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QuickTime Screen Recording Not Working? Fixes for Mac Permissions and Stops

Updated November 14, 2026 ยท By KIM YOOGEON, maker of Quibble

When QuickTime screen recording does not work, check the simple things in order: the permission for the app you record with, then quitting and reopening the app, then restarting the Mac. If it still fails, you can use the Screenshot toolbar or another recorder.

We make Quibble, a Mac screen recorder, so it appears at the end as one option. Apple's own tools are free and may be all you need. The macOS steps come from Apple's support pages, linked at the bottom.

Quick checklist

  1. Check Screen & System Audio Recording permission.
  2. Quit and reopen the app.
  3. Restart the Mac.
  4. Try Shift-Command-5 instead of QuickTime's menu, or the other way round.
  5. Check free space on your Mac, and the recording's save location.
  6. If one app's window is blank, that app may not allow recording.

Fix 1: Check the screen recording permission

Apps from other developers need your permission to record the screen. If you use QuickTime or the Screenshot toolbar and they are not in the list, move on to Fix 2.

  1. Open the Apple menu, then System Settings.
  2. Click Privacy & Security. Scroll down if you do not see it.
  3. Click Screen & System Audio Recording.
  4. Find the app in the list and turn it on. If it is not in the list, use the Add control below the list and select the app.

Apple notes this setting can allow an app to record both screen and audio, or just audio.

If you want your voice, also check the Microphone setting in Privacy & Security.

Fix 2: Quit and reopen the app

Apple's page does not say whether an app must be restarted after you change its permission. In practice, many apps only pick up the change when they are opened again. Quit the app completely, open it again and start a short test.

Quibble does the same: if you allow screen recording and Quibble still shows the permission as missing, its permission window shows a Relaunch button.

Fix 3: Restart the Mac

If the permission is on and the app has been reopened, restart the Mac and test again. This is common troubleshooting, not a step from Apple's recording pages.

Fix 4: Start the recording a different way

QuickTime Player and the Screenshot toolbar use the same recording tools.

  • In QuickTime Player, choose File > New Screen Recording. Apple says this opens the Screenshot toolbar.
  • Or press Shift-Command-5 directly.
  • To stop, click the Stop button in the menu bar or press Command-Control-Esc.

Click Options to check where the file will be saved. The default is the desktop. If you cannot find a recording, it may have been saved to a folder you picked before.

Fix 5: If the recording keeps stopping

Apple does not list a cause for recordings that stop on their own. These are common checks, not Apple-confirmed:

  • Make sure the Mac has free storage. A recording grows while it runs.
  • Keep the Mac awake and plugged in for long recordings.
  • Quit heavy apps, then record again for a short time to see if it still stops.
  • Look at the menu bar. If the Stop button is gone, the recording has already ended. Check the save location for the file.

Quibble shows a message when a recording stops with an error, in the form "Recording stopped" followed by the system's reason. If saving the video stops, it asks you to end the recording and start again. A message like this at least tells you what happened.

Fix 6: If only one window is blank

Some apps do not allow their windows to be recorded. Apple notes this for apps such as the Apple TV app. If one app shows blank in the recording while others work, this may be the reason.

Fix 7: Try a different recorder

If the built-in tools still do not work, a different recorder is a reasonable test. It needs its own Screen & System Audio Recording permission. Quibble is one option:

  1. Open Quibble. On first use it asks for three permissions: screen and system audio recording, microphone and speech recognition.
  2. If a permission is missing, Quibble opens a permission window instead of recording. Use the button next to each item.
  3. Press Option-Command-R to start recording and press it again to stop.
  4. The editor opens when you stop. Press Done Editing to get an MP4.

Quibble records the full screen, a window or an area. In window mode it records the area where the window was and does not follow it if you move it. Recording and editing are free. Saving the finished video needs a license ($7.99 per month, $79 per year or $129 once). It runs on Macs with Apple silicon and macOS 15 or later, so it does not run on Intel Macs.

For other ways to record, see how to record screen on Mac.

Frequently asked questions

Why is QuickTime screen recording not working on my Mac?

Check the simple things in order. If the app you use is listed in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording, make sure it is on. Then quit and reopen the app, and restart the Mac if it still fails.

Mac screen recording permission not working: what should I do?

Turn the app on in Screen & System Audio Recording, or add it with the Add control. Quit and reopen the app, then restart the Mac if needed. Apple's page does not say whether a restart is required, so try these steps in order.

Why does my Mac screen recording keep stopping?

Apple lists no single cause. Check free storage, keep the Mac awake and plugged in, and record a short test. If it keeps stopping, try the Screenshot toolbar or another recorder.

Why does my recording have no sound?

QuickTime and the Screenshot toolbar record the microphone you choose in Options. System audio is listed by Apple for macOS 27 or later. See Mac screen recording no sound.

Does Quibble need the same permission?

Yes. Quibble needs screen and system audio recording, microphone and speech recognition. If one is missing it opens a permission window.

Sources

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