> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://captivatehelp.newbluelive.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://captivatehelp.newbluelive.com/get-started/chapter-index/macos-permissions.md).

# macOS first-run permissions

The first time Captivate uses a camera, microphone, or screen capture on macOS, the system asks you to grant permission. This article covers what each prompt means, how to grant it, and the one case where you must relaunch Captivate for the change to take effect.

Captivate uses three macOS Privacy & Security permissions: **Camera**, **Microphone**, and screen recording (called **Screen Recording** on older macOS versions and **Screen & System Audio Recording** on newer ones). A unified Permissions dialog inside Captivate shows the current state of each one and provides a button to request access or open System Settings.

* [The three permissions](#the-three-permissions)
* [Grant a permission on first use](#grant-a-permission-on-first-use)
* [Change a permission later](#change-a-permission-later)
* [Screen recording requires a relaunch](#screen-recording-requires-a-relaunch)
* [Permissions Captivate does not use](#permissions-captivate-does-not-use)

## The three permissions

| Permission                                            | Why Captivate needs it                                                                                                                        | When you’ll see the prompt                                                                |
| ----------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Camera                                                | Use a USB camera, FaceTime HD camera, or other macOS camera as a live video source.                                                           | The first time you add a camera as a live video source.                                   |
| Microphone                                            | Use a microphone, audio interface, or other macOS audio input as a live audio source.                                                         | The first time you add a microphone or an audio device that uses one.                     |
| Screen Recording (or Screen & System Audio Recording) | Capture a display or a single application window as a live video source. Also required for the Virtual Webcam to read Captivate’s own output. | The first time you add a Screen or Window capture source, or activate the Virtual Webcam. |

{% hint style="info" %}
Virtual Webcam setup requires an additional macOS approval step on top of screen recording. See [Output graphics as a Virtual Webcam](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index-6/output-graphics-as-a-virtual-webcam.md) for the activation walkthrough.
{% endhint %}

## Grant a permission on first use

When Captivate first needs Camera or Microphone access, macOS displays a system dialog asking you to allow or deny. Click **OK** to grant. Camera and Microphone permissions take effect immediately — the camera or microphone appears as an available source.

Screen recording is different. After you grant it, you must relaunch Captivate before it takes effect — see **Screen recording requires a relaunch** below.

If you click **Don’t Allow** by mistake, see the next section to re-enable from System Settings.

## Change a permission later

To check or change any permission:

1. Open **System Settings** > **Privacy & Security**.
2. Click **Camera**, **Microphone**, or the screen recording permission listed for your macOS version.
3. Toggle **Captivate** on or off.

You can also reach the right System Settings page from inside Captivate:

1. Open the Permissions dialog in Captivate.
2. Find the permission row whose status shows **Denied**.
3. Click **Open Settings**. macOS opens System Settings on the matching Privacy & Security page.

Camera and Microphone changes take effect the next time you use that source. Screen recording does not — see the next section.

## Screen recording requires a relaunch

macOS treats screen recording differently from Camera and Microphone. The Captivate Permissions dialog button is labeled **Open Settings**, but after you toggle screen recording on in System Settings, the new permission is not picked up until Captivate is restarted.

**❗ IMPORTANT**\
After you grant screen recording permission, quit Captivate and reopen it. Until you relaunch, screen capture sources will continue to show as unavailable even though System Settings shows the permission as granted.

Screen recording is also reported as a binary granted/denied inside Captivate — there is no intermediate "Not Determined" state. If you’ve never granted it, the Permissions dialog shows screen recording as **Denied** until you toggle it in System Settings.

## Permissions Captivate does not use

You may see other permissions in **System Settings** > **Privacy & Security**. Captivate does not request:

* **Accessibility**
* **Full Disk Access**
* **Automation / AppleEvents**
* **Files & Folders** (Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Removable Volumes)

If another app asks you to grant these permissions on Captivate’s behalf, decline — unless NewBlue Support specifically asks you to enable one.

{% hint style="info" %}
Captivate writes only to `~/Documents/NewBlue/` and `~/Library/Logs/NewBlue/`. You may see a one-time macOS prompt to allow access to the Documents folder the first time Captivate writes there; grant it and the prompt won’t recur.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
After some Captivate updates, macOS may ask you to grant permissions again. This is normal — grant them again and continue working.
{% endhint %}

## Related

* [Install Captivate on macOS](/get-started/chapter-index/install-macos.md) — why `Captivate.app` must live in `/Applications`.
* [Output graphics as a Virtual Webcam](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index-6/output-graphics-as-a-virtual-webcam.md) — the macOS camera-extension activation flow that uses screen recording.


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