Practical Methods to Fix Screen Records No Sound on Mac

I got you. When you use QuickTime to screen record a favorite music video or streaming show, only to discover there’s no sound when you play it back, it’s so frustrating. This issue is not limited to QuickTime; even third-party screen recording apps can sometimes fail to capture audio.

In today’s post, we’ll explore the reasons behind these problems and provide solutions to ensure your screen recordings always have sound. Whether you’re recording for personal enjoyment or professional use, we’ve got you covered.

Most Common Reasons Why Mac Screen Recordings Have No Sound

There are plenty of reasons why screen recordings have no sound on Mac. For brevity, here are the most common ones:

• QuickTime Player is defaulted not to capture internal sound on macOS Mojave or later.
• Applications used for recording do not have the necessary permissions to access the microphone or system audio. 👉Turn access to the microphone/camera on for the apps in the list in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone/Camera.
• A bug or issue with the recording software or macOS that prevents capturing sound. 👉Reinstall or opt for other screen recording software.
• The Mac is muted. 👉On your Mac, go to System Settings > Sound. Click Output and ensure “Mac model” Speakers is selected, the “Output volume” slider is not all the way to the left, and the Mute checkbox is unchecked.

If you still cannot screen record with sound using the tips above, here are two additional practical methods:

How to Screen Record with Sound on Mac Using a Free Recorder

Since QuickTime Player cannot capture internal audio, it is advised to use an alternative for both visual and audio recording.

Record Go is an ideal option for screen recording. It performs like QuickTime Player, allowing high-quality recording for the entire screen or area. But it’s more flexible in Record Go when choosing system sound, external sound, or both for recording.

Step 1. Launch Record Go for Screen Record

Record Go is a safe and lightweight app. You can obtain it from App Store and install it on your Macbook Air, Macbook Pro, or iMac. Then click the app and launch it.

Step 2. Screen Record with Sound

When Record Go is open, choose from the 4 recording modes for

• full-screen recording
• partial screen recording
• webcam & screen recording simultaneously
• specific window recording

Then in the recording settings, you need to check the microphone box for external sound collection, and check the system sound box for internal audio capture, or check both of boxes.

Screen Record on Mac with External Sound Using QuickTime Player

If you prefer not to use a third-party application, you can screen record on Mac with QuickTime Player. It is a pre-installed video player and screen recorder. There are both screen recording and audio recording features in this app, so you can record the video and audio separately.

While it cannot capture internal audio during screen recording, you can turn on the microphone feature to record the system sound coming from your speakers. To ensure the sound is captured, make sure your speakers are turned on.

Step 1. Open QuickTime Player for Screen Recording

Open QuickTime Player from your Applications folder. Click the “File” tab on the topmost window, and choose “New Screen Recording”

Step 2. Screen Record with External Audio

Then, a small screen recording window will appear, allowing you to select recording settings. In the “Options” menu, locate “Microphone” and check “Built-in Microphone” or other device for sound recording. Now, hit the “Record” button, and the screen recording starts with the sound collected by the microphone you choose.

Step 3. Stop Screen Recording

When you need to stop the recording, press the stop sign on the topmost tab menu of the window.

The sound quality is unsatisfactory because external audio recording relies on the microphone and can pick up background noise, echoes, and distortions. For a cleaner and more professional audio track, you should download and install a third-party tool like Record Go.

FAQs

Can you screen record on Mac without sound?

Yes. You can screen record on Mac without sound using QuickTime Player or Record Go. These two apps both support no sound capture when you check “None” in the option of “Microphone” in QuickTime Player or uncheck “Microphone” and “System Sound” in Record Go.

What are the best third-party tools for screen recording with sound on a Mac?

Record Go is a dedicated screen recording app for Mac that supports high-quality screen recording with clear sound.

Is there a way to screen record with both system audio and microphone on a Mac?

Yes. As mentioned in this post, Record Go provides practical solutions to screen record with both system audio and microphone on a Mac. Simply check both the “Microphone” and “System Sound” boxes in the recording settings.