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How to Hide the Cursor in a Mac Screen Recording

Updated November 14, 2026 · By KIM YOOGEON, maker of Quibble

The Mac's built-in Screenshot toolbar has pointer settings in Options: Apple's guides name Show Mouse Pointer and Show Mouse Clicks, and Apple notes the options differ between screenshots and screen recordings. With the built-in tool you decide before you record, and the choice is part of the video once it is saved. If you want to decide after recording, use a recorder that keeps the cursor separate from the video. Quibble does this. We make Quibble, so check the built-in option first.

What Apple's built-in tool offers

  1. Press Shift-Command-5.
  2. Click Options.
  3. Look through the list. Apple's guides name settings such as Microphone, Include System Audio (macOS 27 or later), Show Mouse Clicks, Show Mouse Pointer, Timer and Save to. What you see depends on whether you are taking a screenshot or recording.

If Show Mouse Pointer is in the Options menu while you are in a recording mode, turn it off before you record to leave the pointer out. Show Mouse Clicks shows a black circle around the pointer when you click. Test with a short recording first, because you cannot change these choices after the video is saved.

Option 1: Keep the pointer out of the way

If you cannot hide the cursor, you can reduce how much it shows.

  • Move the pointer to the edge of the screen or onto a part you are not showing, between actions.
  • Use keyboard shortcuts instead of the mouse where you can.
  • Crop or zoom the recording so the pointer is out of frame.

These do not remove the cursor. They only make it less visible.

Option 2: Hide the cursor with Quibble

Quibble does not record the cursor into the video. It saves the pointer position separately and draws the cursor when it makes the video. That is why you can change it after you record.

  1. Press Option-Command-R to start recording. Press it again to stop.
  2. In the editor, open the Frame tab and choose a cursor style: Arrow, Dot or Hide.
  3. If you pick Arrow or Dot, set the size from 0.6× to 3×.
  4. Press Done Editing to get an MP4.

Choose Hide to get a video with no cursor. Choose Dot for a soft round marker that follows the pointer. Choose Arrow for the normal pointer.

You can change the style as often as you like before you finish. Done Editing makes the MP4 and replaces the earlier MP4.

Limit: this only works on recordings made with Quibble's own cursor setup. Quibble tells you when an older recording has the cursor baked in, and says that you can change the style for new recordings only.

Recording and editing are free. Saving the finished video needs a license ($7.99 per month, $79 per year or $129 once). Quibble runs on Macs with Apple silicon and macOS 15 or later.

Hide the cursor, or make it easier to see?

Some people want the opposite: a pointer viewers can follow. Quibble can also draw a yellow highlight when you hold ⌘ and move the mouse. See how to highlight the mouse pointer in a Mac screen recording.

You wantTry
No cursor in the videoQuibble: Hide in the cursor settings
A cursor that is easy to findA larger pointer, or Quibble's Dot style
To show when you clickThe built-in Show Mouse Clicks option
A mark on one spotQuibble: hold ⌘ and move the mouse

Frequently asked questions

How do I hide the cursor when screen recording on Mac?

With the built-in tool, turn off Show Mouse Pointer in Options before you record, if your recording mode shows it. In Quibble, open the editor's Frame tab after you record and choose Hide. This works because Quibble draws the cursor when it makes the video.

Can I remove the cursor from a recording I already made?

Not from a normal video file, because the cursor is part of the picture. In Quibble, you can change or hide the cursor only on recordings made with Quibble's own cursor setup.

Does QuickTime record the mouse pointer?

QuickTime Player opens the same Screenshot toolbar. Apple says you can use Options to choose whether to include the pointer or clicks in the screen recording.

Can I make the cursor bigger instead?

In Quibble, yes: pick Arrow or Dot and set the size from 0.6× to 3×. For the built-in tool, the pointer size comes from your Mac's own display settings.

Is hiding the cursor free in Quibble?

You can record and edit for free. Saving the finished video needs a license.

Sources

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