Delivering information visually is an efficient way. Therefore, many Mac users record videos for software reviews, teaching, job presentations, etc. If you're one of them and find that you don't know where the video you've just created has gone, then this guide can quickly help you locate a screen recording on the Mac, even when they're not saved or deleted.
It depends on the tool you use. By default, the locations where recorded videos are stored are as follows:
| Tool Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Screenshot Tool and QuickTime Player: |
They will be saved on the Mac desktop by default in the format of "Screen Recordings [Date] at [Time].mov." In addition, you can press "Command + Shift + G" and enter "~/Library/ScreenRecordings/" or "~/Library/Containers/com.apple.QuickTimePlayerX/Data/Library/Autosave Information/" to see if the folder has your screen recording videos saved. Tip: If you have changed this location before, please press "Command + Shift + 5" and click "Options > Save to" in the toolbar to check it. |
| Third-party Screen Recording Program: |
It may depend on the software developer. Usually, you can find the default output folder in "Settings." |
If you still ask, "Where does Mac save screen recordings?" The below methods should help you get them back.
When you accidentally save a screen recording to another location and are unsure where it was saved, you can use the Finder to relocate it.
Tip: If you have renamed the file name, please enter the ".mov" as the search condition.
Where to find screen recording on Mac? Many macOS users may overlook this option. Just as its name implies, it can record your recent activities on the computer. Therefore, when you have recently created or made changes to this file, then it is very useful to view this option. Specific methods are as follows:
You may try to check the temporary folder when you want to retrieve recordings lost due to power failure, program crash, or other errors, but it needs some luck.
Tips: This method also helps recover unsaved Word documents on a Mac. If this fails, please use the following program.
Other reasons that can cause your creation to disappear from its original location are accidental deletion or other missteps. If you're sure that the recorded video was once saved on your hard disk, these solutions you can try.
Where is the screen recording saved on Mac? Sometimes, it can be put into the Trash without noticing. You can find it here if you haven't emptied it or exceeded the 30-day time limit. Then right-click and select "put back" to restore it to its original location.
Does the fact that the screen recording is not in the Trash or removed using "Command + Shift + Delete" mean that it is lost forever? No, it doesn't. You still have a chance to find a screen recording on the Mac, but you need to use professional tools.
Here, we recommend using iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac, which has the following highlights that won't disappoint you:
Time Machine and iCloud are built-in macOS tools that can protect users' data. If you set up a sync or backup before the screen recording disappears, then finding it will be easy.
Many macOS users face the problem of the video that they just recorded disappearing, especially beginners. Although confusing, you can easily find screen recordings on Mac by knowing their default save locations and where they might be. In addition, iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac can still help you even if they are deleted or lost due to other circumstances. Finally, we advise you to follow these additional tips to manage them better.
First, double-check the default save location (Desktop) or any custom locations you may have set. Then, you can also open Spotlight and type in "screen recording" to search for it. If all these fail and you are sure it was saved on your hard disk, try iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac to retrieve it.
They are saved as files with the ".mov" extension, which is compatible with most video players. You can use QuickTime, iMovie, VLC, and other applications to play or edit them.
It may be because you clicked the "Stop" button in the menu bar in advance or the Mac computer doesn't have enough storage space.
It depends on the usage of your computer. It is almost impossible if you have saved a lot of new data after deletion. If you rarely use it, then it is still possible to get it back using iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac.
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