> ## 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.

# Troubleshoot macOS permissions for Open Recorder app

> Diagnose and fix Screen Recording and Accessibility permission issues that prevent Open Recorder from capturing your screen or tracking cursor movement.

If Open Recorder can't capture your screen or track cursor movement, a macOS permission is likely missing or was denied. macOS enforces Screen Recording and Accessibility permissions independently, and either one being absent will silently break different parts of the app. This page covers how to diagnose and fix the most common permission issues.

## Screen Recording not working

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="The source list is empty or shows no displays or windows">
    Screen Recording permission has not been granted. Open Recorder cannot enumerate capture sources without it.

    To fix this:

    1. Open **Settings** in Open Recorder and click **Screen Recording** under Permissions.
    2. In System Settings, enable **Open Recorder**.
    3. Quit and relaunch Open Recorder — macOS requires an app restart after Screen Recording is granted.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I granted permission but recording still fails">
    macOS requires a full restart of the app after you grant Screen Recording permission. The permission takes effect only after Open Recorder has been quit and relaunched.

    Quit Open Recorder completely (not just the window — use **⌘ Q** or **Quit Open Recorder** from the menu bar icon), then relaunch it.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The permission prompt never appeared">
    If you dismissed the system prompt when it first appeared, macOS will not show it again automatically. The permission state will remain denied until you enable it manually.

    Go to **System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording** and add Open Recorder to the allowed list.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Screen Recording was granted but then stopped working after an update">
    macOS sometimes revokes Screen Recording access after a major system update or when the app binary changes (for example, after installing an update to Open Recorder). See [After a system update](#after-a-system-update) below for steps.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Accessibility permission issues

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="The cursor overlay is unavailable or blank in the export">
    Cursor overlay in exports depends on cursor telemetry data that is collected during recording using the Accessibility API. If Accessibility permission was not granted when you recorded, no telemetry was captured and the cursor overlay cannot be rendered.

    To fix future recordings:

    1. Open **Settings** and click **Accessibility** under Permissions.
    2. Enable **Open Recorder** in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility.
    3. Re-record. The new recording will include cursor telemetry, and the cursor overlay option will be available in the export dialog.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Auto-zoom doesn't generate any regions after recording">
    Auto-zoom analyzes cursor telemetry to determine where zoom regions should be placed. If Accessibility permission was not active when you recorded, the telemetry file was not written and there is no data to analyze.

    Grant Accessibility permission as described above, then record again. Existing recordings that lack telemetry data cannot have zoom regions generated retroactively.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The Accessibility prompt didn't appear on first launch">
    Unlike Screen Recording, the Accessibility prompt may not appear automatically. If you do not see a prompt:

    1. Open **System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility**.
    2. Click the `+` button and add Open Recorder manually.

    Alternatively, click **Accessibility** in Settings > Permissions to jump directly to the correct pane.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Reviewing permissions

Settings > Permissions > **Review Permissions** re-opens the onboarding screen. The onboarding screen polls permission state every second and shows a live indicator for each permission:

* **Screen Recording Permission** — required to start any recording or see the source list.
* **Accessibility Permission** — required to capture cursor movement and detect shortcut keystrokes during recording.

Each permission row has a button that opens the relevant macOS settings pane directly. Once both permissions are granted, the **Continue** button becomes active and you can dismiss the screen.

## After a system update

macOS sometimes revokes app permissions after a major OS update or after the app binary is replaced by an update. If recording stops working after a system or app update, do the following:

1. Open **System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording** and confirm Open Recorder is still listed and enabled. Remove and re-add it if needed.
2. Open **System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility** and do the same.
3. Quit and relaunch Open Recorder.

<Warning>
  After re-granting Screen Recording, you must quit and relaunch Open Recorder before it can capture your screen again. Simply closing and reopening the window is not sufficient.
</Warning>