How to Give Google Chrome Permission to Screen Record on Mac

Since Catalina (10.15), macOS requires user consent for screen recording to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.

This seems to help enhance Apple users’ privacy and security, but regarding recording web content, it can cause trouble for many users without technical know-how.

On this page, you’ll learn how to allow the Google Chrome browser to screen record on Mac, step by step.

How to Give Google Chrome Screen Recording Permission on Mac

Step 1. Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences”.

Step 2. In the System Preferences window, click on “Security & Privacy”.

Step 3. Within the Security & Privacy settings, go to the “Privacy” tab.

Step 4. From the list on the left side, select “Screen Recording”, and click the Plus icon to the right side.

Step 5. From a list of applications, find and select Google Chrome.

Step 6. Check the box next to Google Chrome to allow it to record your screen. If the options are greyed out, click the lock icon in the bottom-left corner and enter your computer password to make changes.

Step 7. After enabling the permission, you may need to click “Quit Now” to restart Google Chrome. Reopen Chrome and start your screen recording.

Pro Tips

• If you do not see the prompt to enable screen recording when you first join a meeting, you can manually open System Preferences and follow the steps above.
• If you disable the Screen Recording permission in the future, you will need to re-enable it following the same steps.

Free Alternative Screen Recorder for Mac

If you have tried the steps above and the Chrome screen recording still doesn’t work, you should try our free screen recorder for Mac, Record Go.

Record Go is a free and powerful screen recorder app available at the Apple App Store, it allows you to easily record a full or a part of your Mac screen in simple clicks.

Now let’s see how it works.

Step 1. Download and install Record Go from the App Store.

Step 2. Choose to record Full Screen, Area, Webcam, or Window.

Step 3. Define the required resolution, FPS, audio source, video source, etc.

Step 4. Click REC to start recording, and click the Stop button from the upper menu bar to stop the recording.

Why Google Chrome Needs Permission on Mac?

Google Chrome, like other applications, needs permission to record the screen on a Mac due to macOS’s privacy and security measures. Starting with macOS Catalina (10.15) and continuing in later versions, Apple introduced a Screen Recording permission that must be granted to any application that wants to capture the screen.

Thus Google Chrome needs screen recording permission to enable features such as screen sharing during video calls (e.g., Google Meet) and other web-based applications that require screen capture.

FAQs

Why won’t my Mac allow screen recording on Chrome?

Apple has stringent privacy and security measures that restrict third-party applications from accessing screen recordings without explicit user permission. You need to enable this feature from System Preferences.

What if Google Chrome is not listed in the Screen Recording permissions?

If Google Chrome is not listed, you may need to add it manually. Open System Preferences, go to “Security & Privacy,” select “Privacy,” then “Screen Recording,” and use the “+” button to add Chrome if it is not automatically listed.

What should I do if the screen recording still doesn’t work after granting permission?

If screen recording still doesn’t work, try restarting Google Chrome. If the issue persists, try resetting permissions using the Terminal command tccutil reset ALL com.google.Chrome.

Do I need to give Chrome permission for multiple accounts on Mac?

Yes, screen recording permissions are set on a per-user basis. If you have multiple user accounts on your Mac and want to use Chrome’s screen recording feature on each, you’ll need to grant permissions for each account separately.