How to Stop Screen Record on Mac

To record your screen on your Mac, the Screenshot toolbar is available in macOS Mojave or later. Besides, the Quicktime player allows you to record. If you want to check how to turn off screen recording on Mac, here we will show you how to start and stop screen recording on Mac Quicktime.

How to Start Recording Mac

If you want to screen-record on your Mac for making a tutorial, gaming, or sharing a presentation with an audience, you can do it using various apps. In this section, we will talk about how to start screen recording Mac using QuickTime and the Screenshot Toolbar.

1. Record Mac with QuickTime Player

QuickTime is like an all-in-one media player and framework brought to us by Apple Inc. It’s perfect for watching videos, listening to music, and working with different types of media files. With its easy-to-use interface and support for various formats, it’s a go-to option for enjoying and creating multimedia content.

Steps to Start Recording Mac using QuickTime

Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to start recording Mac using QuickTime:

Step 1. Launch QuickTime Player on your Mac and go to “File > Start New Recording.”

Step 2. A pop-up window will appear with the screen recording options. Click on the arrow next to the “Record” button and select your microphone from the available options.

Step 3. Click the “Record” button and select the area of the screen you want to record. Or simply click on the screen to record the full screen.

Step 4. Click “Start Recording” to initiate the screen recording process.

Now that you know how to start screen recording on Mac using QuickTime, let’s have a look at the second option on our list.

2. Record Screen via Screenshot Toolbar

The Sreenshot Toolbar on Mac is a feature introduced in macOS Mojave and later versions. It provides users with convenient and powerful options for capturing screenshots and screen recordings.

After taking a screenshot or screen recording, you can also edit and annotate the captured content before saving it. You can add shapes, lines, text, arrows, and other annotations to the screenshot or trim the recorded video.

Steps to use the Screenshot Toolbar to start screen recording on Mac:

Step 1. Open the window or app you want to screen record, and press “Shift + Command + 5” to launch the Screenshot Toolbar. It will appear at the bottom of the screen.

Step 2. Now select “Record Entire Screen” indicated by a solid line or “Record a Portion of the Screen” with the dotted line icon.

Step 3. A screen recording pop-up will appear on the screen. Click “Record” to start recording.

And that’s how you start screen recording on your Mac.

As we mentioned earlier, starting screen recording on Mac is one thing, while you can stop screen recording in more than one way. Let’s have a look at how to stop QuickTime screen recording.

How to Stop Screen Record on Mac QuickTime

In this section, we have discussed 4 ways how to stop screen record on Mac when recording with QuickTime.

1. Force Quit QuickTime Screen Recording

One way to stop QuickTime screen recording on Mac is by force quitting the app. But we don’t recommend this method if the app is working normally. The only time you may need to force stop the app is in the following instances:

• When QuickTime freezes or stops responding.
• If the playback is stuck.
• When certain media files cause the app to hang or show errors.
• If QuickTime causes your Mac to slow down.
• If QuickTime extensions malfunction.
• When the app faces compatibility issues with your Mac after an update.

If you encounter these or similar issues, you can force quit QuickTime to stop screen recording.

Steps to Force Quit QuickTime

Here’s how to force quit QuickTime screen recording in 2 ways:

Method 1: From Apple Menu

• Click on the Apple Menu and select “Force Stop.”
• Select QuickTime from the listed apps and click “Force Quit.”

Method 2: From Dock

• Right-click on QuickTime’s icon on the screen and select “Force Quit” from the dock menu.

However, you can also stop QuickTime recording via the Activity Monitor on your Mac.

2. Stop QuickTime Recording with Activity Monitor

On macOS, there is a utility called “Activity Monitor,” which is the Mac equivalent of the Task Manager on Windows.

The Activity Monitor provides a detailed view of all the processes and applications running on your Mac. However, you can also use it to quit a running app.

Steps to Quit QuickTime using Activity Monitor

Here are the steps on how to stop screen record on Mac with the Activity Monitor:

Step 1. Launch Activity Monitor on Mac

On your Mac, go to “Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.”

Step 2. Quit QuickTime Player

Select QuickTime from the list and click “Quit.”

As this method ends the function of an app abruptly, your recordings won’t be saved.

3. Use Hotkeys

Another easy way how to stop QuickTime screen recording is by using the hotkeys or keyboard shortcuts.

Steps to Quit QuickTime Using Hotkeys

To stop QuickTime using keyboard shortcuts, here’s what to do:

• Press “Command + Option + Esc” on your Mac keyboard.
• A dialogue box will appear. Click “QuickTime > Force Quit.”

4. Click the Stop Button to End the Recording

And obviously, there’s always the regular way of stopping a screen recording: By clicking the “Stop Recording” button.

Steps to End Recording on QuickTime Using the Stop Button

To stop QuickTime screen recording, follow these steps:

Step 1. Click on the “Stop” button from the screen recording menu bar at the top of the screen.

Step 2. You will see your recording on QuickTime’s main interface. Click “File > Save” to save your screen recording to your Mac for later use.

And that’s how to stop screen record on Mac when using QuickTime.

If you’re still with us, we have a special bonus tip for you!

Tip: How to Stop Screen Recording on iPhone

If you are screen recording on your iPhone and want to end it, here’s how to go about it:

Step 1. When you start screen recording on your iPhone, a red bar will appear on top of your screen, indicating that the screen recording is on. To stop screen recording, tap on that red status bar.

Step 2. Tap “Stop” on the pop-up that appears to confirm your selection. This will end the recording and save it to the Photos on your iPhone.

Conclusion

Screen recording on your Mac can be for various purposes, including making tutorials, presentations, or a how-to guide. However, sometimes your screen recording app might act up and stop responding.  In this guide, we have discussed 4 ways how to stop screen record on Mac using keyboard shortcuts, force quitting via the activity monitor, and the regular way using the stop button.  So, if QuickTime ever freezes amidst recording, you know what to do!