Exporting · How-to

Export your video

Click Export at the top right of the editor, choose your settings, then click Export to file... and pick where to save. You can export MP4, MOV or GIF. CursorClip is free to record and edit. Exporting needs a license. Without one, Export opens the Activate Pro window instead of the settings.

Export a video

Want a shorter video? Cut it first with Trim and cut your recording.

  1. 1

    Click Export

    It's the last button at the top right of the editor. It exports the layout format shown in the menu just to its left, with your trims and cuts.

  2. 2

    Keep Video selected, then pick MP4 or MOV

    The export window opens on Video. MP4 is the default.

  3. 3

    Pick a size

    Original is the default and follows your recording's size. 720p, 1080p and 4K are greyed out when your recording is shorter than they are.

  4. 4

    Check Frame Rate and Quality

    CursorClip picks a starting frame rate from your recording. Higher frame rates look smoother but make bigger files. Drag Quality toward Smaller file or Sharper image.

  5. 5

    Check Include audio

    It's on by default and uses the audio mix you set in the editor. Turn it off for a silent video. The summary below it shows a rough file size. That estimate counts the whole recording, so a trimmed video comes out smaller.

  6. 6

    Click Export to file...

    Pick a folder and a file name, then click Save.

  7. 7

    Wait for Export Complete

    A progress sheet shows the percent done and the time left. When it finishes, click Show in Finder or Share.

Advanced settings

Open Advanced at the bottom of the video settings.

  • Codec. H.264 is the default and plays in the most apps. HEVC makes smaller files at the same Quality setting. ProRes is marked coming soon, so don't pick it. If you do, the codec options lock. Click Cancel, then Export, to get them back.
  • Color. Leave it on Automatic (Recommended). It picks the best match for your recording. The other choices are Standard Color (Rec. 709) and Wide Color (Display P3).
  • Audio Bitrate. 128, 192 or 256 kbps. The default is 192. It only shows when Include audio is on and the recording has sound.

Why 4K is greyed out

Each size needs a recording at least that tall. 4K needs 2160 pixels, 1080p needs 1080 and 720p needs 720. If you cropped, the cropped height counts.

Most recordings are under 2160 pixels tall, so 4K stays off. Scaling a smaller recording up to 4K would add file size, not detail. Choose Original instead. It follows your recording's size, so nothing gets scaled up.

Export a GIF

GIF works for recordings of 10 minutes or less. The limit counts the whole recording, even after trimming, so export longer ones as video. GIFs have no sound.

  1. 1

    Click Export, then GIF

    The Video and GIF switch is at the top of the export window.

  2. 2

    Pick an Output Size

    Small (640px), Medium (800px) or Large (Original). Small is the default. Large is capped at 1080 pixels wide.

  3. 3

    Pick a Frame Rate

    10, 12 or 15 fps. 12 is the default. Loop animation is on by default, so the GIF keeps repeating.

  4. 4

    Click Export to file...

    Then choose where to save the .gif.

Exporting without a license

Recording and editing are free. You need a license to export, and you can't see the export settings until you activate one.

  1. 1

    Click Export

    Without a license the button shows a lock. Clicking it opens the Activate Pro window instead of the export settings.

  2. 2

    Buy a license if you don't have one

    Click Buy License at cursorclip.com in that window. Your license code is emailed to you after purchase.

  3. 3

    Enter your code

    Paste it into License Code and click Continue. If you see Email Verification Required, enter your email and click Send Code. Then type the 6-digit code from that email. CursorClip checks it once all six digits are in, or you can click Verify.

  4. 4

    Click Continue, then Export again

    When you see Activation Successful!, click Continue. The window closes and your edits are still there. The export doesn't start on its own, so click Export to open the settings.

Stuck on a step? See Activating your CursorClip license.

If it doesn't work

  • Export doesn't respond. Finish or cancel your crop, fixed-area selection or layout preview first. Export stays off until you do.
  • Export still shows a lock after you bought a license. The license isn't active on this Mac yet. Follow the activation guide.
  • The GIF options are greyed out. You'll see Recording too long for GIF. The recording is longer than 10 minutes, and trimming doesn't change that. Export it as a video.
  • Export Failed. Read the message. It may ask you to free disk space or to save outside the CursorClip project. Otherwise click Report This Issue… so we get the diagnostics.
  • The progress bar stops moving. Click Cancel Export or press Esc, then try again. If it stalls again, open ⋯ More Options and choose Report an Issue….
  • Audio Couldn't Be Prepared for Export. Click Export Video Only for a silent copy, or Cancel and try again. Your original recording doesn't change.

Tips

  • Return clicks Export to file... and Esc clicks Cancel.
  • For a smaller file, pick 1080p or 720p, drag Quality toward Smaller file, lower the frame rate, or choose HEVC under Advanced.
  • Turn on Remember these settings, then export. Next time, Export opens with the same format, size, quality and audio choices.
  • If the keyboard overlay is set to All Keys, CursorClip warns you before saving, because the export can show what you typed. Click Continue to go ahead.
  • Your zooms are part of the export. To export without them, choose Disable All Zooms in ⋯ More Options. See How automatic zooms work.