Getting started
Permissions
The macOS permissions Playback needs, why it needs them, and how to grant them.
Playback captures your screen and follows your cursor, so macOS requires you to grant a couple of privacy permissions before it can record. You’ll be prompted on first use; you can also grant them ahead of time in System Settings → Privacy & Security.
The two you need
| Permission | Why Playback needs it | Where to grant it |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Recording | To capture the pixels of your display or window via ScreenCaptureKit. Without it, Playback can’t see your screen. | Privacy & Security → Screen Recording |
| Accessibility | To track the cursor’s position and clicks system-wide, which powers smoothing, click effects, and cursor-following zooms. | Privacy & Security → Accessibility |
Optional permissions
You only need these if you use the matching feature:
- Microphone — required to record narration or system audio. Playback declares a usage description for this; macOS will prompt the first time you start a recording with audio enabled.
- Camera — required to record a webcam overlay. Prompted the first time you enable the webcam.
Troubleshooting
- The recording is black or empty. Screen Recording permission isn’t active. Toggle it on, then fully quit and relaunch Playback.
- The cursor doesn’t smooth or click effects don’t show. Accessibility permission is missing — Playback can capture the screen but not the cursor track.
- You revoked a permission and Playback won’t record. Re-enable it and relaunch; macOS caches the grant per app binary.