Quick Answer
To see which apps can record your Mac’s screen:
- Open the Apple menu and select System Settings.
- Click Privacy & Security in the sidebar.
- Select Screen & System Audio Recording.
- Review the list of apps and turn access on or off for each one.
On some older versions of macOS, the setting is called Screen Recording and appears under System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy.
What Screen Recording Permission Means
Screen recording permission lets an app capture what appears on your Mac’s display. Depending on the app, that may include windows, menus, desktop activity, video playback, and other visible content.
An app may need this permission for features such as:
- Recording a presentation or tutorial
- Sharing your screen during a video call
- Capturing gameplay
- Taking screenshots or making screen recordings
- Providing remote technical support
- Recording system audio along with the screen
Screen recording access is separate from camera and microphone access. An app can be allowed to record your screen without being allowed to use your camera or microphone, and the reverse can also be true.
If you are checking permissions for a video-conferencing or recording app, you may also want to check which apps can access your camera and microphone on your Mac.
Check Screen Recording Access in System Settings
This is the standard method on current macOS versions.
- Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- Select System Settings.
- Click Privacy & Security in the sidebar.
- Scroll down and select Screen & System Audio Recording.
- Review the list of apps.
Each listed app has a switch beside it:
- A switch that is on means the app is allowed to record the screen.
- A switch that is off means the app is not currently allowed to record the screen.
- An app may not appear until it has requested screen-recording permission.
If an app is listed but its switch is off, click the switch to allow access. macOS may ask you to authenticate with your Mac password, Touch ID, or another administrator credential.
Restart the app when macOS requests it
After you grant or remove screen-recording access, macOS may ask you to quit and reopen the app. This is necessary because many apps check privacy permissions only when they start.
Before selecting a restart option, save any unsaved work in that app. If you choose to handle it manually:
- Save your work.
- Quit the app normally.
- Open the app again from the Dock, Applications folder, or Spotlight.
If the app continues to behave as though permission has not changed, quit it completely and reopen it. Clicking the red close button may close a window without quitting the app.
Check Screen Recording Access in System Preferences
Older macOS releases use System Preferences instead of System Settings. The wording may also be slightly different.
- Open the Apple menu.
- Select System Preferences.
- Click Security & Privacy.
- Select the Privacy tab.
- Choose Screen Recording from the left-hand list.
- Review the apps on the right.
To change a setting:
- Click the lock icon if the settings are locked.
- Authenticate when prompted.
- Select or clear the checkbox beside an app.
- Quit and reopen the app if macOS asks you to do so.
- Click the lock again when you are finished if you want to prevent further changes.
On some older systems, the setting may be labeled Screen Recording rather than Screen & System Audio Recording. The purpose is the same: it controls which apps can capture the contents of your display.
How to Tell Whether an App Has Requested Permission
The privacy list is not necessarily a complete list of every app installed on your Mac. In many cases, an app appears only after it tries to use a protected feature.
If an app is missing:
- Open the app.
- Start the feature that needs screen recording, such as screen sharing or capture.
- Look for a macOS permission prompt.
- Choose the option that allows screen recording.
- Return to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording and confirm the app is listed.
If no prompt appears, check the app’s own settings for a screen-sharing, recording, or permissions option. Some apps do not request access until you begin a call, start a recording, or select a specific display.
You should grant permission only to apps you recognize and trust. Screen-recording access can expose sensitive information visible on your display, including messages, documents, account details, and private browsing activity.
Turn Screen Recording Access On or Off
You can change permission for an individual app at any time.
To allow an app
- Open System Settings.
- Select Privacy & Security.
- Click Screen & System Audio Recording.
- Turn on the switch beside the app.
- Authenticate if prompted.
- Quit and reopen the app if required.
To block an app
- Open System Settings.
- Select Privacy & Security.
- Choose Screen & System Audio Recording.
- Turn off the switch beside the app.
- Confirm any prompt that appears.
Blocking access does not uninstall the app or delete its recordings. It prevents the app from using the protected screen-recording feature until you allow access again.
If the app is currently sharing or recording your screen, turning off access may interrupt that activity. Warn anyone in the call before changing the setting, and save any work that could be affected.
Check Screen Recording Permission for Apple Apps and Utilities
Some Apple features and utilities may also need screen-recording access. Examples can include tools used for screen sharing, remote support, capture, or recording.
Do not assume that an Apple-supplied app automatically has access. Check the privacy list and review each entry individually. If a built-in feature is not working, confirm that the related app or process is allowed and then restart the feature.
Some entries may have names that are not immediately familiar. If you do not recognize an item:
- Look at the app’s name in the permission list.
- Check the Applications folder for a matching app.
- Consider which recently installed app or utility might have requested access.
- Search the app’s documentation or support settings.
- Turn off access if you do not need the app to record your screen.
Avoid deleting an unfamiliar app solely because it appears in this list. First identify what installed it and whether you rely on its features.
Use Control Center to See Whether Screen Recording Is Active
The privacy settings show which apps are allowed to record your screen. Control Center can help you see whether screen recording or screen sharing is currently active.
- Click Control Center in the menu bar.
- Look for a screen-recording or screen-sharing indicator.
- Review the available controls and stop sharing or recording if necessary.
The exact indicator and available controls can vary by macOS version and by the app being used. Control Center does not replace the privacy settings: it shows current activity, while Screen & System Audio Recording shows permission.
If you see unexpected screen-sharing activity, stop it through the relevant app or Control Center, then review the permission list and quit apps you do not recognize.
Troubleshooting Screen Recording Permissions
The app is not listed
An app may not appear until it requests permission. Open the app and start the screen-sharing or recording feature. If it still does not appear:
- Quit the app.
- Reopen it.
- Try the feature again.
- Check Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording.
- Install available updates for the app if its developer provides them.
Some browser-based services use a browser or helper app to handle screen sharing. In that case, the browser or helper—not necessarily the website’s name—may appear in the permission list.
The app is listed, but screen sharing does not work
Confirm that the switch beside the correct app is on. Then quit and reopen the app.
Also check whether the service requires you to select a particular window or display after permission is granted. Some apps use their own screen-sharing dialog, and macOS permission alone does not start sharing automatically.
If the problem affects the microphone or camera as well, those permissions must be checked separately. For related audio problems, see how to fix a microphone that is not working on a Mac.
Permission is enabled, but the app keeps asking again
Repeated prompts can occur when an app is outdated, damaged, or using a different helper component than the one you approved.
Try these steps:
- Quit the app completely.
- Reopen System Settings and verify the permission.
- Restart your Mac.
- Update the app.
- If the problem continues, remove the app and install a fresh copy from the developer’s official source.
Removing an app can delete local app data depending on how that app stores its files. Back up or export important data before uninstalling it.
You cannot change the setting
The privacy pane may be locked, or your Mac may be managed by an organization. Click the lock or switch and authenticate if macOS requests it.
If the setting remains unavailable, contact the person or organization that manages the Mac. Work, school, and shared Macs may use administrative controls that prevent users from changing privacy permissions.
The screen appears black or certain content is missing
Permission to record the screen does not guarantee that every type of content can be captured. Some apps protect specific windows or video content, and some protected media may appear black in a recording.
Try selecting a different window or display in the recording app. If only one app’s content is missing, the limitation may come from that app rather than from macOS screen-recording permission.
Resetting permissions as a last resort
If an app is stuck in a permission loop, you may be able to reset its privacy permission through the app’s settings, if the app provides that option. You can also remove and reinstall the app, but do this only after protecting important data.
Do not reset broad privacy permissions casually. Resetting permissions can cause multiple apps to ask for access again and may interrupt camera, microphone, screen-sharing, or other features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see a history of when an app recorded my screen?
The Screen Recording settings show which apps are allowed to record your screen, not a complete history of every recording session. To check current activity, use the relevant app and Control Center.
Does screen-recording permission include microphone access?
No. Screen recording and microphone access are separate permissions. An app may need both to record your screen with your voice or other audio.
Does screen recording let an app control my Mac?
Not by itself. Screen-recording permission allows an app to view or capture screen content. Separate permissions, such as Accessibility or other system controls, may be required for an app to interact with your Mac.
Can I remove an app from the screen-recording list?
The privacy pane is primarily used to turn access on or off. An app may remain listed after you uninstall it or stop using it. An old entry does not necessarily mean the app is still running or recording.
Why does an app need screen recording for screen sharing?
Screen sharing requires the app to capture the display or a selected window and transmit that image to other participants. macOS protects this capability because the captured content may contain private information.
Final Thoughts
To see which apps can record your screen, open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording. Review the list regularly, allow access only to apps you trust, and reopen an app after changing its permission. If screen sharing still fails, check the app’s own settings and review camera and microphone permissions separately.