Screen recording captures audio by default on most devices, but you control what gets recorded
When you start a screen recording on your phone, computer, or tablet, the microphone is usually on. That means any sound in the room — your voice, background noise, music, notifications — goes into the video file along with what's on your screen. On Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android, you can turn the microphone off before you hit record if you want video only. The setting is different on each device, and it matters whether you're using the built-in recorder or a third-party app.
What gets recorded depends on what you're recording. If you're capturing a video call, the audio from that call is part of the screen content itself — it comes through whether your microphone is on or off. If you're recording a browser window or an app, only your microphone picks up sound. Knowing the difference helps you avoid recording something you didn't mean to, or missing audio you needed.
Key Takeaways
- The microphone is on during screen recording by default on Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android, so you will record room noise and your voice unless you turn it off first.
- Audio that is part of the app or website itself — like a video call or a YouTube video — records regardless of whether your microphone is on.
- You can disable the microphone before recording starts on every major device, and the setting is usually in the same menu where you start the recording.
- Third-party recording apps have their own audio settings that may override your device's default, so check the app's preferences if the built-in recorder doesn't give you the control you need.
How audio recording works on Windows
Windows 11 and Windows 10 both include a built-in screen recorder called Xbox Game Bar. When you open it and start recording, the microphone is on by default. You can see a microphone icon in the recording toolbar — if it has a line through it, the mic is off. Click the icon to toggle it on or off before you start recording.
If you're using a third-party app like OBS Studio or Camtasia, the audio settings are in the app's preferences, not in Windows itself. Each app handles microphone input differently, so you'll need to check that app's documentation or settings menu. Some apps let you record system audio (sound coming from your speakers) separately from microphone audio, which gives you more control over what ends up in the final file.
How audio recording works on Mac
macOS includes a built-in screen recording tool in the Screenshot app (press Shift + Command + 5). When you click the Options menu, you'll see a dropdown for microphone. The default is usually "None," which means no microphone audio. If you want to record your voice or room sound, click that dropdown and select your microphone. You can change this setting every time you record, so you have full control before you hit the record button.
If you're using a third-party app, the microphone setting is in that app's preferences. QuickTime Player, which comes with Mac, also has a screen recording feature — open it, go to File > New Screen Recording, and you'll see a microphone dropdown in the recording window. The behavior is the same: you choose before you start.
How audio recording works on iPhone and iPad
On iPhone and iPad, screen recording is built into Control Center. When you open Control Center and press and hold the screen recording icon, a menu appears with a microphone toggle. If the microphone is off (the icon is gray), only the audio from apps and videos will record — your voice and room noise won't be captured. If the microphone is on (the icon is red), everything gets recorded. You can change this setting every time you record.
The microphone setting applies only to sound coming from your device's microphone. Audio that's already playing in an app — like a FaceTime call, a YouTube video, or a voice memo — records regardless of the microphone toggle. This is important if you're recording a call and want to make sure both sides of the conversation are captured.
How audio recording works on Android
Android's built-in screen recorder (available on most recent devices through Settings > Advanced > Screen Recorder) includes a microphone toggle. Before you start recording, you'll see an option to turn the microphone on or off. If it's on, your voice and room sound record. If it's off, only the audio from apps and videos records. The exact location of this setting varies by manufacturer — Samsung, Google Pixel, and other brands place it slightly differently — but the toggle is always visible before recording starts.
Some Android devices and third-party apps also let you record system audio separately from microphone audio. This is useful if you want to capture a video playing on your screen without picking up background noise. Check your device's screen recorder settings or the app's preferences to see what options are available.
What happens with audio from apps and websites
When you're recording a video call, a YouTube video, a Zoom meeting, or any other audio that's coming from an app, that audio is part of the app's output. It records whether your microphone is on or off. This is true on every device. The microphone toggle only controls whether your device's microphone picks up sound from the room.
This matters because it means you can't silence a video call by turning off your microphone during recording. If you're recording a sensitive conversation and want to keep it private, you need to pause the recording, end the call, or use a different method. On the other hand, if you're recording a tutorial video or a presentation and want to capture the speaker's voice, you don't have to worry about your microphone — the audio from the app itself will be there.
Why you might want to turn off the microphone
Recording without microphone audio is useful when you're capturing a tutorial, a software demo, or instructions for someone else. You avoid picking up keyboard clicks, chair squeaks, notifications, or your own breathing. The video stays focused on what's on screen. If you want to add narration later, you can record your voice separately and sync it in a video editor, which gives you much better control over the final audio quality.
Turning off the microphone also protects your privacy. If you're recording a screen to send to tech support or to document a problem, you might not want to record background conversations or personal sounds. It's a straightforward way to keep the recording focused on the issue you're trying to show.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I record a Zoom call with screen recording, will both people's voices be in the video?
Yes. The Zoom audio is part of the app's output, so it records whether your microphone is on or off. Both the speaker and your own voice (if you're talking) will be in the recording. If you don't want your microphone to pick up room noise during the call, turn off your device's microphone before you start recording.
Can I record a YouTube video without picking up my keyboard or mouse clicks?
Yes. Turn off your device's microphone before you start recording. The YouTube audio will still record because it's coming from the app, not from your microphone. You'll capture the video and its sound without any room noise.
What if I record with the microphone on by accident?
You can edit the recording afterward to remove or mute the audio track. Most video editors (like iMovie on Mac, Photos on iPhone, or free tools like DaVinci Resolve on Windows) let you delete the audio layer entirely or lower its volume. You can also re-record just the audio and replace it in the final file.
Does turning off the microphone affect the audio in a video call I'm recording?
No. The call audio comes from the app itself, not from your microphone. Turning off the microphone only stops your device from picking up room sound. The other person's voice will still be in the recording.
Can I record system audio separately from my microphone?
It depends on your device and app. Windows and Android can do this with third-party apps like OBS Studio. Mac's built-in tools don't separate system audio from microphone audio, but third-party apps can. iPhone and iPad don't have a built-in way to record system audio separately, though some apps claim to do this through workarounds.