> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.openrecorder.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Export a screen recording as MOV from Open Recorder

> Open the export dialog to choose resolution and frame rate, render your recording locally as a MOV file, and save it anywhere on your Mac.

Open Recorder exports recordings as QuickTime MOV files. The export dialog lets you choose a resolution and frame rate, applies your current background styling, and renders everything locally — no files are uploaded anywhere. Once rendering is complete, a save panel appears so you can pick exactly where the file lands on disk.

## Open the export dialog

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the recording in the project library">
    Select the recording you want to export from the project library and open it in the editor.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Export Video">
    Click the **Export Video** button in the editor toolbar. The export dialog opens, showing a summary card with your current resolution, frame rate, and format settings.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the options">
    The dialog defaults to **1080p** resolution and **30 FPS**. Adjust these before clicking Export — you cannot change them once rendering starts.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Configure export settings

### Resolution

The resolution setting controls the short-edge pixel count of the output canvas. The aspect ratio comes from whichever preset is active in the editor (16:9 by default).

| Option                | Description                      |
| --------------------- | -------------------------------- |
| **480p**              | Scales the short edge to 480 px  |
| **720p**              | Scales the short edge to 720 px  |
| **1080p** *(default)* | Scales the short edge to 1080 px |
| **4K**                | Scales the short edge to 2160 px |

All output dimensions are rounded to even numbers for video codec compatibility.

### Frame rate

| Option                 | Description                   |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------- |
| **15 FPS**             | Smallest file size            |
| **24 FPS**             | Cinematic motion              |
| **30 FPS** *(default)* | Smaller file, smooth playback |
| **60 FPS**             | Best for fast cursor movement |

### Background

The background styling you set in the editor — gradient, solid color, wallpaper, or transparent — is baked into the export at render time. Padding, border radius, shadow, and inset settings all apply.

### Cursor overlay

If you enable the cursor overlay in the editor, the cursor track captured during recording is composited directly into the exported video as a stylized animated cursor.

<Note>
  The cursor overlay is only available when Accessibility permission was granted before the recording started. If you did not grant Accessibility access, no cursor telemetry was captured and the overlay option will not appear.
</Note>

## Render and save

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click Export Video">
    Click **Export Video** in the dialog. Rendering begins immediately and a progress bar tracks how far along the render is.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait for rendering to complete">
    When rendering finishes, the dialog moves to the **Save Export** phase and a save panel opens automatically. Choose a folder and filename, then click **Save**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="File is written to disk">
    Open Recorder copies the rendered file to the path you chose. The dialog shows **Export Complete** and a **Show in Finder** button when the save succeeds.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Canceled save panel

If you dismiss the save panel without saving, the dialog enters the **Export Ready** state. The rendered temporary file is kept on disk. Click **Save Again** to re-open the save panel and save without re-rendering. Click **Discard Export** to discard the rendered file and return to the options view.

## Cancel export

You can stop a render in progress by clicking **Cancel Export** in the progress UI. The temporary file is deleted and the dialog returns to the options view so you can adjust settings and try again.

## Export file location

The exported MOV file is saved to whichever folder you choose in the save panel. The original recording in `~/Movies/Open Recorder` is never modified by the export process.

<Warning>
  If trim regions on the timeline remove the entire recording, export will fail with the message "Timeline edits remove the entire recording." Remove or shorten your trim regions, then try again.
</Warning>