Mac Screen Recording No Sound? Here Is How to Fix It

It’s one of the most frustrating things that can happen. You spend time creating the perfect screen recording, nail the presentation, and hit "stop," only to discover the playback is dead silent. I've been there, and it's a real momentum-killer.

The good news is that when a Mac screen recording has no sound, it’s almost always due to a simple permissions hiccup or the wrong audio input being selected. Let's walk through how to figure out what's going on and get it fixed fast.

Why Your Mac Screen Recording Has No Sound

So, you've got a silent video. Before you start thinking your Mac is broken, take a breath. This is a super common issue on macOS, and it's usually rooted in the operating system's security-first approach.

Your Mac is designed to protect your privacy, which means apps can't just start listening in through your mic or capturing system sounds without you giving them the green light. It’s a fantastic security feature, but it’s also the number one reason people end up with silent recordings. The fix is often just a few clicks away in your System Settings.

Distinguishing Between Voice and System Audio

First, let's clear up a common point of confusion. There are two very different types of audio you might be trying to capture, and your Mac treats them separately.

• Microphone Audio: This is your voice, coming from either the built-in mic on your MacBook or an external one you've plugged in. If you're trying to narrate a tutorial or add commentary, this is what you're after.
• System Audio: These are the sounds your Mac makes—the ding of a notification, the audio from a YouTube video you're playing, or the sound effects in a game.

Knowing which one you wanted to record is the key. If it was your voice, the problem is almost certainly a microphone permission or setting. But if you wanted to capture the audio from an app or a video, you'll need a specific tool for the job. Native macOS apps like QuickTime Player and the Screenshot toolbar simply can't record system audio on their own.

To make this even clearer, here's a quick rundown of the most frequent culprits on macOS.

Common Reasons for Silent Mac Screen Recordings

A quick look at the most frequent causes of audio problems in your Mac recordings.

Problem Area	Common Issue	Where to Check
App Permissions	The screen recording app doesn't have permission to access the microphone.	System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone
Input Selection	The wrong microphone (or no microphone) is selected in the app's settings.	The screen recording app's audio input menu
System Audio	Trying to record app sounds (e.g., a video) with a tool that can't capture it.	N/A - requires a third-party tool like Screen Charm
Hardware Issue	The microphone is muted, unplugged, or not working correctly.	Physical mic controls; System Settings > Sound > Input

Nine times out of ten, the solution is hiding in one of those four areas. By checking them systematically, you can usually solve the problem in a minute or two.

Key Takeaway: If you need to record both your voiceover and the audio from an application at the same time on your Mac, you absolutely need a specialized app. Standard macOS tools are built to handle one or the other, but not both simultaneously. This is where most of the confusion comes from.

So, you’ve hit record, captured the perfect tutorial or walkthrough, only to find the playback is completely silent. It’s a frustratingly common problem for Mac users. Before you start digging through complex application settings or reinstalling software, let's take a step back.

The best approach is to figure out where the problem is coming from first. Is it your Mac's settings? Your microphone? Or the specific app you’re using? A few quick diagnostic tests will tell you exactly what’s broken, saving you a ton of time and guesswork. Think of it as detective work—we're looking for clues to pinpoint the culprit.

This flowchart lays out the troubleshooting path I always follow. It’s a logical way to check the most common macOS issues in order, from system-wide problems to app-specific ones.

As you can see, we start broad with system permissions, then narrow it down to the app, and finally check the physical hardware.

Test Your Microphone in System Settings

First things first: does your Mac even recognize your microphone? This is the most fundamental check, and it bypasses any recording software entirely.

Head over to System Settings > Sound, and then click on the Input tab. You'll see a list of all the audio sources connected to your Mac.

• Find and select the microphone you want to use.
• Now, talk into the mic at a normal volume.
• Keep an eye on the Input level meter.

If you see the little blue bars light up and dance as you speak, that’s great news! It means your microphone is connected, powered on, and your Mac can hear it loud and clear. If that meter is dead flat, then the issue is likely with the mic itself. Double-check that it's plugged in properly, switched on, or if it has a physical mute button that’s been pressed.

Perform a QuickTime Player Test Recording

Okay, so your Mac can hear your mic. The next logical step is to see if it can actually record from it. The easiest way to do this is with QuickTime Player, which is already on your Mac. It's a simple, no-frills tool that’s perfect for a baseline test.

Open QuickTime Player and navigate to File > New Audio Recording. A small recording window will pop up. Before you hit the big red button, click the small dropdown arrow next to it and make sure your microphone is selected from the list.

Now, hit record, say a few words for a couple of seconds, and stop.

Play it back. Can you hear your voice? If so, you’ve just confirmed that your microphone and your Mac’s core audio recording capabilities are working perfectly. This is a massive clue.

This test effectively rules out any system-level or hardware problems. The fact that QuickTime can record audio but your other app can't tells us the issue is almost certainly isolated to that specific screen recording software. It's likely a permissions issue or an incorrect setting within the app itself.

If you want to dive deeper into how different apps handle audio, you can learn more about how to get sound on a screen recording in our other guide.

Fixing Microphone Permissions and Input Settings

So, your tests showed that QuickTime can hear your microphone just fine, but your favorite screen recording app is still giving you the silent treatment. That’s actually great news! It means you've narrowed the problem down significantly.

More often than not, this points straight to a permissions issue. macOS is pretty strict about privacy, and no app can access your microphone without you explicitly saying so. It's incredibly common to accidentally click "Don't Allow" the first time you fire up a new program and then forget all about it. Luckily, this is one of the easiest fixes.

Granting Microphone Access in System Settings

Let's dive into your Mac's central security hub and flip the right switch. This one tweak solves a massive number of audio recording headaches.

• First, open up System Settings (it's likely in your Dock, or you can use Spotlight search to find it).
• From the left-hand menu, click on Privacy & Security.
• Now, scroll down a bit and find Microphone in the list.

You'll see a list of every single app that has ever asked for mic access. Scan through it for your screen recording software and make sure the little toggle next to it is switched on and green. If it was off, you've almost certainly found your culprit.

Key Takeaway: You must quit and restart the recording app after you enable this permission. The new setting won't apply until the program has been completely relaunched.

Selecting the Correct Audio Input Source

With permissions handled, the next vital check is making sure your Mac—and your app—are listening to the right device. It's easy to have multiple audio sources connected: the built-in MacBook mic, a webcam mic, a USB headset, or even a dedicated external microphone. If the wrong one is active, you’ll either get silence or muffled, distant audio.

Start by checking your system-wide default. Head back to System Settings > Sound and click the Input tab. Simply click on the name of the microphone you want to use. This tells your Mac which device should be its primary choice.

But here’s the most important part: check the settings inside your screen recording app. Most quality tools, including Screen Charm, have their own audio source selector. Look for a small microphone icon or an audio menu within the app's main window or preferences. Make sure it's explicitly set to your intended microphone, not just "Default." This ensures the app is pulling audio from the correct source, regardless of the system setting.

For a deeper dive into getting the best possible sound, our guide on how to screen record with a microphone has some great advanced tips.

And if you're looking to really elevate your production quality, investing in a good external mic is a game-changer. The clarity from some of the best gaming microphones can make a world of difference for narration and voiceovers.

How to Capture Your Mac's Internal System Audio

Okay, so your microphone is working perfectly. But what about the sounds coming from your Mac? If you've ever tried to record a gameplay session, a software demo with its distinctive alert sounds, or even just a clip from a video, you've probably hit a wall of silence.

That silence isn't a bug. It’s actually a deliberate design choice by Apple. By default, macOS blocks applications from "listening in" on the audio output from other apps or the system itself. This is primarily for privacy and copyright protection, creating a firm barrier between your mic and what you hear through your speakers.

This is why built-in macOS tools like QuickTime and the Screenshot toolbar just can't record system audio. They're designed to capture external input (your voice) or nothing at all. They simply have no access to the sounds your Mac is making.

The Old, Clunky Workarounds

For years, the only way around this on a Mac was to resort to some pretty technical gymnastics. The most common solution involved installing third-party virtual audio drivers—tools that would create a "fake" audio device to reroute your Mac's sound output and disguise it as an input source.

It was a clever hack, but honestly, it was a huge pain.

• Fragile and Unreliable: A major macOS update could—and often would—break these drivers completely, sending you on a frantic search for updates or replacements.
• Needlessly Complex: Getting it all to work meant digging into system settings and juggling configurations in multiple places. It was anything but intuitive.
• Risk of Instability: A poorly coded audio driver could introduce bizarre audio glitches across your entire system.

This old-school approach turned a simple goal—recording what you hear—into a frustrating technical ordeal. Thankfully, there’s a much better way now.

The Modern Fix: Apps Built for macOS

The real solution is to use software that was built from the ground up to handle this exact problem on macOS. Modern, dedicated screen recorders for Mac, like Screen Charm, are engineered to work with macOS limitations, not against them.

Instead of relying on those shaky, third-party workarounds, these apps come with their own proprietary audio capture engine. This lets them tap directly into system audio safely and reliably, with zero complex setup required.

With an app like Screen Charm, you just find the option to "Record System Audio" and flip a switch. That’s it.

This integrated approach is a total game-changer. It doesn’t just capture app sounds cleanly; it also lets you record your microphone at the same time on a separate track. This is an absolute must for creating professional-level tutorials where your audience needs to hear both your voice and the software’s audio cues.

For a deeper dive, check out our guide on how to capture internal audio on Mac.

This shift from niche hacks to built-in features is happening for a reason. The demand for simple, powerful recording tools is exploding, with the global screen recording software market projected to hit USD 4.62 billion by 2030, largely thanks to the growth of remote work and online education.

Optimizing Screen Charm for Flawless Audio

Now that we've covered the basics of how macOS audio works, let's get into the specifics of capturing professional-grade sound with Screen Charm. Native Mac tools can feel a bit restrictive, and that's exactly why dedicated apps exist—to break through those limitations and give you a proper control panel for all things audio.

This is where the headache of silent recordings really ends. Instead of jumping between System Settings and app-specific menus, Screen Charm brings everything you need into one clean interface. It’s built to make capturing your voice and your Mac's system sounds a reliable, guess-free process.

Selecting Your Audio Sources in Screen Charm

Getting your sound sources dialed in is incredibly straightforward. The moment you open Screen Charm to start a new recording, you’ll see simple icons for your microphone and system audio. Think of this as your audio command center.

• Microphone Audio: Just click the microphone icon. A dropdown list will pop up showing every input device your Mac can see. This could be the built-in MacBook mic, your AirPods, or that fancy USB microphone on your desk. Just pick the one you want to use.
• System Audio: Look for the speaker icon right next to the mic. A single click turns your Mac’s internal audio recording on or off. That’s it. No need to install complicated drivers or mess around with hidden settings—it just works.

This all-in-one design is a huge part of why a specialized tool is often the better choice. It’s not just about features; it’s about a smoother workflow. The fact is, dedicated apps consistently deliver better results than generic, built-in solutions, which is a big reason why creators tend to stick with tools built specifically for their platform.

Pro Tips for Crystal-Clear Sound

Choosing your sources is the first step, but a few extra tweaks can make a world of difference between "okay" audio and truly professional sound. One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is cranking their microphone input level way too high. The result is clipped, distorted audio that’s just painful to listen to.

Inside Screen Charm's audio settings, keep an eye on the input level meter. While you're talking, try to keep the meter bouncing in the green or yellow zone. If it's constantly slamming into the red, your audio is going to sound harsh. Just ease the gain down a bit until you get a strong, clean signal without any of that nasty distortion.

Expert Insight: Want a massive and immediate jump in audio quality? Use an external USB microphone. The difference in clarity and background noise reduction compared to your computer's built-in mic is night and day. It's one of the simplest upgrades you can make to give your recordings a more polished, professional feel.

These principles apply even if you're using other complex recording tools. For example, learning how to effectively host webinars using OBS Studio teaches you skills for managing multiple audio inputs that are valuable for any kind of recording, not just live events. When you take the time to control these settings, you ensure your final video sounds every bit as good as it looks.

Answering Your Lingering Mac Screen Recording Audio Questions

After you've gone through the basic troubleshooting steps, a few tricky situations can still pop up. Let’s tackle some of the most common questions we see from Mac users when their screen recordings fall silent.

Why Can I Hear My Audio During Editing but Not in the Final Video?

This is a classic. You finish your recording, play it back in the editor, everything sounds perfect... but the exported file is completely mute. It’s a frustrating experience, but it almost always points to an audio codec problem, not a failed recording.

Here's what's happening under the hood. Inside your app, you're hearing the raw audio. But when you export, that audio gets compressed into a format like AAC to fit neatly inside a standard MP4 file. If the media player you're using to watch the video—like the default QuickTime Player—stumbles on that specific audio codec, you get silent video. The sound is actually in the file; your player just can't decipher it.

The easiest way to confirm this is to open the video file with a different player. I always recommend VLC because it’s a powerhouse that handles a massive library of codecs. If your video’s audio plays back perfectly in VLC, you know the recording is fine. To avoid this headache in the future, it's usually best to stick with your recording app's default export settings, as they're built for the widest compatibility.

Can I Record My Voice and My Mac's System Audio at the Same Time?

Yes, you absolutely can—but you can't do it with Apple's built-in tools. This is a big limitation of both QuickTime Player and the Screenshot toolbar's recorder. They're designed to only capture one audio source at a time. You have to choose: either your microphone or your system audio (and getting system audio to work at all requires a workaround).

To capture both your voice and the sounds from your Mac simultaneously, you need a tool made for the job.

The Bottom Line: This is precisely why tools like Screen Charm exist. They let you select your microphone as one input and your Mac's system audio as another, mixing them together into a single, clean track. For anyone making a tutorial or a product demo, this is non-negotiable. Your audience needs to hear both your narration and the clicks and chimes from the software you're demonstrating.

Honestly, this one feature is the main reason most creators upgrade from the free tools.

My USB Mic Isn't Showing Up as an Option. What Do I Do?

It's a sinking feeling when your trusty USB microphone suddenly vanishes from the input list on your Mac. Before you assume the mic is dead, take a deep breath and run through a few logical checks. The fix is usually surprisingly simple.

• Check the Physical Connection: This is the culprit more often than not. Unplug the mic and plug it back in firmly. If you can, try a different USB port directly on your Mac, bypassing any USB hubs, which can sometimes be finicky.

• See if the Mac Recognizes It: Head over to System Settings > Sound and click the Input tab. If your microphone is listed there, your Mac sees it. The problem is almost certainly with the permissions or settings inside your recording app.

• Rule Out a Hardware Problem: If the mic doesn't show up in your System Settings, it's time to figure out if the problem is the mic or the cable. The quickest test? Plug it into another computer. If it still doesn't work, you've likely found your culprit.

• Give It a Restart: You’d be surprised how often a simple reboot clears up weird hardware detection glitches. Restarting your Mac forces it to re-scan all connected devices.

• Check for Drivers: Most USB mics these days are "plug-and-play," but some high-end or older models need a special driver to work correctly on macOS. A quick search on the manufacturer's website will tell you if you need to install any software.

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Ready to make screen recordings where the audio just works, every time? Screen Charm takes the guesswork out of the equation with a clean interface and powerful controls for both your microphone and system audio. Stop wrestling with settings and start creating. Get Screen Charm today and make your next tutorial sound as professional as it looks.