Mac screen recording permissions, explained

Which permission controls what?

macOS separates these permissions. Grant only the access the recorder needs, and test the exact source you intend to capture.

Sources: Apple: Control screen and system audio recording access · Apple: Control access to the microphone on Mac · Apple: Control access to the camera on Mac

Allow a trusted screen recorder

Apple’s permission guide covers both screen and system audio controls. An allowed app can still fail to capture protected material, so start with an ordinary window.

1. Open Apple menu → System Settings → Privacy & Security.
2. Choose Screen & System Audio Recording.
3. Find the app and allow screen capture. The same area may offer system-audio-only access.
4. If macOS asks you to quit and reopen the app, do so before testing again.
5. Record a few seconds of an ordinary Finder window and play the result.

Sources: Apple: Control screen and system audio recording access

Why is the app missing from the list?

The list usually contains apps that have asked for access. If your recorder is not present, start a capture attempt in that app and respond to the macOS prompt. If no prompt appears, check that you launched the expected app version and consult that app’s own setup instructions.

• Do not disable Gatekeeper or other system-wide protections to solve a recording permission problem.
• Do not grant screen access to an unknown download just to make a test pass.
• On a managed work or school Mac, an administrator may control some privacy settings.

If the recording is black

A black rectangle in one protected app is not proof that every permission is broken. The Finder test helps separate source restrictions from system-wide capture failure.

1. Try recording a normal Finder window or the Desktop.
2. If that works, test the original source app. Some content is protected or the app may restrict capture.
3. If nothing records, confirm permission and restart the recorder when macOS asks.
4. Check for app-specific capture source settings, such as display versus window, before another test.

If the video has no sound

A working screen picture does not mean the microphone or system audio was captured. Select the microphone in your recorder, verify microphone permission, and record a short spoken test. For app sound, confirm that your recorder actually supports system audio and has the corresponding access.