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Open Recorder registers global capture shortcuts that work from any application while the app is running. It also provides standard in-app shortcuts for the editor and project library.

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Global capture shortcuts

These shortcuts trigger captures without switching to the Open Recorder window. Capture-target shortcuts do not stop an existing recording. Use the start/stop shortcut, the HUD’s Stop button, or the menu-bar icon to finish it. If the current display or window cannot be resolved, Open Recorder opens the appropriate source chooser.

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After taking a screenshot

Choose Settings → General → Capture → After taking a screenshot:
  • Open editor preserves the editing workflow.
  • Copy to clipboard copies the raw capture immediately so you can paste it without entering the editor.
  • Save to screenshots folder saves without opening the editor or changing the clipboard.
Screenshots are saved locally in every mode. A brief HUD message confirms Copy or Save. Choose Edit Last Screenshot from the menu bar or HUD context menu to edit the most recent quick capture. Enable Adjust selected area before capture to move the selection, drag its resize handles, and press Return to confirm. Arrow keys move by one pixel; Shift moves by ten. Leave it off to retain quick capture on release.

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Pre-recording HUD

Display, window, and area recording shortcuts open the capture HUD in pre-recording mode so you can review inputs before capture begins. From the HUD you can:
  • Change the capture source (display, window, or area).
  • Toggle system audio on or off.
  • Toggle the microphone on or off and pick a microphone device.
  • Toggle the camera on or off for a facecam track.
Click Record in the HUD, or press ⌥ ⇧ R, to start the recording with the options you selected. Press Esc during the recording countdown to cancel before capture begins. The HUD returns to its ready state without starting a recording. Esc also cancels an in-progress area selection.

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Customizing global shortcuts

Change any global shortcut in Settings on the Shortcuts tab, under Global Shortcuts. Open Settings from the menu bar dropdown with Settings… or press ⌘ , while an Open Recorder window is focused. To record a new shortcut:
  1. Click the shortcut field next to an action. The field shows Press shortcut… and previews modifiers as you hold them.
  2. Press the key combination you want. Open Recorder saves it as soon as you release the keys.
  3. Press Esc to cancel recording and keep the current shortcut.
You can record any key combination instead of picking from presets. Open Recorder validates the combination and shows an error under the field if it rejects it:
  • The combination must include ⌘, ⌃, or ⌥. Function keys (F1–F20) can be used on their own.
  • The combination cannot already be assigned to another Open Recorder action.
  • The combination cannot match an Open Recorder menu command, such as ⌘ N.
  • The combination cannot be reserved by macOS or registered by another application.
Each shortcut shows Active, Off, or an Unavailable warning based on registration. If another app owns a key, quit that app and choose Retry unavailable shortcuts, or assign a different combination. Shortcut handling pauses while you record a replacement key. The menu bar and HUD show your configured shortcut hints. Restore Default Shortcuts resets all seven actions to the defaults listed above. Nightly builds keep global shortcuts disabled by default; enable them here when needed.

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In-app shortcuts

These shortcuts work while an Open Recorder window is focused. The menu bar dropdown also includes a Settings… item that opens the Settings window. Settings is organized into three tabs: General for recording and folder options, Shortcuts for the global capture shortcuts, and System for macOS permissions. While a recording is active, the menu bar item also exposes Stop Recording with ⌘ R.

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Screenshot editor

These shortcuts work while the screenshot editor is focused. Each action is also available as a toolbar button in the editor’s Export menu. These shortcuts are suppressed while you are typing in a text field, so they don’t interrupt annotation entry.