How to Screen Record with Audio on Mac — 4 Methods That Actually Work

I take a lot of screen recordings — tutorials, bug reports, async video updates for my team. And every single time I set up a new Mac, I hit the same wall: macOS cannot record internal audio natively.

Not a bug. Apple sandboxes audio routing for security. Which means your screen recordings with QuickTime or ⌘+Shift+5 will only capture your microphone, not the app sounds playing on your system.

After testing every workaround, here are the 4 methods that actually work in 2026.

Method 1: QuickTime + Microphone (Built-in)

The simplest option — if you only need voice narration:

1. Press ⌘ + Shift + 5
2. Click Options → select your microphone
3. Record

Limitation: No system audio. Just your voice.

Method 2: BlackHole + QuickTime (Free, Best Option)

BlackHole is a free, open-source virtual audio driver. It creates a loopback device that routes system audio to a virtual input.

Setup:

1. Install BlackHole 2ch from GitHub
2. Open Audio MIDI Setup → Create Multi-Output Device
3. Check both BlackHole 2ch and your speakers
4. Set system output to the Multi-Output Device
5. In QuickTime, select BlackHole 2ch as the microphone input
6. Record — you now get internal audio

Want both mic AND system audio? Create an Aggregate Device combining BlackHole + your microphone.

This is the best free method. The initial setup takes ~15 minutes, but it works reliably after that.

Method 3: OBS Studio (Free, Power Users)

OBS gives you granular control over multiple audio sources. You still need BlackHole installed, but OBS lets you:

• Mix multiple audio inputs with individual volume controls
• Record specific windows or displays
• Stream directly to Twitch/YouTube

Best for content creators who need professional-grade control. Steep learning curve though.

Method 4: CleanShot X ($29/year)

If you want it to just work: CleanShot X has built-in system audio capture. No virtual drivers, no Audio MIDI Setup.

Click record → enable "Computer Audio" → done.

I use this for quick recordings when I don't want to mess with BlackHole routing.

Which Should You Choose?

Method	Internal Audio	Setup	Price
QuickTime + Mic	❌ Mic only	None	Free
BlackHole + QuickTime	✅	~15 min	Free
OBS Studio	✅	Complex	Free
CleanShot X	✅	None	$29/yr

My recommendation: If you record screens more than once a week, the paid option saves real time. If it's occasional, BlackHole is solid.

Common Gotcha: No Audio After Setup

If BlackHole isn't working, check:

• System output is set to your Multi-Output Device (not regular speakers)
• QuickTime input is set to BlackHole 2ch (not Built-in Microphone)
• Sample rates match (set everything to 44100 Hz in Audio MIDI Setup)
• Run sudo killall coreaudiod in Terminal to reset audio services

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Originally published on ScreenSnap Pro