How to Fix Macbook Screen Recording Having no Sound?
It’s no secret that Macbook is one of the best and most user-friendly computers in the market, and it can serve as a personal workstation capable of completing many advanced tasks. Once you get used to MacOS commands and essential apps like QuickTime, working on a Mac can be an amazing and very empowering experience.
Still, even the best computers sometimes fail to work properly and some users reported issues with screen recordings made with QuickTime containing no sound. That severely limits the usefulness of such recordings and forces the user to seek permanent solutions. In most cases, the problem with audio recording is caused by a trivial issue and the user can find a remedy without having to ask for professional help from IT experts.
Fix Macbook Screen Recording Having no Sound
We will discuss some of the common root causes of QuckTime screen recording no audio problem and recommend possible solutions that can be executed at home.
Read More: 18 Best Screen Recording Software for Mac >
Why QuickTime Screen Recording Has No Audio?
Finding out that a recording you just finished has no audio is certainly a big letdown, but the more important question is how to avoid the issue repeating with your next screen grab. To eliminate a persistent issue of this kind it’s necessary to determine what caused QuickTime to skip the audio and then act accordingly.
- Microphone Permissions Issue: QuickTime may not have the necessary permissions to access the microphone.
- Incorrect Audio Input Selection: The selected audio input source within QuickTime settings might be wrong.
- Muted or Low System Volume: The system or application volume could be muted or too low, resulting in no audio recording.
- Conflicting Application Interference: Other applications using the microphone or causing conflicts might interfere with QuickTime’s audio recording.
- Software Obsolescence: An outdated version of QuickTime might be the reason for the audio recording issue.
- Improper Audio Track Configuration: The audio track in QuickTime might not be enabled or correctly configured, leading to no audio capture.
- Potential Hardware Failure: There could be a hardware problem with the microphone or sound card.
- Incorrect System Preferences: Your computer’s sound settings might not have the correct input device selected or the device may not be functioning properly.
- External Audio Device Connectivity: If using external audio devices, they might not be properly connected or recognized by the system.
- Microphone Hardware Fault: The microphone itself could be faulty, which can be identified by testing with a different microphone.
- Temporary Software Glitch: Sometimes, no audio recording can be the result of a temporary software glitch that can be resolved by restarting the computer.
- Lack of Technical Support: If the problem persists, there might be a need for professional assistance, which can be sought through Apple’s support resources or community forums.
5 Ways to Fix QuickTime Screen Recording no Audio
As previously noted, there are several factors that could be to blame for the loss of audio. Consequently, there is no catch-all solution that would fix the problem each and every time. Instead, we can propose several methods that might turn out to be successful if they match the underlying cause. Here is a list of things to try when you are consistently failing to capture audio along with screen content.
Check Microphone Settings
One of the most common reasons why QuickTime can’t record audio is that MacOS is preventing it from accessing the built-in microphone. If that is the case, you can quickly change the settings and allow QuickTime to record sound from the computer without obstruction. To do that, open System Preferences app and then go to Sound category, where you can set microphone as the preferred input method for all applications.
Check Microphone Settings
Check Audio Settings
It’s possible that your audio settings in QuickTime are wrongly configured, which would explain the absence of sound in your recordings. To fix this issue, you just need to find the audio controls in the menu system and make sure that audio is not muted. Go to Window menu in QuickTime and then click on A/V controls, where you will find a handful of settings that can be controlled by moving the slider next to the feature. Check them all and change any that might affect audio capturing.
Check Audio Settings
Shut Down Other Apps
If you have other applications active on the Macbook that might be using the microphone concurrently, QuickTime may not be able to pick up the audio stream. This conflict must be resolved by shutting down the offending applications. Check which apps are currently open using the Activity Monitor feature, and close any that are not needed. Once you do this, head right back to QuickTime to try recording the screen with sound once again.
Ensure that QuickTime Is Up to Date
Your installation of QuickTime might be missing the latest update, which could cause different problems including a failure to record system audio. While this is not very common because QuickTime is installed automatically with MacOS, it still doesn’t hurt to see whether you can update the software, especially since the procedure is very simple. Just open the app, click on QuickTime Player, and choose the option Update existing software to get the latest version to your Macbook.
Check the Update of QuickTime Player
Use an Alternative Screen Recorder
Having an alternative software for screen recording is a smart backup solution for situations when QuickTime doesn’t work properly and can’t be easily fixed. You can use FocuSee to record anything you are doing on your Mac with very simple commands. FocuSee lets you choose which area of the screen you want to capture while also supporting webcam and microphone input. It also has strong editing and sharing features, while the learning curve is very mild.
- Choose from different layouts for the selfie and screen, customize the appearance with camera frames and filters, and add backgrounds, rounded corners, shadows, and padding to make the video more appealing.
- Enhance your camera experience by experimenting with a range of filters and incorporating captivating virtual backgrounds to conceal your actual surroundings.
- Elevate your videos by applying zoom effects, changing cursor style, and adding a spotlight for key points.
- FocuSee automatically follows the cursor movement and applies dynamic zoom-in effects to enhance the video.
To embark on the fantastic journey of screen and microphone recording, simply download FocuSee free of charge.
Step 1. Open FocuSee on your computer and input your account credentials to log in and access its features.
Create an Account and Activate FocuSee
Step 2. Gemoo Recorder provides 3 recording options for your convenience. Select the mode that best suits your recording needs. After choosing the recording mode, please hit the Start Recording button to initiate recording.
Three recording Modes of FocuSee
Step 3. After recording, you can change the background, adjust the cursor style, add captions and more. Then, export your recordings as an MP4 or GIF file or share it with a link easily.
Riverside Alternatives – FocuSee
FAQs about Screen Recording with Audio on a Macbook
Which video and audio sources are supported by QuickTime?
QuickTime gives user the choice to record the entire screen, only a selected part of it, or a specific open window. It can also capture your face from a webcam connected to or integrated with your Mac. In addition to video sources, QuickTime allows you to choose internal or external microphone as your audio source.
Why is QuickTime the best option for recording your voice on a Mac?
Considering that QuickTime comes pre-installed on every Macbook and that it serves its core function very well, many users never feel the need to upgrade to a paid recorder. QuickTime can capture your voice from a microphone very clearly, while its simple commands make this app accessible to anyone.
What are the advantages of using a third-party screen recorder instead of QuickTime?
More advanced screen recording apps have additional features that provide users with more detailed control over the look and feel of the final product. In particular, video editing features in QuickTime are not that great, so users who frequently work on compiling multimedia clips might want to think about a better third-party product.
Final Thoughts
Even minor problems with screen or audio recording can be very disruptive and slow down work, but unfortunately MacBook owners occasionally have to deal with them. It’s good to know that most issues with missing audio can be easily resolved, without any complex technical procedures involved. This article pointed out some common ways to return QuickTime to full functionality and allow it to record audio along with video, but if none of the suggested methods work you can always download a free screen recorder like Gemoo to get the job done quickly.
