[ARCHIVED] Studio only recording the background

[luke_caldwell]

I have a professor, using a Macbook, who tried to use Studio but it only recorded the background of the desktop. No foreground, no active window, just a shot of the background. Anyone else experiencing this issue with Macbooks?

[luke_caldwell · Accepted solution]

After spending time looking on this community board, I then moved to the Screen-Cast-O-Matic board and found this solution.

The Recorder is only capturing the background / wallpaper on my computer (MAC OS) – Screencast-O-Mat... 

[luke_caldwell · Accepted solution]

After spending time looking on this community board, I then moved to the Screen-Cast-O-Matic board and found this solution.

The Recorder is only capturing the background / wallpaper on my computer (MAC OS) – Screencast-O-Mat... 

[sarah_craske]

I found that screen-cast-o-matic solution too but don't have the Screen Recording preferences in Privacy so not sure how to fix it - any ideas? 

[luke_caldwell]

Hi Sarah,

I am not sure why you couldn't see that option. Here are my three suggestions:

1. It might be a school computer and you might not have the correct permissions. If so, see the IT dept. or helpdesk at your school. 
2. Maybe you did not scroll down far enough in the privacy window?
3. Another thought is that maybe you have not used screen recording tools to activate this feature, but if you are on this page looking for help, that would probably mean you have used screen recording tools. 

The instructions from Apple are pretty much the same, Control access to screen recording on Mac - Apple Support , so I am thinking it might be #1 or #2.

Hope you can figure it out soon!

[sarah_craske]

Appreciate you looking at this Luke but still no joy - I'm seeking answers for a colleague on a macbook pro with full admin access - it's Mojave not Catalina which the apple support link is pointing to - think apple must have changed the preferences for screen recording as doesn't appear anywhere under privacy settings and I have it all working fine on my macbook so trying to work out where and how it works for me but not my colleague

[slee15]

We also have this issue today, so I was searching this problem. Macbook, Catalina, and only recording the home desktop screen, not active window. Tried in Chrome and Safari. 

[jamcgee]

Not sure if this is still relevant as we are working on a similar issue today.  Still in the process of gathering information about the user's system.  I'll try and update if we find a resolution.  In the meantime, the links mentioned here for Screencast-o-Matic have changed:

Here are some hopefully relevant links:

• The Recorder is only capturing the background / wallpaper on my computer (MAC OS)
• Control access to screen recording on Mac - Apple Support
• Studio Screen Capture Bug in macOS Catalina 10.15 - Canvas Community

[kmallen · Accepted solution]

I had a similar issue, but I was able to see the Screen Recorder in System Preferences when I had the tool open in Chrome (i.e. I hit "Record" in Canvas Studio but I did not start the recording.) Here's what it looked like in System Preferences:

[birmingham_st]

I keep having this problem as well. My settings say it has permission to screen record, but it will only capture the background. This is incredibly frustrating.

[ANDREC1]

I know this thread is kind of old, so I don't know if people are still having this issue but it is 100% enabling recorder in your security & privacy settings. I had this happen yesterday & today w/recorder just recording the background on my new iMac. I had been recording on my older iMac all year with no issues. Even though I transferred everything over, the recorder was unchecked. You then have to make sure to quit recorder and go back in and then it should work. 

[KirkDodd]

HI,

I had this same problem and tried a few things. Yes, in System Preferences you have to click access for the camera and the mic, but in my MacBookPro I just found you also have the red square for "Screen Recording" a few more icons down in the same menu. You have to click access for Screen Recorder Launcher in this too. I just did a test and I can now record my slides as well as the little video box that I can place in the corner of the slide (spent hours trying to get this going!).

I'm not a tecky, but perhaps this is an added security measure for MacBookPros (?).

Thanks for the info from others, thought I'd share this because it is a huge relief.