How to Record Computer Audio With Audacity (Windows & Mac)

Audacity records from a microphone by default, so pressing Record to capture what is playing on your computer usually produces silence or unwanted mic noise instead of system audio. The fix is straightforward, but it differs by operating system. This guide covers the correct method for both: Windows WASAPI Loopback (no extra software required) and BlackHole on Mac, so you can capture streaming audio, game audio, or any desktop sound cleanly.

How to Record Computer Audio With Audacity (Windows & Mac)

What “Recording Computer Audio” Means in Audacity

When Audacity records, it pulls audio from a designated input device, which defaults to your microphone. System audio flows to an output device for playback but is not automatically available as a recording input. That separation is why pressing Record captures silence rather than the video or music playing on your computer.

What “Recording Computer Audio” Means in Audacity

Loopback recording solves this by routing your output audio back as a recordable input. On Windows, this routing is built directly into Audacity’s Windows WASAPI audio host with no additional software. On Mac, macOS does not expose a native loopback interface, so you must install a virtual audio driver called BlackHole to bridge your system output to Audacity’s input.

How to Record Computer Audio on Windows (WASAPI Loopback)

Windows users have the most direct path. The Windows WASAPI audio host is already available inside Audacity and includes a loopback mode for every playback device on your system. No downloads or driver installs are needed, just a two-step settings change before you hit Record.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Open Audacity and click Audio Setup in the top toolbar. Click Host, then select Windows WASAPI.

Click Audio Setup, then select Recording Device. Choose Stereo Mix (Realtek(R) Audio) from the list.

Click Audio Setup, then select Recording Channels and choose 2 (Stereo) Recording Channels.

Press Record in Audacity, then play the audio you want to capture on your computer.

Press Stop when finished, then edit or export your recording as needed.

Note: If you see multiple loopback entries, choose the one matching whichever output device your audio is currently routed through. You can confirm this in Windows Sound settings under the Playback tab.

Recommended Settings for Best Quality

Sample rate: 44,100 Hz for music or general content; 48,000 Hz if recording audio from video files or streams
Bit depth: 32-bit float in Audacity (the default project setting); convert to 16-bit or 24-bit only at export
System volume: Hold it steady throughout the session; sudden spikes cause clipping that cannot be cleanly recovered in editing
Level target: Watch Audacity’s VU meter and aim for peaks between -6 dB and -3 dB, not at 0 dB

How to Record Computer Audio on Mac

Mac recordings require one extra step before you open Audacity. Because macOS does not provide a native loopback interface, you need a virtual audio driver to route your system output into Audacity as an input. BlackHole by Existential Audio is the current free, actively maintained option. Soundflower, which many older guides still reference, is deprecated and incompatible with Apple Silicon and recent macOS versions.

The overall workflow is: install BlackHole, create a Multi-Output Device in Audio MIDI Setup, then select BlackHole as the Audacity input.

Step 1 — Install BlackHole

Go to Existential Audio’s official site (existential.audio) or their GitHub repository.
Download the BlackHole 2ch installer. The two-channel version handles stereo recording and is sufficient for most users.
Run the installer and follow the prompts. A full system restart is not required.

Step 2 — Configure Audio MIDI Setup on Mac

This step is critical. Without a Multi-Output Device, BlackHole will receive audio but you will hear nothing through your speakers or headphones during recording.

Open Audio MIDI Setup (Applications folder → Utilities → Audio MIDI Setup).
Click the + button in the bottom-left corner and select Create Multi-Output Device.
In the right panel, check both BlackHole 2ch and your regular output device (Built-in Output, AirPods, or your headphones).
Check the Master checkbox next to your regular output device so that device controls playback volume.
Open System Settings → Sound → Output and set your output to the Multi-Output Device you just created.

Your Mac will now send audio simultaneously to your speakers or headphones and to BlackHole, so you can hear what is playing while Audacity captures it.

Step 3 — Record in Audacity

Open Audacity.
Set the Audio Host dropdown to Core Audio.
Set the Input Device dropdown to BlackHole 2ch.
Set channels to 2 (Stereo).
Press Record in Audacity, then play the audio you want to capture.
Press Stop when done, then edit or export as needed.

Note: When you finish your recording session, switch your system output back to your regular speakers or headphones in System Settings → Sound. Keeping the Multi-Output Device as the default output can cause volume control quirks in some apps.

Windows Fallback — Stereo Mix

If the loopback option does not appear after switching to Windows WASAPI, your audio driver may not support it. Stereo Mix is an older Windows feature that accomplishes the same goal and is worth checking.

Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and select Sounds.

Go to the Recording tab.
Right-click an empty area in the device list and check Show Disabled Devices.

If Stereo Mix appears, right-click it and select Enable.

In Audacity, click Audio Setup in the top toolbar. Select Host → Windows WASAPI,

then go to Recording Device and choose Stereo Mix (Realtek(R) Audio) as the input device.

Note: Not all audio drivers include Stereo Mix, particularly on newer hardware with Realtek or Conexant drivers. WASAPI Loopback is more reliable and should always be tried first. If neither option works, check your audio driver manufacturer’s site for an updated driver.

Troubleshooting — Common Problems and Fixes

If you followed the steps and the recording is still silent or incorrect, one of these issues is almost always the cause.

Problem	Likely Cause	Fix
Recording is completely silent	Input device is still set to the microphone, not the loopback or BlackHole	Recheck Audio Host and Input Device settings in Audacity
No “(loopback)” option in Windows	Audio Host is still set to MME or DirectSound	Switch Audio Host to Windows WASAPI first, then recheck the Input Device dropdown
BlackHole not appearing in Audacity (Mac)	Audacity was open before BlackHole was installed	Quit and restart Audacity; verify BlackHole appears as a device in Audio MIDI Setup
Audio plays normally but is not being recorded (Mac)	Multi-Output Device is not set as the system output	Go to System Settings → Sound → Output and set Multi-Output Device as the active output
Distorted or clipping audio	System volume is too high during recording	Lower system volume to around 75 to 80 percent before starting the recording

Tips for a Clean Recording

A few habits at the capture stage prevent problems that are difficult to fix in editing later.

Tips for a Clean Recording

Close unrelated browser tabs, apps, or media players to prevent unwanted sounds from bleeding into the session.
Enable Do Not Disturb (Windows Focus Assist or macOS Focus mode) before pressing Record to block notification pings and alert sounds.
Watch Audacity’s VU meter during recording and keep peaks between -6 dB and -3 dB, not at 0 dB.
Record a short 10 to 15 second test clip before committing to a full session to confirm the input is set correctly.
Match Audacity’s project sample rate to the source audio (48 kHz for video content, 44,100 Hz for music) to avoid resampling artifacts in the exported file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record computer audio and my microphone at the same time in Audacity?

Yes, but it requires an extra step. On Windows, use Audacity’s overdub feature to record a second track simultaneously, selecting your microphone as a separate input. On Mac, create an Aggregate Device in Audio MIDI Setup that combines BlackHole 2ch and your microphone, then select that aggregate device as Audacity’s input to capture both signals together.

Why is there no loopback option in Audacity on Windows?

The loopback input only appears when the Audio Host is set to Windows WASAPI. It does not exist under MME or DirectSound. Switch the Audio Host first, then click the Input Device dropdown again. Loopback-capable devices will appear in the list with “(loopback)” added to their names.

Is Soundflower still a good option for Mac?

No. Soundflower is no longer actively maintained and has documented compatibility issues with Apple Silicon Macs and macOS Ventura and later. BlackHole is the correct current replacement. It is free, open-source, and regularly updated to support new macOS versions and hardware.

Does recording computer audio with Audacity affect system performance?

Impact is minimal on modern hardware. For very long sessions, large Audacity project files can accumulate and consume significant disk space. Monitor available storage for recordings over an hour, and consider exporting completed sections and clearing timeline segments periodically to keep the project manageable.

Can I use this method to record audio from a streaming service?

Technically yes, Audacity captures any audio routed through your system. However, recording DRM-protected content from streaming platforms may violate the platform’s terms of service or applicable copyright law. Confirm you have the appropriate rights or authorization before recording or distributing any streamed material.

Next Steps

Recording computer audio in Audacity comes down to two paths: Windows users change the Audio Host to Windows WASAPI and select the loopback input; Mac users install BlackHole, configure a Multi-Output Device, and point Audacity to BlackHole 2ch. Once you have a clean capture, the next steps are trimming silence, applying noise reduction, and exporting in your target format. See the guides on Audacity noise removal and exporting audio to MP3 or WAV to take your recording from raw capture to a finished file.