that older interface, follow the controls on screen rather than looking for the newer Screenshot toolbar. Apple: How to record the screen on Mac
QuickTime Player’s New Movie Recording is a different task: it records a camera video, not the Mac screen. Its controls do let you choose a microphone when multiple microphones are available, but it is not the route for capturing a screen demonstration. Apple: Record a movie in QuickTime Player on Mac
Microphone audio and system audio are separate
Choosing a microphone records your voice or nearby sound through that input. It does not, by itself, mean the recording includes audio playing from Mac apps. Apple’s current Mac screen-recording guide describes a separate Include System Audio option for macOS 27 Golden Gate or later. If your Mac does not show that control, do not assume that selecting a microphone captures app audio; use the options available in your macOS version or a recording tool that explicitly supports the audio sources you need. Apple: How to record the screen on Mac
For a voice-over walkthrough, the dependable routine is simple: choose the screen area, select the named microphone, make a short test recording, and listen before capturing the full session. That check catches a wrong input or missing voice track while the recording is still easy to redo.