In short
- Shift-Command-5 (⌘⇧5) opens the Screenshot toolbar, where you pick what to record and click Record.
- Command-Control-Escape (⌘⌃Esc) stops the recording, or click the Stop button in the menu bar.
- You can change the screenshot and recording shortcuts in System Settings › Keyboard › Keyboard Shortcuts › Screenshots.
- A new shortcut that clashes with another command won't work: pick a combination nothing else uses.
The screen record shortcut on Mac is ⌘⇧5 (Shift-Command-5). It opens the Screenshot toolbar, where you choose what to record and click Record. To stop, press ⌘⌃Esc (Command-Control-Escape) or click the Stop button in the menu bar.
The rest of this page covers changing the shortcut, fixing one that stopped working, and starting a recording without the extra click. For every way to record, including QuickTime and third-party apps, see the full guide on how to screen record on Mac.
The shortcuts you need
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| ⌘⇧5 | Opens the Screenshot toolbar for screenshots and screen recordings |
| ⌘⌃Esc | Stops a screen recording |
| Esc | Closes the toolbar before you start recording |
| ⌃⌘N | In QuickTime Player: File › New Screen Recording |
| ⌘⇧3 | Screenshot of the whole screen |
| ⌘⇧4 | Screenshot of an area you drag |
Source: Apple Support, checked November 2026.
Apple lists Shift-Command-5 as working in macOS Mojave or later. If you’d rather not use the keyboard, you can also open Screenshot from Spotlight.
Start a screen recording from the keyboard
- Press ⌘⇧5. The Screenshot toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen.
- Pick what to record. Record the entire screen, record a selected portion (drag the edges to resize it) or, on macOS Tahoe 26 or later, record a selected window.
- Check Options. Choose a microphone, a save location and, on macOS 27 Golden Gate or later, Include System Audio if you need the sound your Mac plays.
- Click Record. For a window, click the window you want to capture.
- Stop with ⌘⌃Esc. Or click the Stop button in the menu bar. A thumbnail appears in the corner of the screen; click it to trim or share the recording, or ignore it and the file is saved.
If you want a short pause before recording starts, set . It’s handy when you need a moment to move the pointer away or switch to the right window.
Choosing between full screen, a window and an area makes a real difference to what your client sees. We go through it in how to record one window or part of your screen.
Change the screen recording shortcut
If ⌘⇧5 is awkward, or another app grabs it, you can assign a different combination in .
- Open System Settings. Choose , then click Keyboard in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down).
- Open Keyboard Shortcuts. Click Keyboard Shortcuts, then click Screenshots in the sidebar.
- Select the shortcut. Make sure the checkbox next to the one that opens the Screenshot toolbar is on.
- Press the new keys. Double-click the current key combination, then press the one you want.
- Restart your apps. Quit and reopen the apps you’re using so the new shortcut takes effect.
You can use each type of key only once in a combination, so ⌘⌘5 isn’t possible. To undo every change, Keyboard Shortcuts has a Restore Defaults button in the bottom-left corner. It resets all shortcuts, not only the screenshot ones.
When the shortcut doesn’t work
Apple is clear about the most common cause: if you assign a shortcut that already exists for another command or app, your new shortcut won’t work. A few things to check:
Shortcut not working
- Look for a warning icon next to the shortcut in Keyboard Shortcuts: it marks a conflict.
- Check other apps that use global shortcuts (launchers, clipboard managers, other recorders).
- Make sure the checkbox next to the shortcut is selected; an unchecked shortcut is turned off.
- Quit and reopen the app you’re in after changing anything.
- If you changed many shortcuts and lost track, use Restore Defaults.
If the shortcut works but the recording comes out black or silent, the shortcut isn’t the problem. Our screen recording troubleshooting guide goes through each symptom, and recording internal audio on Mac explains the sound side.
Start recording with one shortcut
The built-in shortcut always takes at least two steps: open the toolbar, then click Record. That’s fine for an occasional recording. If you send several short videos a day, a recorder with its own global shortcut saves the click and keeps the toolbar off your screen.
| macOS Screenshot toolbar | JustRec | |
|---|---|---|
| Start | ⌘⇧5, pick an area, click Record | ⌥⇧R, 3-second countdown |
| Stop | ⌘⌃Esc or the menu bar button | Press stop |
| Result | A .mov file on the desktop | An MP4 on your Mac and a share link in the clipboard |
| Share link | ✗ you upload the file yourself | ✓ copied on stop |
Where the recording goes
Recordings made with the Screenshot toolbar are saved to the desktop by default, named “Screen Recording” followed by the date and time, as .mov files. You can change the folder in . If you can’t find a file, read where screen recordings go on Mac. And if you want to compare the free tools with a recorder that shares a link, see JustRec vs QuickTime.
Sources
- Apple Support: How to record the screen on Mac, checked November 2026.
- Apple Support: Take screenshots or screen recordings on Mac, checked November 2026.
- Apple Support: Mac keyboard shortcuts, checked November 2026.
- Apple Support: Use macOS keyboard shortcuts, checked November 2026.
- Apple Support: Change a conflicting keyboard shortcut on Mac, checked November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the shortcut to screen record on a Mac?
Press Shift-Command-5 to open the Screenshot toolbar, choose to record the entire screen, a window or a portion, then click Record. It works on macOS Mojave and later.
How do I stop a screen recording with the keyboard?
Press Command-Control-Escape. You can also click the Stop button that appears in the menu bar while you record.
Can I change the screen recording shortcut on Mac?
Yes. Open System Settings, click Keyboard, then Keyboard Shortcuts, and choose Screenshots in the sidebar. Double-click the current key combination and press the new one.
Is there a shortcut that starts recording right away?
Not in macOS. Shift-Command-5 opens the toolbar and you still click Record. Some third-party recorders, JustRec among them, start recording directly from a global shortcut.
Why doesn't my new keyboard shortcut work?
Usually because another command or app already uses that combination. Pick a different one, then quit and reopen the apps you're using so the change takes effect.
