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Mac screen recording not working? 9 fixes

Your recording came out black, or silent, or Shift-Command-5 does nothing. Almost every case of Mac screen recording not working comes down to a handful of causes, and most are fixed in a minute. Work through these in order.

GuidesBy Himanshu Singh · 20 October 2026 · 3 min read

1. Check the screen recording permission

The number-one cause, especially after a macOS update or app update.

1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen & System Audio Recording (called "Screen Recording" on older macOS).
2. Make sure the app you're recording with is listed and switched on. If it is, switch it off and on again.
3. Quit and reopen the app. Permission changes only take effect after a restart of the app.

Symptoms this fixes: black video, video showing only your wallpaper, or windows missing from the recording.

2. No sound? Choose a microphone

In Shift-Command-5 → Options, the Microphone is often set to None. Pick your mic. Also check Privacy & Security → Microphone for the app you're using.

3. No sound from apps? That's by design

The built-in recorder can't record system audio — browser video, app sounds, calls. Use a free virtual audio driver, or a recorder that records system audio directly. Step-by-step guide.

4. Black rectangle over a video? It's protected content

Many streaming services block screen capture. Their video area records as black. That's DRM, not a bug, and recorders aren't supposed to bypass it.

5. Shift-Command-5 does nothing

• Check System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Screenshots — the shortcut may be turned off or reassigned.
• Another app may have claimed the shortcut. Quit recent utilities and try again.
• Open the Screenshot app from Applications → Utilities directly.

6. The recording disappeared

Check your Desktop, then the Save to setting under Options. Long recordings take a few seconds to save after stopping; don't quit or sleep immediately. If your Mac crashed mid-recording, the built-in recorder's file is usually lost — recorders like ScreenToast save as you go and offer to recover the take when you reopen the app.

7. Not enough disk space

Screen recordings are large — several gigabytes an hour at high resolution. If recording stops early or won't start, free up space (System Settings → General → Storage).

8. Choppy or laggy recordings

• Close heavy apps and browser tabs.
• Record a smaller area, or one display rather than several.
• Plug in your laptop; Low Power Mode throttles performance.
• Use a recorder that encodes with the Mac's video hardware.

9. Update or reset

Install the latest macOS update — screen capture bugs are often fixed in point releases. If permissions look right but nothing works, remove the app from the Screen & System Audio Recording list with the minus button, reopen the app, and grant permission fresh when it asks. Restarting your Mac clears most remaining glitches.

Still stuck?

If the built-in recorder keeps failing, try a different recorder to isolate the problem. ScreenToast also tells you straight away if a take hit trouble — a microphone that recorded nothing, for example — so you can redo it while you're still set up, rather than finding out later. If you're using ScreenToast and something's wrong, email support@screentoast.com.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my Mac screen recording black?

Most often the app doesn't have screen recording permission, or you're recording protected content (some streaming video shows black by design). Check System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording, then quit and reopen the app.

Why does my Mac screen recording have no sound?

The built-in recorder only records a microphone you choose under Options, never system audio. Pick your mic, or use a recorder that captures system audio.

Where did my screen recording go?

Check your Desktop and the Save to location under Shift-Command-5 > Options. Recordings still finishing can take a moment to appear.