How to record screen with Quick Time in less than 4k resolution?

Howdy,

QuickTime Player records your screen at your current screen resolution so if you want to record at a lower resolution change to a lower screen resolution.

Note if you have a Retina Display (like I do) System Preferences resolutions are 2x the selected resolution so a 1600x900 selection will record at 3200x1800. If you want a one to one resolution setting you will need to use a program like EasyRes which allows you to select 2x resolutions (better looking like System Prefs) or 1x resolutions.

ivan

Hello Andrei Mihnea!

Looks like you are trying to lower the quality of screen recordings on your Mac when using QuickTime Player. We are happy to help address this!

As you've discovered, to change the quality of the screen recording you will want to start the recording, then once it has completed go to File > Export as > select the quality you prefer. That will export the recording into the preferred quality and you are good to go! Record your screen in QuickTime Player on Mac

There is no way to set a default option for screen recordings to record in a low resolution automatically, however. Apple does invite users to share thoughts and suggestions on this and much more, via the link here: Product Feedback - Apple

Take care.

Update.

I thought QuickTime recordings of System Preference resolution choices shouldn't be able to record at twice the selection above the maximum Retina resolution, but the MacBook Pro seems to do just that. My Retina iMac does not.

I tested various choices with my Macs

iMac Mid 2015 27" (Retina 5120 x 2880)  16:9 aspect ratio  0.5625

System Preference Selections QuickTime Records screen at

3200 x 1800 Most Space 4096 x 2304 1.28x

2880 x 1620 More Space 4096 x 2304 1.42x

2560 x 1440 Default 4096 x 2304 1.60x

2048 x 1152 Larger Text 4096 x 2304 2x

1600 x 900 Largest Text 3200 x 1800 2x

MacBook Pro 16" 2019 (Retina, 3072 x 1920)  16:10 aspect ratio  0.625

System Preference Selections QuickTime Records screen at

2048 x 1280 More Space 3686 x 2304 1.8x above screen resolution

1792 x 1120 Default 3584 x 2240 2x above screen resolution

1536 x 960 Larger Text 3072 x 1920 2x

1344 x 840 Much Larger 2688 x 1680 2x

1152 x 720 Largest Text 2304 x 1440 2x

iMac Late 2013 27" (2560 x 1440)  16:9 aspect ratio  0.5625

Recorded everything at selected resolution (non Retina display)

System Preference Selections QuickTime Records screen at

2560 x 1440 Default 2560 x 1440 1x

2048 x 1152 2048 x 1152 1x

1600 x 900 1600 x 900 1x

1280 x 720 1280 x 720 1x

examples

iMac 2015 27" Retina QuickTime recording

MacBook Pro 16" Retina QuickTime recording

So test on your system.

ivan