Screen Recording Permission on Mac Explained
Screen Recording is one of the privacy permissions macOS prompts users for when an app first tries to capture the screen. Granting it lets the app record your screen via ScreenCaptureKit. It is required for proctor apps to function.
macOS Catalina (10.15) introduced the Screen Recording permission. Apps that try to capture without it get black frames or empty results. Apps with it get full frames - except for windows the OS filters via the privacy flag. The permission and the privacy flag are independent: granting Screen Recording does NOT bypass per-window privacy. Proctor apps need Screen Recording to do their job; the LDBypass overlay still gets filtered out of their captures because the privacy flag is enforced by macOS regardless of what permission the capturing app holds.
Key points
- Screen Recording permission introduced in macOS 10.15.
- Without it, apps get black frames or empty results.
- With it, apps see all visible windows EXCEPT privacy-flagged ones.
- Per-window privacy and Screen Recording permission are independent.
- Granting Screen Recording does NOT defeat the overlay's invisibility.
Common questions
Where do I grant Screen Recording permission?
System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording. Check the box for the proctor app.
Can I revoke it after the exam?
Yes - same Settings page, uncheck the box.
Will revoking it before an exam break the proctor?
Yes - the proctor refuses to start without it.