How to Stop Screen Recording on Mac

Stopping a screen recording on a Mac is easy once you know how to go about it.

Here are four quick ways to stop screen recording if you're using QuickTime Player - the default screen recording tool on macOS.

How to start a screen recording on Mac

1. Open QuickTime Player: You can find it via Launchpad (to open, click the Launchpad icon in the Dock (or use the Control Strip) or in your Applications folder.

2. Start a New Screen Recording: Go to the File menu and select New Screen Recording.

3. Set Up Your Recording: Adjust the recording settings as needed.

4. Begin Recording: Click the Record button.

How to stop screen recording on Mac

There are a few ways you can stop Quicktime screen recordings on a Mac:

1. Use keyboard shortcuts

If you want a fast way to stop screen recording, using keyboard shortcuts is your best bet. This method is efficient and reduces the risk of losing your recording. Here’s how to do it:

• Press Ctrl + Command + Esc on your keyboard. This will instantly stop the recording.

2. Use the stop button in Quicktime

The Stop button in Quicktime is another straightforward way to end a screen recording. This is particularly reliable for making sure your recording is saved correctly.

• When you're done, click the Stop button located in Quicktime’s menu bar at the top right of your screen. This ensures your recording is safely saved.

3. Force quit

Sometimes, QuickTime Player might freeze, making it difficult to stop your recording using the same old methods. In these cases, force quitting the app can help. To do this:

• Open the Apple menu by clicking the Apple logo at the top left of your screen. Select Force Quit from the dropdown menu.

• You can also choose QuickTime Player in the list of applications, and click Force Quit. This will close the app and stop the recording. Note that your recording might still be recoverable.
  
  

4. Use Activity Monitor

If you suspect QuickTime Player is causing your Mac to slow down, using Activity Monitor can help you end the recording and improve system performance.

1. Go to Finder, then Applications. You can either search for Activity Monitor in the search bar or click on a folder called Utilities.

2. Once you do, you can launch Activity Monitor.

3. In the list of processes, locate QuickTime Player. An easy way to find it is to search for it in the search bar.

4. Select QuickTime Player and click the Quit button, which is marked by an X in the top toolbar.

It will ask you again if you’d like to quit or force quit the application. This will close the application and stop the recording, though it might not save the recording reliably.

FAQs

What is the shortcut to stop screen recording on Mac keyboard?

The shortcut to stop screen recording on a Mac is Command + Control + Esc. If your Mac freezes, use this shortcut to force quit QuickTime Player. Select QuickTime Player from the list and press Force Quit to end the recording.

How do I quit a screenshot on my Mac?

To quit a screenshot on your Mac, press the Esc (Escape) key. If you see a thumbnail in the corner of your screen, you can click it to edit the screenshot.

How do I stop recording on my Mac Screenshot toolbar?

To stop recording on your Mac Screenshot toolbar, click the Stop Recording button in the menu bar.

Try Tella: An Easy Screen Recorder Alternative

Looking for an alternative to QuickTime Player? Tella is a great option for Mac, Windows, and Chrome. It's easy to use for screen recording:

1. Start Recording: Open Tella and click to start recording your screen.

2. Stop Recording: Click the stop button to end the session.

3. Save and Edit: Tella saves your video to your device's gallery. Open Tella again, select the video, and start editing.