Guide · macOS 26 and 27

How to record internal audio on Mac

To record internal audio on Mac — the sound your Mac itself plays — on macOS 27, press Shift-Command-5, click Options, choose Include System Audio and click Record. On macOS 26, Apple’s Screenshot app and QuickTime Player record sound only from a microphone.

To record a call, FaceTime audio calls and phone calls on a Mac have Apple’s own Call Recording. For Zoom, Teams, Meet and other call apps, NoteOwl records your microphone and your Mac’s audio with no bot in the call, and writes the transcript on your Mac.

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Record Mac audio · what works

  1. 01macOS 27: the Screenshot app

    Shift-Command-5 → Options → Include System Audio. Free and built in.

  2. 02macOS 26: a microphone only

    The Screenshot app and QuickTime Player don’t record the Mac’s own sound.

  3. 03Calls

    Call Recording for phone and FaceTime audio calls; NoteOwl for Zoom, Teams and Meet, with no bot and a transcript.

Apple’s steps ↓Recording a call ↓

How do you record system audio on a Mac?

On macOS 27 or later, with the Screenshot app: press Shift-Command-5, choose what to record, click Options and choose Include System Audio, then click Record. The Mac’s sound is saved with the video, and QuickTime Player can export just the audio.[1]

Want the words, not just the sound? Import the audio file into NoteOwl for a transcript with speakers and timestamps, written on your Mac; importing recordings is part of NoteOwl Pro.

In the Screenshot app on macOS 27

  1. 1

    Open Screenshot

    Press Shift, Command and 5 together. The Screenshot toolbar appears on screen.

  2. 2

    Choose what to record

    Click Record Entire Screen, Record Selected Window or Record Selected Portion.

  3. 3

    Choose Include System Audio

    Click Options, then choose Include System Audio (macOS 27 or later). To record your voice as well, choose a microphone in the same menu.

  4. 4

    Record, then stop

    Click Record. To stop, click the Stop button in the menu bar or press Command-Control-Esc. The recording is saved to your desktop as a .mov file.

  5. 5

    Keep only the sound, if you want

    Open the recording in QuickTime Player and choose File > Export As > Audio Only, which saves an MPEG-4 audio file with AAC, usually .m4a.

Steps 1–4 from Apple’s screen recording guide[1]; step 5 from the QuickTime Player guide[5].

Can you record internal audio on macOS 26?

Not with Apple’s own apps. Apple’s macOS 26 guides give a microphone as the only sound source in the Screenshot app and in QuickTime Player, whose New Screen Recording opens the Screenshot app. Include System Audio arrives in macOS 27.[1,2,3,4]

  • Screenshot app

    Options → Microphone: choose a microphone, or None. Apple’s macOS 26 guide lists no option for the Mac’s own sound.

  • QuickTime Player

    File > New Audio Recording records from a microphone, at High (44.1 kHz AAC) or Maximum (uncompressed) quality. New Screen Recording opens the Screenshot app.

  • Virtual audio devices

    Guides elsewhere add a virtual audio device from another developer that apps can record from. Apple’s guides don’t cover it, and this guide doesn’t recommend one.

On macOS 26, a call can still be recorded: with Apple’s Call Recording where it’s offered, or with an app that records your Mac’s audio, as below.

Why does my Mac screen recording have no sound?

Usually because no microphone was chosen, or because the sound came from the Mac itself on macOS 26, which Apple’s tools don’t record. Check Options before you click Record: a microphone for your voice and, on macOS 27, Include System Audio for the Mac’s sound.[1]

  1. 01

    Microphone is set to None

    In the Screenshot toolbar, click Options and choose a microphone before you click Record.

  2. 02

    You’re on macOS 26

    Include System Audio is in macOS 27 or later. On macOS 26, only the microphone is recorded.

  3. 03

    The app blocks recording

    Apple says some apps, such as the Apple TV app, might not let you record their windows.

  4. 04

    Echo or feedback

    Recording with a microphone in QuickTime Player? Lower the volume, or use headphones with a microphone.

  5. 05

    Another app isn’t allowed

    An app that records your Mac’s audio needs Screen & System Audio Recording, in Privacy & Security.

From Apple’s guides[1,2,6].

How do you record a call on a Mac?

On macOS 26, phone calls in the Phone app and FaceTime audio calls with one other person have a Call Recording button: both people hear a notice, and the recording is saved in Notes. Other call apps need an app that records your Mac’s audio.[7,8]

A phone call, in the Phone app
Apple’s built-in optionCall Recording, during the call; only in some languages and regions
Where the recording goesThe Call Recordings folder in Notes
A FaceTime audio call with one other person
Apple’s built-in optionCall Recording, during the call
Where the recording goesThe Call Recordings folder in Notes, with a transcript
Zoom, Teams, Meet or another call app
Apple’s built-in optionNone on macOS 26. On macOS 27, a screen recording with Include System Audio
Where the recording goesA .mov screen recording on your desktop
From Apple’s FaceTime and Phone guides for macOS Tahoe 26 and its screen recording guide[1,7,8]. Apple says to check the macOS Feature Availability website to see if call recording is available in your language and region.

How do you record a Zoom or Teams call on a Mac?

Use an app that records your Mac’s audio. NoteOwl records your microphone and your Mac’s audio while the call runs — nothing joins it — then writes a speaker-labelled transcript, a summary and action items on your Mac. Recording meetings is part of NoteOwl Pro.

  1. 1

    Allow Screen & System Audio Recording

    Setup asks for it; it is how macOS lets NoteOwl hear your Mac’s audio, and NoteOwl takes only the audio. Quit and reopen NoteOwl after turning it on.

  2. 2

    Start the meeting

    Press ⌥Space in any app, or click Start Meeting. Or let NoteOwl offer “Scribe this meeting?” when a call app is using your microphone.

  3. 3

    Check both channels

    The Capture section shows You (Microphone) and Others (System audio). Recorded and a time means audio is arriving.

  4. 4

    Stop when the call ends

    Press ⌥Space again or click Stop Meeting. NoteOwl writes the speaker-labelled transcript, a summary and action items on your Mac.

What you get

  • Two tracks: your microphone, labelled You, and your Mac’s audio, labelled Others, with the people on the call split into Speaker 1, Speaker 2 and so on.
  • The audio, kept on your Mac as WAV files at speech quality: replay any line, or save it all with Export all data, on every plan.
  • A transcript, a summary and action items, written on your Mac. Nothing is uploaded.
  • No time limit. The audio is saved to disk as it records, so a crash keeps what was captured.

NoteOwl hears calls on this Mac, not one on your phone. Recording meetings is part of NoteOwl Pro: $79 once, with a 7-day free trial in the app. More on AI meeting notes without a bot.

Two rows of NoteOwl’s settings: Spoken language, set to English, and Offer to scribe meetings, set to Offer, with the line “When a call app is using your mic, noteOwl can offer — or auto-start — scribing.”
Offer to scribe meetings: NoteOwl can offer to record, or start by itself, when a call app is using your microphone.

Which permission lets an app record your Mac’s audio?

Screen & System Audio Recording. In System Settings → Privacy & Security, macOS lists the apps allowed to record your screen and audio, or just your audio, and you turn each one on or off. Recording your voice needs the Microphone permission too.[6]

NoteOwl asks for Screen & System Audio Recording during setup, and shows it as Screen Recording in its own settings. It takes only the audio, and only while a meeting records: every permission NoteOwl asks for, and why.

  1. 1

    Open Privacy & Security

    Choose Apple menu → System Settings, then click Privacy & Security in the sidebar.

  2. 2

    Click Screen & System Audio Recording

    macOS lists the apps that can record your screen and audio, or just your audio.

  3. 3

    Turn the app on

    Turn on the app you want to record with. If it isn’t listed, click + below the list and choose it.

  4. 4

    Reopen the app

    If macOS offers Quit & Reopen, choose it; otherwise quit the app and open it again, so the change takes effect.

Steps 1–3 from Apple’s Mac User Guide for macOS Tahoe 26[6].

Which way to record Mac audio should you use?

The Screenshot app for a quick recording with sound on macOS 27; Call Recording for a phone call or a FaceTime audio call; NoteOwl for calls in Zoom, Teams or Meet, or whenever you want a transcript, a summary and action items.

Your Mac’s own sound
Screenshot appmacOS 27 or later, with Include System Audio
Call RecordingThe call’s audio
NoteOwlYes, while a meeting records
Your voice
Screenshot appThe microphone you choose in Options
Call RecordingYour side of the call
NoteOwlYour microphone, labelled You
Which calls
Screenshot appAnything on screen, though some apps block recording
Call RecordingFaceTime audio calls with one other person; phone calls
NoteOwlAny call app on this Mac, browser calls included
What you get
Screenshot appA .mov video with its sound; QuickTime Player can export the audio
Call RecordingA recording in the Call Recordings folder in Notes
NoteOwlA speaker-labelled transcript, a summary and action items, with the audio kept
Price
Screenshot appFree, built in
Call RecordingFree, built in
NoteOwlRecording meetings is NoteOwl Pro: $79 once, 7-day free trial
Mac requirements
Screenshot appmacOS 27 or later for system audio
Call RecordingmacOS 26; phone calls need your iPhone set up for calls on your Mac
NoteOwlmacOS 26 or later, Apple Silicon (M1 or newer)
Apple’s columns as Apple describes them[1,7,8].

Sources

Last checked . Apple’s steps are from its screen recording article and its guides for macOS Tahoe 26.

  1. [1]Apple, How to record the screen on Mac — published September 14, 2026
  2. [2]Apple, Take screenshots or screen recordings on Mac (macOS Tahoe 26)
  3. [3]Apple, Record audio in QuickTime Player on Mac (macOS Tahoe 26)
  4. [4]Apple, Record your screen in QuickTime Player on Mac (macOS Tahoe 26)
  5. [5]Apple, Export movies to other file formats and resolutions using QuickTime Player on Mac (macOS Tahoe 26)
  6. [6]Apple, Control access to screen and system audio recording on Mac (macOS Tahoe 26)
  7. [7]Apple, Use FaceTime audio call features on Mac (macOS Tahoe 26)
  8. [8]Apple, While on a call in the Phone app on Mac (macOS Tahoe 26)

FAQ

Questions about recording internal audio on Mac

Can a Mac record internal audio without extra software?

Yes, on macOS 27 or later: open the Screenshot app with Shift-Command-5, click Options and choose Include System Audio before you record. On macOS 26, Apple’s Screenshot app and QuickTime Player record sound only from a microphone, according to Apple’s guides.

Can QuickTime Player record system audio on a Mac?

Not on its own. In Apple’s QuickTime Player guide for macOS 26, New Audio Recording records from a microphone, and New Screen Recording opens the Screenshot app, whose Include System Audio option needs macOS 27 or later.

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

Usually because no microphone was chosen, or because the sound came from the Mac itself on macOS 26, which can’t record it. Before you click Record, open Options in the Screenshot toolbar: choose a microphone for your voice and, on macOS 27, Include System Audio for the Mac’s sound.

How do I record audio from a Zoom or Teams call on a Mac?

Use an app that records your Mac’s audio. NoteOwl records your microphone and your Mac’s audio while a Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet call runs, with no bot joining, then writes a transcript, a summary and action items on your Mac. Recording meetings is part of NoteOwl Pro.

Which permission does an app need to record system audio on a Mac?

Screen & System Audio Recording, in System Settings → Privacy & Security. macOS lets you allow an app to record your screen and audio, or just your audio. Recording your voice as well needs the Microphone permission, in the same place.

Does NoteOwl record my screen?

No. NoteOwl asks for Screen & System Audio Recording because that is how macOS shares a Mac’s audio with apps, but it takes only the audio, and only while it is recording a meeting.

Can NoteOwl record audio that isn’t a call?

Yes: while a meeting records, NoteOwl records whatever your Mac plays, such as a webinar or an online talk, apart from its own sounds. It keeps speech-quality audio for the transcript and replay, so it suits spoken words, not music.

Is recording Mac audio free with NoteOwl?

Recording meetings is part of NoteOwl Pro, a one-time $79 purchase for one Mac, with a 7-day free trial in the app and no card. NoteOwl’s free plan covers dictation and voice notes from your microphone, and Apple’s Screenshot app is free.

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About NoteOwl

NoteOwl is private AI meeting notes and memory for the Mac. It captures meetings without a bot joining the call, labels every speaker, writes summaries and action items, and builds a memory of every conversation that you can chat with — fully offline, because the speech recognition and the AI run on the Mac itself. Dictation into any app is free; Pro is a one-time purchase.

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