How to Record Internal Audio on Mac: The Complete 2025 Guide

If you’ve ever tried to figure out how to record internal audio on Mac, you already know the frustration. You hit ⌘+Shift+5, start a screen recording, play it back — and there’s no sound. No app audio, no browser audio, no system sounds. Just silence. That’s because macOS does not natively capture internal audio during screen recordings. Apple’s built-in tools — QuickTime Player and the Screenshot toolbar — only record microphone input, not the audio coming from your computer’s speakers or apps. It’s been this way for over a decade, and it still catches people off guard in 2025.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through both methods step by step. I’ve tested every major workaround — BlackHole, Loopback, SoundFlower (rest in peace), and multiple third-party recorders — so you don’t have to waste an afternoon troubleshooting audio routing. Whether you’re recording a product demo, capturing a webinar, creating a training video, or documenting a bug with its error sounds, here’s exactly how to capture computer audio on Mac recording setups in 2025.

Why Mac Doesn’t Record Internal Audio by Default

Before diving into the fix, it helps to understand why this problem exists. Apple’s macOS audio architecture separates input and output streams at the kernel level. When you use QuickTime Player or the ⌘+Shift+5 Screenshot toolbar, you can select a microphone as an audio source — but there’s no option for “system audio” or “computer audio” in the dropdown. It simply doesn’t exist as a selectable input.

This isn’t a bug. It’s an architectural decision Apple made around audio security and DRM protection (think: preventing easy ripping of Apple Music or Apple TV+ content). The side effect is that anyone who needs to screen record with internal audio on Mac — a completely legitimate need — has to install additional software to reroute audio output into a virtual input that recording apps can capture.

As of macOS 14 Sonoma and macOS 15 Sequoia, this limitation still exists. Apple has not added native system audio recording to any built-in tool.

Method 1: How to Record Internal Audio on Mac Using BlackHole (Free)

BlackHole is the most popular free virtual audio driver for macOS. It’s the spiritual successor to SoundFlower (which stopped working reliably after macOS Catalina). BlackHole creates a virtual audio device that acts as both an input and output — effectively letting you “pipe” your Mac’s system audio into a recording app like QuickTime.

Here’s the full process. It works, but fair warning: it involves 12+ steps and some Audio MIDI Setup configuration that can be confusing the first time.

Step 1: Download and Install BlackHole

1. Go to existential.audio/blackhole.
2. Choose BlackHole 2ch (the 2-channel version is sufficient for stereo system audio recording; the 16ch version is for multi-track production work).
3. Enter your email to receive the download link — ExistentialAudio requires this for the free version.
4. Open the .pkg installer and follow the prompts. You may need to grant permission in System Settings → Privacy & Security on macOS 13+.
5. Restart is not required, but I’d recommend closing any audio apps before proceeding.

Step 2: Create a Multi-Output Device in Audio MIDI Setup

This is where most people get stuck. You need to create a special audio device that sends sound to both your speakers (so you can hear it) and to BlackHole (so your recording app can capture it).

1. Open Audio MIDI Setup (search for it in Spotlight, or find it in Applications → Utilities).
2. Click the + button in the bottom-left corner.
3. Select Create Multi-Output Device.
4. In the right panel, check the boxes for BlackHole 2ch and your normal output device (e.g., “MacBook Pro Speakers” or your external headphones).
5. Critical: Make sure your built-in speakers/headphones are listed first (drag to reorder if needed) and that “Drift Correction” is checked for BlackHole 2ch — not for your primary output.
6. Rename the device by double-clicking its name in the sidebar. I call mine “Screen Recording Audio” so it’s obvious.

Step 3: Set the Multi-Output Device as Your System Output

1. Open System Settings → Sound → Output.
2. Select your new Multi-Output Device (“Screen Recording Audio”).
3. Important gotcha: When a Multi-Output Device is selected, the system volume slider in the menu bar stops working. You’ll need to control volume from the app level or from the individual device settings in Audio MIDI Setup. This trips up nearly everyone the first time.

Step 4: Record with QuickTime Player

1. Open QuickTime Player.
2. Go to File → New Screen Recording.
3. Click the dropdown arrow next to the record button.
4. Under Microphone, select BlackHole 2ch.
5. Click Record, play whatever audio you need to capture, then stop the recording.
6. Play back the file — you should now hear system audio in the recording.

Pro tip: If you want to record both your microphone voice and system audio simultaneously, you’ll need to create an additional “Aggregate Device” in Audio MIDI Setup that combines BlackHole and your microphone into a single input. Then select that Aggregate Device as the input in your recording app. This is a second round of Audio MIDI Setup configuration — and it’s the point where most non-technical users give up.

Step 5: Reset Your Audio After Recording

Don’t forget to switch your system output back to your normal speakers/headphones when you’re done recording. If you leave the Multi-Output Device selected, you’ll wonder why your volume keys stopped working and why some apps sound slightly off. I’ve made this mistake more times than I’d like to admit.

Method 1B: Using Loopback (Paid Alternative to BlackHole)

Loopback by Rogue Amoeba ($118 one-time purchase) is a polished, commercial alternative that does the same virtual audio routing as BlackHole but with a visual interface. You can route audio from specific apps — for example, capture Chrome audio but not Slack notification sounds. When I tested Loopback, the per-app routing was genuinely impressive and something BlackHole can’t do.

The downside: $118 is steep if all you want is to record system audio on Mac for occasional screen recordings. It’s a tool built for podcasters, musicians, and streamers who need granular audio routing daily.

Method 2: How to Record Internal Audio on Mac with Zight (No Setup Required)

After walking through the BlackHole setup for the dozenth time — and helping three different teammates troubleshoot their Audio MIDI configurations — I started looking for a tool that simply handled system audio capture natively. That’s how I landed on Zight for Mac.

Zight is a screen recording, screenshot, and async video tool designed for teams. The key differentiator for this specific problem: Zight captures both microphone audio and internal system audio simultaneously without requiring any virtual audio driver, Audio MIDI Setup configuration, or third-party plugins. You install the app, click record, and it works.

Here’s the full process — which takes roughly 90 seconds the first time and about 5 seconds every time after that:

Step 1: Install Zight

1. Download Zight from zight.com/mac or install the Chrome extension if you primarily record browser-based workflows.
2. Create a free account (no credit card required).
3. Grant the standard macOS permissions: Screen Recording, Microphone, and Accessibility. Zight walks you through each one during first launch.

Step 2: Start a Screen Recording with System Audio

1. Click the Zight icon in your Mac menu bar (or use the keyboard shortcut — the default is ⌘+Shift+6, but you can customize it in Preferences).
2. Select Record Screen.
3. In the recording options panel, you’ll see toggles for:
   • Microphone audio — your voice
   • System audio — internal/computer audio from any app
4. Toggle both on if you want to narrate over app sounds, or toggle only system audio if you need a clean capture without voice.
5. Choose your recording area: full screen, a specific window, or a custom selection.
6. Click Record.

Step 3: Stop, Edit, and Share

1. Click the Stop button in the menu bar, or use the keyboard shortcut.
2. Zight automatically uploads the recording and copies a shareable link to your clipboard.
3. Use Zight’s built-in editor to trim the beginning and end (the one-click trim is genuinely useful — no timeline scrubbing needed), add annotations, or crop the video.
4. Paste the link into Slack, email, Jira, Notion, or wherever your team collaborates.

That’s it. No Audio MIDI Setup. No Multi-Output Devices. No forgetting to switch your audio output back. No broken volume keys. In practice, the time difference between the BlackHole method and Zight is stark: 15–20 minutes of setup (plus troubleshooting) vs. immediate recording.

Pro tip: If you’re recording a lot of quick demos or bug reports, Zight can also convert your screen recordings to GIFs — perfect for dropping into GitHub issues or Slack threads where a full video is overkill but a screenshot isn’t enough.

BlackHole vs. Loopback vs. Zight: Comparison Table

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the three methods for recording internal audio on Mac, based on my testing:

Feature	BlackHole (Free)	Loopback ($118)	Zight (Free / Paid Plans)
Records system/internal audio	✅ Yes (with setup)	✅ Yes (with setup)	✅ Yes (built-in, no setup)
Records microphone + system audio simultaneously	⚠️ Requires Aggregate Device	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (toggle both on)
Requires virtual audio driver install	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No
Audio MIDI Setup configuration	✅ Required	❌ Not needed (has its own UI)	❌ Not needed
System volume control works during recording	❌ No (Multi-Output Device limitation)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Per-app audio routing	❌ No	✅ Yes (best-in-class)	❌ No (captures all system audio)
Built-in video editor	❌ No (QuickTime only trims)	❌ No	✅ Yes (trim, annotate, crop)
Instant sharing link	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes (auto-uploaded)
Works on macOS 15 Sequoia	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Time to first recording	~15–20 min	~5–10 min	~90 seconds
Cost	Free	$118 one-time	Free plan available; Pro from $9.95/mo

Where BlackHole wins: It’s completely free and open-source. If you’re comfortable with Audio MIDI Setup and don’t need collaboration features, it’s a solid workaround.

Where Loopback wins: Per-app audio routing is genuinely powerful. If you need to capture audio from Chrome but exclude Spotify, or route a specific app’s audio to a podcast recording tool, Loopback is purpose-built for that.

Where Zight wins: Speed, simplicity, and the complete workflow. You’re not just recording — you’re recording, editing, and sharing in one tool. For anyone who needs to capture computer audio on Mac recording workflows and then immediately share results with teammates, Zight eliminates every friction point between “I need to show this” and “here’s the link.”

Common Troubleshooting: System Audio Not Working

Even with these tools, there are a few macOS-specific gotchas that can trip you up. Here’s what to check if your record system audio Mac setup isn’t working:

No Audio in Recording (BlackHole Method)

• Wrong input selected in QuickTime: Make sure you’ve selected “BlackHole 2ch” as the microphone source, not “Built-in Microphone.”
• Multi-Output Device not set as system output: Go to System Settings → Sound → Output and verify your Multi-Output Device is selected.
• Drift Correction on wrong device: Drift Correction should be enabled on BlackHole, not on your built-in speakers.
• App playing audio through a different device: Some apps (Zoom, Spotify, Chrome) have their own audio output settings that override the system default. Check the app’s audio preferences.

No Audio in Recording (Zight)

• System audio toggle not enabled: Check that the system audio toggle is turned on in Zight’s recording panel before you start.
• macOS permissions not granted: Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording and ensure Zight is listed and enabled. On macOS 14+, you may need to toggle it off and on again after an OS update.
• Audio playing through Bluetooth device: Some Bluetooth headphones create separate audio streams. If system audio isn’t captured, try switching to wired headphones or built-in speakers to test.

Real Use Cases: When You Need to Record Internal Audio on Mac

This isn’t an obscure problem. We’ve seen teams at Zight use system audio recording for workflows that come up daily:

• Bug reports with audio: A developer needs to capture an app crashing with its error sound, or a browser-based tool playing an audio notification at the wrong time. A screen recording without audio doesn’t tell the full story.
• Product demos and walkthroughs: When you’re demoing a product that has UI sounds, onboarding audio, or in-app video content, the recording needs to include that audio or the demo falls flat.
• Webinar and meeting capture: Recording a Zoom or Google Meet session for teammates who couldn’t attend. The built-in macOS recorder captures your mic but not the other participants’ voices — unless you’ve set up system audio capture.
• Training content: Onboarding new hires with screen recordings that walk through software with audio cues. After recording hundreds of screen sessions, the pattern that works best is narration (mic) plus system audio (app sounds) layered together — exactly what Zight’s dual-toggle enables.
• Design feedback: Reviewing a prototype that includes interaction sounds or transition audio. A silent screen recording misses half the experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you record internal audio on Mac without installing any software?

No. As of macOS 15 Sequoia (2025), Apple does not provide a built-in way to record system or internal audio. The ⌘+Shift+5 Screenshot toolbar and QuickTime Player can only record microphone input. You need either a virtual audio driver like BlackHole or a third-party screen recorder like Zight that handles system audio capture natively.

Is BlackHole safe to install on Mac?

Yes. BlackHole is open-source, maintained by Existential Audio, and widely used in the Mac audio production community. It installs a kernel extension (or System Extension on newer macOS versions) that creates a virtual audio device. It does not modify your system audio or interfere with other apps when not in use. That said, because it operates at the kernel/system-extension level, macOS updates occasionally break compatibility and you may need to reinstall after a major OS upgrade.

Does Zight record system audio on Mac without a virtual audio driver?

Yes. Zight captures internal/system audio directly through its macOS app without requiring BlackHole, Loopback, SoundFlower, or any Audio MIDI Setup configuration. You simply toggle on “System Audio” in the recording panel. This is one of the primary reasons teams switch to Zight from the QuickTime + BlackHole workaround — it eliminates the setup and troubleshooting entirely.

Can I record both my microphone and system audio at the same time on Mac?

Yes, but with the BlackHole method it requires creating an Aggregate Device in Audio MIDI Setup that combines BlackHole and your microphone — adding another layer of configuration. With Zight, you toggle both “Microphone” and “System Audio” on in the recording panel and they’re captured simultaneously into a single recording. No additional setup required.

Why does QuickTime screen recording have no sound?

QuickTime’s screen recording feature only captures audio from an input device (microphone). It cannot access your Mac’s internal audio output stream due to macOS audio architecture limitations. When you see a silent recording, it’s because QuickTime recorded the screen visuals but had no audio source — your microphone was either not selected or not picking up the computer’s speaker output. To record system audio through QuickTime, you need to install a virtual audio driver like BlackHole and route your system output through it.

The Bottom Line: Record System Audio on Mac in 2025

Apple’s refusal to add native system audio recording to macOS means you’ll always need a third-party solution for this. The question is just how much friction you’re willing to accept.

If you’re a power user comfortable with Audio MIDI Setup and you only need system audio capture occasionally, BlackHole is a capable free option. Set it up once, learn the quirks, and it works.

If you need to screen record with internal audio on Mac regularly — for demos, bug reports, training videos, or async team communication — the setup-free approach saves real time. After testing both methods extensively, the BlackHole workflow adds roughly 2–3 minutes of overhead per recording session (switching audio output, verifying the right input is selected, switching back after). Over a week of daily recordings, that’s 10–15 minutes of pure friction.

Zight eliminates that friction entirely. Install it once, toggle on system audio, and every recording from that point forward captures exactly what you hear. Plus you get instant shareable links, built-in trimming, annotations, and a workflow designed for teams who communicate asynchronously.

👉 Try Zight free — record your first screen recording with internal audio in under 2 minutes. No virtual audio drivers. No Audio MIDI Setup. Just click and record.

Based on testing by the Zight team. Last updated June 2025.