TL;DR
To stop QuickTime screen recording on Mac:
- Start your QuickTime screen recording.
- Press Command ⌘ + Control ^ + Esc to stop the recording.
- QuickTime will automatically save the video to your desktop.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
It’s easy to get stuck trying to stop a QuickTime recording, but there are a few simple methods that work every time. In this post, I’ll quickly show you the easiest ways to stop your recording so you can get it done without the issue.
How to Stop QuickTime Screen Recording on Mac
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Below, I’ve shared the quickest ways to stop QuickTime screen recording on Mac:
1. Using a Keyboard Shortcut
The fastest way to stop QuickTime screen recording is by using the keyboard shortcut. To stop a screen recording in QuickTime using a keyboard shortcut, follow these steps:
- Begin your screen recording in QuickTime by pressing the Record button.
- While recording, press Command ⌘ + Control ^ + Esc on your keyboard. This is the default keyboard shortcut in QuickTime for stopping a screen recording.
- As soon as you press these keys, your recording will stop. QuickTime will automatically save the recorded video on your desktop.
2. From the Menu Bar
The menu bar offers an easy, visible way to stop QuickTime screen recording with just a click. Here is how:
- Open QuickTime from the Launchpad.
- Click File in the menu bar and select New Screen Recording.
- The screenshot toolbar will appear at the bottom of your screen. Click the Record button to start recording.
- Once your screen recording is complete, find the Stop icon in the menu bar and click it.
- This will stop the recording and save the file on your desktop.
3. From the Force Quit Window
If QuickTime is unresponsive, you can use the Force Quit window to stop the recording, though the file won’t be saved. Here is how to do it:
Using the Force Quit window should be one of your last options, as it will not save the recording you were working on.
- Start your screen recording in QuickTime by clicking the Record button.
- While recording, press Command ⌘ + Option ⌥ + Esc on your keyboard.
- This will bring up the Force Quit Applications window listing all currently running applications.
- In the Force Quit window, find and select QuickTime in the list of applications.
- Click the Force Quit button to close QuickTime.
- A confirmation dialog may appear, asking if you want to force the application to quit. Click Force Quit to confirm your choice.
4. Via Activity Monitor
Activity Monitor allows you to forcefully stop QuickTime if other methods fail, but it will not save the recording. Follow these steps:
- Click the Record button to start your screen recording in QuickTime.
- Open Activity Monitor by searching for it using Spotlight (Command ⌘ + Spacebar).
- In the Activity Monitor, look for QuickTime Player in the list of processes and select it.
- Once QuickTime is selected, click the X button at the top of the Activity Monitor window.
- A confirmation window will appear, asking if you are sure you want to quit QuickTime. Click Force Quit to proceed.
- This will abruptly stop the screen recording and will not save the recording you were making.
End QuickTime Screen Recordings on Your Mac
Now that you know how to stop QuickTime Player screen recording on Mac, you might want to improve your screen recording experience. Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Record a video on your Mac using other methods like hotkeys, Photo Booth, iMovie, or third-party apps.
- Compress a video on Mac after recording to make it easier to transfer or send via email.
- Take screenshots on your Mac and combine them into a slideshow to make a different type of video.
