How To: Record Your iOS 8 Device’s Screen on Your Mac Running OS X Yosemite

You may have noticed the new video previews of apps in the iOS App Store. Did you know you can easily make videos just like those by using just your iOS 8 device, a Lightning cable, and your Mac running OS X Yosemite? Here’s how.

Simply hook up your iOS device to your Mac via your Lightning sync/charge cable. Load the built-in Quicktime Player on your Mac, (running OS X Yosemite), and click “File” -> “New Movie Recording” as seen above. Then, simply select the iPhone as your video source, as shown below. Now, click the record button, and begin using the iOS device. Once you’ve recorded all you want to capture from your device, simply click the record button once more to stop the recording.

Now, save the video to your Mac’s hard drive, and then load it into your video editor of choice to create your finished video. Easy-Peasy.

While it’s true that OS X Yosemite hasn’t been released to the public yet, you’ll be ready for when Yosemite is released. The ability to record video from your iOS device will come in handy if you’re wanting to demonstrate an app or create a how-to video.

Apple’s Developer portal has some good information about recording your iOS app for video previews to be used in the App Store.

If you don’t upgrade to OS X Yosemite for some reason, or you need to record your iOS devices screen before Yosemite becomes available, there are other options available to record your iOS device to your Mac. A few of my favorites are X-Mirage, and Reflector.

Chris Hauk

Chris is a Senior Editor at Mactrast. He lives somewhere in the deep Southern part of America, and yes, he has to pump in both sunshine and the Internet.