How to record just one window on a Mac, with sound

Can a Mac record only one window?

Yes. On our Mac, running macOS 27, the screenshot toolbar has Record Selected Window:

1. Press ⌘ ⇧ 5.
2. Click Record Selected Window in the toolbar.
3. Click the window you want to record. Recording starts.
4. To stop, click the stop button in the menu bar, or press ⌘ ⌃ Esc.

If your toolbar only shows Record Entire Screen and Record Selected Portion, your Mac runs an older macOS. Choose Record Selected Portion and drag the box to the edges of the window. Keep the window still while you record, since the box does not follow it.

How do I record a window with sound?

Click Options in the same toolbar before you start. Under Microphone, pick your microphone to record your voice. On our Mac the menu also has Include System Audio, which records the sound the Mac itself plays, such as a video or an app's alerts.

How do I show clicks in a screen recording?

Turn on Show Mouse Clicks in Options. Each click shows as a circle in the recording, which makes a demo far easier to follow. Show Mouse Pointer controls whether the pointer appears at all.

Where do screen recordings go?

The same place as screenshots, which is the desktop unless you changed it. Save to in Options changes it, and a short recording can be trimmed by clicking the floating thumbnail that appears when you stop.

For a still picture instead, see how to screenshot one window. If recording asks for permission every time, read Screen Recording permission keeps asking.

Checked on 22 October 2026 on a MacBook Air (M1) running macOS 27.0.1: Record Selected Window, Include System Audio, Show Mouse Clicks and Save to were read from the screenshot toolbar's own labels.