How to stop screen recording on a Mac

By Neel Gajjar · Updated 14 October 2026

To stop a screen recording on a Mac, click the Stop button in the menu bar, or press Command-Control-Esc. Apple's page says either works, whether you started the recording from the Screenshot toolbar or from QuickTime Player.

What happens when it stops?

The recording saves by itself. If you see a thumbnail in the corner of the screen, click it to edit the recording, or leave it and the file goes to your desktop. Apple's page says the file is named "Screen Recording" followed by the date and time, and ends in .mov. If you chose a different place under Options in the Screenshot toolbar, it goes there instead. If you started in QuickTime Player's own Screen Recording window, Apple says QuickTime Player opens the recording for you once you stop.

Did you start it by mistake?

If the toolbar is showing and you haven't clicked Record yet, press Esc. Apple's page says that cancels the recording. Once it's running, use the Stop button or Command-Control-Esc.

Which app is recording?

Look at what's on your screen. Apple's page says that if you see the Screenshot toolbar, the Screenshot app is doing the recording, and if you see a separate Screen Recording window, QuickTime Player is. Apple's QuickTime Player guide also says that File › New Screen Recording opens the Screenshot tools. That's worth knowing if you ever have to force quit, because Apple says to select the app that isn't responding.

What if the recording won't stop?

Try both stop methods again first. Apple's pages for recording don't say what to do when neither works, so this is Apple's general advice for an app that has stopped responding, from its page on forcing an app to quit:

1. 1

   Try to quit the app normally. Apple says an app that quits normally can do what it needs to do first, such as save changes. For QuickTime Player that's Command-Q, or Quit in its menu.

2. 2

   Press Option-Command-Esc, or choose Force Quit from the Apple menu. In the Force Quit window, select the unresponsive app and click Force Quit.

3. 3

   If that doesn't work, choose Restart from the Apple menu. If the Mac won't restart, hold the power button for up to 10 seconds until it turns off, then press it again.

Apple's pages don't say which app to choose for a recording that has stopped responding, or whether the recording survives a force quit or a restart, so don't count on it.

Can I pause a Mac screen recording?

Apple's pages for the Screenshot app and QuickTime Player don't list a pause control. Stop the recording, then start a new one.

How do I start one from the keyboard?

Press Shift-Command-5 to open the Screenshot toolbar, choose what to record, then click Record. In QuickTime Player, File › New Screen Recording or Control-Command-N does the same. On macOS Tahoe 26 or later, Apple's page also lists Record Selected Window. Press Esc first if you change your mind. The rest of the toolbar's keys are in Mac screenshot shortcuts, and recording with sound is its own page.