Guide · Recording

How to record your Mac screen with a camera bubble

The classic tutorial setup: your screen plus a small video of you talking in the corner.

A screen recording that shows your face is far more engaging than one that doesn’t. Whether you’re making a tutorial, a demo, or a short Loom-style walkthrough, the trick is a “camera bubble” — your webcam floating in the corner of the shot.

What you need

macOS includes QuickTime for plain screen recording, but it records only the screen — no camera overlay, no mic mixing. To get your face in the frame you want a tool that layers the camera on top of the capture.

Recording with a camera bubble in iShot

  • Record your screen and mic at the same time.
  • Float your webcam in a round bubble you can drag and resize.
  • Turn the bubble off in one click if you change your mind.
  • Trim the ends before you save.

You can also mute system notifications while recording, so a stray alert doesn’t land in your video, and drop the capture on a clean custom background to keep it looking sharp.

Tips for a clean result

  • Close apps that might send notifications mid-recording.
  • Keep the camera bubble small — it’s supporting cast, not the star.
  • Record once, trim twice, and you’re done.

About to share a screenshot instead? See how to annotate a screenshot on Mac so it reads clearly.