Mac Screen Recording No Sound? Why It Happens and How to Fix It

If your Mac screen recording is silent, the cause is usually one of three things. No microphone was chosen. You expected the sound your Mac plays, but the tool only records the microphone. Or an app was not allowed to record audio. Work through the fixes below in order. They take a few minutes.

We make Quibble, a Mac screen recorder. It is one option near the end, not the only fix. The macOS steps come from Apple's support pages, linked at the bottom.

First, what kind of sound is missing?

• Your voice is missing. The microphone was off, set to the wrong device, or blocked.
• The video or music you played is missing. That is system audio. Apple's page lists an Include System Audio option only for macOS 27 or later. On earlier versions, the options menu has a microphone choice and no system audio choice.

Knowing which one is missing tells you which fix to try.

Fix 1: Choose a microphone in the Screenshot toolbar

1. Press Shift-Command-5.
2. Click Options.
3. Under Microphone, choose your microphone. Do not leave it on "None".
4. Click Record, say a few words, then stop.
5. Play the file back to check.

Apple's page says you choose a microphone here to record your voice or other audio. Always do a 10-second test before a long recording.

Fix 2: Turn on Include System Audio (macOS 27 or later)

If the missing sound is from the Mac itself, check your macOS version first.

1. Press Shift-Command-5 and click Options.
2. Choose Include System Audio.
3. Record a short test with something playing.

If you do not see this option, your macOS version does not have it. Go to Fix 4 or Fix 5. Our guide on recording with internal audio covers the older-macOS options in more detail.

Fix 3: Check that the sound is actually playing

• Turn the volume up and make sure the Mac is not muted.
• Make sure the sound plays from the Mac, and not from a different device that is not captured.
• Some apps do not allow their windows to be recorded. Apple notes this for apps such as the Apple TV app.

Fix 4: Check app permissions in System Settings

An app that records your screen needs permission. For audio, Apple lists a combined setting.

1. Open the Apple menu, then System Settings.
2. Click Privacy & Security.
3. Click Screen & System Audio Recording.
4. Find your recording app in the list and turn it on.

Apple notes this setting can allow an app to record both screen and audio, or just audio. Voice recording from a microphone also has its own Microphone privacy setting in the same Privacy & Security list. Make sure your recording app is on there too.

Fix 5: Record system sound with Quibble

Quibble records your microphone by default. It does not record the Mac's own sound until you turn it on. This is the most common reason a Quibble recording has your voice but not the video you played.

1. Open Quibble Settings and turn on System audio. Or choose Record System Audio from the recording options menu.
2. Pick your microphone in the Microphone setting, or leave it on the default microphone.
3. Press Option-Command-R to start, and press it again to stop.
4. Play the file back.

Quibble asks for three permissions the first time: screen and system audio recording, microphone and speech recognition. If one is missing when you start, Quibble opens a permission window instead of recording.

Two messages you may see while recording: if the Mac-sound recording fails, Quibble tells you it stopped while screen and microphone recording continue. If you change or unplug the microphone, Quibble tells you the sound after that point will not be in the video, and you need to start a new recording to use the new microphone.

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.

Which fix should you try?

Frequently asked questions

Why is there no sound on my screen recording on Mac?

Most often no microphone was selected, or you expected system audio and your macOS version does not record it. Open Options in the Screenshot toolbar and choose a microphone. System audio is listed by Apple for macOS 27 or later.

Can the built-in Mac screen recorder record the sound my Mac plays?

Apple's page lists Include System Audio for macOS 27 or later. On earlier versions, the Options menu offers a microphone choice only.

Why does my screen recording have no audio on Mac even with the microphone on?

Check that the right microphone is chosen, that the volume is up, and that the app is allowed in Privacy & Security. Then record a 10-second test and play it back.

Does Quibble record the sound from my Mac by default?

No. Quibble records the microphone by default. Turn on System audio in Settings, or choose Record System Audio in the recording options menu.

Can I record my voice and the Mac's sound together?

Yes. In Quibble the microphone is on by default and you add System audio in Settings. In the built-in tool, choose a microphone and, on macOS 27 or later, Include System Audio.

Sources

• Apple: Record the screen on your Mac
• Apple: Control access to screen and system audio recording on Mac
• Quibble: getquibble.app

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