# Where Do Screen Recordings Go on Mac? Find, Change & Recover

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Source: https://www.lazyscreenshots.com/blog/where-do-screen-recordings-go-mac/
Source observed: 2026-10-08T01:32:24.726Z
Last checked: 2026-10-08T01:32:24.726+00:00
Indexed: 2026-10-08T01:38:10.732+00:00

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# Where Do Screen Recordings Go on Mac? Find, Change & Recover

**June 30, 2026 · LazyScreenshots Team**

## Default location and file format

Mac screen recordings made with the Screenshot toolbar (`Cmd+Shift+5`) save to the Desktop by default as `.mov` files. A typical filename is `Screen Recording 2026-06-30 at 14.32.15.mov`, using the recording’s start date and time.

Screenshots and recordings share the same **Save to** setting. If you changed it through `Cmd+Shift+5 > Options`, recordings use that location too; macOS does not provide separate locations through its built-in tools. On macOS Tahoe, recordings remain `.mov` even when HDR screenshots use HEIC.

## Find a recent recording

1. **Check the Desktop.** Look for a filename beginning with `Screen Recording`. Sort by **Date Added** or file size.
2. **Check the configured location.** Open `Cmd+Shift+5 > Options` and inspect the checkmark under **Save to**.
3. **Search Finder.** Press `Cmd+F`, search for `Screen Recording`, choose **This Mac**, sort by Date Modified, and optionally filter to **Kind is Movie**.
4. **Check QuickTime recovery files.** QuickTime’s **File > New Screen Recording** does not auto-save; it opens a preview and waits for `Cmd+S`. If you closed it without saving, check:

```text
~/Library/Containers/com.apple.QuickTimePlayerX/Data/Library/Autosave Information/
```

In Finder, press `Cmd+Shift+G` and paste the path.

5. **Check Trash.** Search for `.mov` files, especially if you selected **Delete** from a floating-thumbnail markup preview.

## Change where recordings are saved

The setting changes both screenshots and recordings.

### Screenshot toolbar

1. Press `Cmd+Shift+5`.
2. Click **Options**.
3. Under **Save to**, choose Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, Mail, Messages, Preview, or **Other Location…**.
4. Select a folder.

The toolbar remembers the location across restarts, and later captures go there.

### Terminal

```bash
# Change save location for screenshots and screen recordings
defaults write com.apple.screencapture location ~/Recordings
killall SystemUIServer
```

Replace `~/Recordings` with another path. Create it first if needed with `mkdir ~/Recordings`.

To restore Desktop saving:

```bash
defaults delete com.apple.screencapture location
killall SystemUIServer
```

## Third-party screen recorders

| App | Default save location | How to change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| OBS Studio | `~/Movies` | **Settings > Output > Recording Path** |
| CleanShot X | Custom, in preferences | **Preferences > General > Save to** |
| Loom | Cloud (`loom.com`) | No local save by default |
| ScreenFlow | Chosen when saving | **File > Save As** |

If a recording is missing, check which application owns the recording shortcut and look for recording-app icons in the menu bar.

## Recover a deleted recording

1. **Trash:** Open Trash, right-click the file, and choose **Put Back**.
2. **Time Machine:** Open the original folder, choose **Browse Time Machine Backups**, find the recording, and click **Restore**.
3. **iCloud Recently Deleted:** If the file was in an iCloud-synced Desktop or Documents folder, visit [icloud.com/iclouddrive](https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/), sign in, and check Recently Deleted. Files remain there for 30 days.
4. **Data recovery software:** After emptying Trash, tools such as Disk Drill or PhotoRec may recover data if the disk space has not been overwritten. Avoid writing new files to that drive.

## Screen recordings versus screenshots

| Capture type | Default location | File format | Naming pattern |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Screenshot (`Cmd+Shift+3/4`) | Desktop | `.png` or `.heic` on HDR | `Screenshot [date] at [time]` |
| Screen recording (toolbar) | Desktop | `.mov` | `Screen Recording [date] at [time]` |
| QuickTime recording | Chosen when saving | `.mov` | User-chosen filename |
| Screenshot to clipboard | Clipboard; no file | N/A | N/A |

Both screenshots and recordings use `Cmd+Shift+5 > Options > Save to`.

We keep screenshots organized and accessible with one-keystroke capture, auto-paste into Claude, Cursor, or ChatGPT, and searchable history: [Try LazyScreenshots Free](https://www.lazyscreenshots.com/).

## Keep recordings organized

- Create `~/Recordings/` to separate large videos from screenshots. Recordings are typically 50–500 MB versus 1–15 MB for screenshots.
- Rename immediately. For example, rename `Screen Recording 2026-06-30 at 14.32.15.mov` from the floating thumbnail’s **Open** markup view or Finder.
- Delete recordings you no longer need. A five-minute Retina recording can exceed 200 MB; review recordings at least weekly.
- For team sharing, consider a cloud tool such as Loom, which uploads recordings and provides a shareable link.

## Related

- [Where Do Screenshots Go on Mac? Find, Change & Organize](https://www.lazyscreenshots.com/blog/where-do-screenshots-go-mac/)
- [How to Record Your Screen as a GIF on Mac](https://www.lazyscreenshots.com/blog/record-screen-gif-mac/)
- [Mac Screenshot Settings: Save Location, Format & File Name](https://www.lazyscreenshots.com/blog/mac-screenshot-settings-location-format/)

We also provide comparisons for [CleanShot X](https://www.lazyscreenshots.com/vs-cleanshot/), [Shottr](https://www.lazyscreenshots.com/vs-shottr/), [Snagit](https://www.lazyscreenshots.com/vs-snagit/), [Xnapper](https://www.lazyscreenshots.com/vs-xnapper/), [Monosnap](https://www.lazyscreenshots.com/vs-monosnap/), [macOS Built-in](https://www.lazyscreenshots.com/vs-macos/), and [all comparisons](https://www.lazyscreenshots.com/compare/).

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