The right folder depends on the app that made the recording. Start by identifying whether you used the macOS Screenshot toolbar, QuickTime Player, or OBS Studio; then follow the matching path below.
Check the Screenshot save location first
Apple documents the Save to menu and says Screenshot screen recordings use .mov files with names beginning Screen Recording. The location is a setting, so assuming every recording is on the Desktop can send you to the wrong folder.
- Press Shift-Command-5 to open the Screenshot toolbar.
- Open Options and find the checked item under Save to. It may be Desktop, Documents, or another folder you chose.
- Open that folder in Finder and look for a recent movie named Screen Recording followed by a date and time.
- If you are about to record again, choose Other Location under Save to and select a folder you can find easily. Make a five-second test, stop it, and confirm the new file appears there.
Sources: Apple: Take screenshots or screen recordings on Mac
Search Finder when the location is unknown
Finder supports a movie-kind search filter. Searching by file type helps when the title changed or when a different recorder uses another naming pattern. A recently modified movie is a clue, not proof that it is the clip you want.
- Open Finder and search for Screen Recording. Choose This Mac if the search is limited to the current folder.
- If the name was changed, try kind:movie in Finder and inspect recent results by date.
- Open likely results with Quick Look or QuickTime to verify the contents before moving or deleting anything.
QuickTime and OBS may use different folders
QuickTime lets you choose a name and location when you save its recording. OBS uses a Recording Path in Output settings; that path is independent of Screenshot’s Save to choice. If you cannot tell which app you used, check these locations before searching the whole Mac.
| Recorder | Where to check |
|---|---|
| Screenshot toolbar | Shift-Command-5 → Options → Save to |
| QuickTime Player | The location chosen in File → Save |
| OBS Studio | Settings → Output → Recording Path |
Sources: Apple: Save or rename a recording in QuickTime Player · OBS Project: Standard Recording Output Guide
Make the next recording easy to find
If you want to edit the movie after finding it, QuickTime can trim the beginning and end. For missing sound, check the microphone and system-audio workflow separately; a saved file can still be silent.
- Choose one dedicated recordings folder before a long session.
- Stop the recording normally and wait for the app to finish saving before closing it.
- Open the saved movie immediately and check both picture and sound.
- Rename finished files with the topic and date so Finder searches stay useful.
Common questions
Where does a Mac screen recording save?
For a recording made with Screenshot, open Shift-Command-5 → Options and look under Save to. The selected location controls where the finished movie goes; it is not necessarily the Desktop.
Why can’t I find the screen recording I just made?
Check Screenshot’s Save to setting, then search Finder for Screen Recording or movie files. If you recorded with QuickTime or OBS, check that app’s save location instead.
Sources and review
Reviewed 2026-10-02. Product availability is checked separately from these Mac instructions.
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