# How to stop a screen recording on a Mac

Click the Stop button in the menu bar, or press ⌃⌘Esc. Both stop a recording started with the ⇧⌘5 Screenshot toolbar or QuickTime Player. If an app is in full screen and the menu bar is hidden, move the pointer to the top of the screen to show it. The video then goes to the desktop.

URL: https://screen2shot.com/guides/how-to-stop-screen-recording-on-mac/
Updated: 2026-10-10 · facts checked on 2026-10-10

*These steps describe macOS 27 Golden Gate and earlier versions with the Screenshot toolbar (macOS Mojave 10.14 or later). Checked on 2026-10-10 against Apple's support pages published 2026-09-14.*

## Ways to stop, by how you started

| You started with | Stop with | What happens next |
|---|---|---|
| ⇧⌘5, the Screenshot toolbar | Stop button in the menu bar, or ⌃⌘Esc | a thumbnail, then a .mov file on the desktop |
| QuickTime Player, File → New Screen Recording | Stop button in the menu bar, or ⌃⌘Esc | QuickTime Player opens the recording |
| Screen2Shot, ⌥⇧⌘9 | ⌥⇧⌘9 again, or the red dot in the menu bar → Stop Recording | Studio opens the recording |

*Checked on 2026-10-10. Sources below.*

## Method 1: The Stop button in the menu bar

1. Look at the menu bar at the top of the screen while the recording runs.
2. Click the Stop button.
3. A thumbnail appears in the corner. Click it to trim the recording, or wait and it is saved.

## Method 2: The keyboard shortcut ⌃⌘Esc

1. Press ⌃⌘Esc.
2. The recording stops the same way as with the Stop button. This works when the menu bar is out of sight, for example while you record a full-screen app.

## When the Stop button is hidden

1. If an app is in full screen, move the pointer to the very top of the screen. The menu bar slides into view with the Stop button.
2. If the menu bar still does not appear, press ⌃⌘Esc.

## Cancel instead of stopping

- **Before recording starts:** press Esc while the ⇧⌘5 toolbar is open. Nothing is recorded.
- **After you stop:** click the thumbnail in the corner and trim the parts you do not want, or delete the file from the desktop.

## Where the stopped recording goes

- From the Screenshot toolbar: the desktop, as "Screen Recording [date] at [time].mov", unless you chose another place under Save to in ⇧⌘5 → Options.
- From QuickTime Player: QuickTime Player opens the recording so you can play, edit or share it.

## The Screen2Shot way: the same key starts and stops

In Screen2Shot one shortcut does both, so you never hunt for a button. Recording is part of Screen2Shot 1.1 and needs macOS 15 Sequoia or later on Apple silicon.

1. Press ⌥⇧⌘9 to start recording the display under the pointer. The menu-bar icon becomes a red dot with the elapsed time.
2. Press ⌥⇧⌘9 again to stop, or click the red dot and choose Stop Recording.
3. Studio opens with the recording. Choose Save Video… to save an MP4, or Discard Recording to throw the take away after a confirmation.

If the screen locks or a display is unplugged during a take, Screen2Shot keeps what was recorded and opens it in Studio with a line saying why it stopped. A free recording exports up to 1080p with a thin Screen2Shot strip at the bottom; PRO removes it and exports up to 4K. See [pricing](/pricing/).

## Troubleshooting

- **⌃⌘Esc does nothing.** It stops a recording that is running. If you only opened the ⇧⌘5 toolbar and did not click Record, press Esc to close it.
- **You stopped too late.** Click the thumbnail in the corner right after stopping and trim the extra seconds. For a QuickTime Player recording, see [QuickTime screen recording](/guides/quicktime-screen-recording/).
- **You cannot find the video.** Check the folder under Save to in ⇧⌘5 → Options; the desktop is the default.

## FAQ

### What is the shortcut to stop screen recording on a Mac?

⌃⌘Esc. It stops recordings made with the ⇧⌘5 Screenshot toolbar and with QuickTime Player.

### Where is the Stop button?

In the menu bar at the top of the screen, while a recording runs. If an app is in full screen, move the pointer to the top of the screen and the menu bar appears.

### How do I cancel a screen recording before it starts?

Press Esc while the ⇧⌘5 toolbar is open, before you click Record. Nothing is recorded.

### Where does the recording go after I stop it?

A thumbnail appears in the corner; click it to trim the video, or wait and it is saved to the desktop as Screen Recording [date] at [time].mov. A QuickTime Player recording opens in QuickTime Player.

### How do I stop a Screen2Shot recording?

Press ⌥⇧⌘9 again, or click the menu-bar icon, a red dot with the elapsed time, and choose Stop Recording. Studio opens with the video.

## Sources

- [Apple Support: How to record the screen on Mac, Stop button and ⌃⌘Esc (published 2026-09-14, checked 2026-10-10)](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102618)
- [Apple: Take screenshots or screen recordings on Mac, macOS User Guide (checked 2026-10-10)](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/take-a-screenshot-mh26782/mac)
- [Apple: Record your screen in QuickTime Player on Mac (checked 2026-10-10)](https://support.apple.com/guide/quicktime-player/record-your-screen-qtp97b08e666/mac)
- [Apple: Use apps in full screen on Mac, showing the menu bar (checked 2026-10-10)](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-apps-in-full-screen-mchl9c21d2be/mac)