How to record a GIF on Mac
GIFs travel better than videos: they play inline in chats, issues and docs. But the built-in macOS recorder (⇧⌘5) only outputs MOV video, so a GIF needs an extra conversion step.
Limits of the built-in recorder
- ⇧⌘5 saves .mov; converting to GIF needs ffmpeg or a web tool, with little control over size and frame rate.
- System audio is not captured without a virtual audio device.
- No keystroke display or click highlighting, so viewers cannot see which shortcuts you pressed.
Recording a GIF with Shotora
- Choose “Record GIF / Video” from the menu bar, or press the recording shortcut.
- Select the region to record (part of a window keeps the GIF small).
- In the config bar pick GIF, choose frame rate and quality, and toggle System audio, Mic, Cursor, Click ripple and Keys as needed.
- Click “Start recording”. A timer HUD appears at the top; stop when done and the file is saved and added to History.
Keeping GIFs small: size is roughly area × frame rate × duration. For demos, record part of a window at 10–15 fps for under 10 seconds; switch to MP4 when you need quality.
When to choose MP4 instead
Recordings longer than 30 seconds, lots of motion (scrolling, video playback) or anything with audio are better as MP4 — much smaller and better looking. In Shotora it is a single switch on the config bar.
FAQ
Is GIF recording free?
Recording is a Shotora Pro feature with a 14-day full trial. Capture and annotation are free forever.
Can it record system audio?
Yes — enable “System audio” in the config bar. No virtual audio device is required.
My GIF is too large. What can I do?
Record a smaller region, lower the frame rate, keep it short, or switch to MP4, which is typically a tenth of the size at the same quality.
Shotora · Native screenshot tool for macOS
Capture & annotate free forever · Pro $3.99/yr or $9.99 lifetime · macOS 14+
Capture & annotate free forever · Pro $3.99/yr or $9.99 lifetime · macOS 14+