---
title: I allowed screen recording but codus still can't record my screen
question: allowed screen recording but codus still cannot record
area: troubleshooting
surface: desktop
audience: beginner
keywords: [Screen recording is not permitted, screen recording permission, Open the permission prompt, Grant screen recording first, System Settings, Privacy and Security, must be reopened, recorder greyed out, Start recording disabled, camera access was denied, microphone permission, macOS permission, rec button does nothing]
related: [how-do-i-record-footage, why-cant-i-see-the-video-tab]
updated: 2026-07-21
---

# I allowed screen recording but codus still can't record my screen

macOS does not apply this permission until codus restarts, so turning it on is not enough on its own. Open **System Settings**, click **Privacy & Security**, then **Screen Recording**, and switch **codus** on. Then quit codus completely (the **codus** menu at the top of your screen, then **Quit codus**) and open it again. After that the red **Screen recording is not permitted** notice clears and the recorder works.

This catches almost everyone, because nothing on screen tells you a restart is the missing step. You did grant it correctly. It does not take effect until codus has been reopened.

## First, confirm this is the problem

Open the recorder with the **rec** button in the bar along the very top of codus. If you see a red box reading:

> Screen recording is not permitted
>
> macOS requires this to be granted in System Settings, then codus must be reopened.

or the **Start recording** button is greyed out with the tooltip **Grant screen recording first**, this page is your fix.

## Why granting it did nothing yet

macOS keeps screen recording behind a system permission that only changes when an app starts up. codus reads it once, when it opens. So if codus was already running when you allowed it, codus is still working from the old answer (no) until you quit and reopen it. The permission is on; codus has not looked again.

## The fix, in order

1. Open **System Settings** from the Apple menu at the top-left of your screen.
2. Click **Privacy & Security** in the list on the left.
3. Click **Screen Recording**. On the newest macOS this may read **Screen & System Audio Recording**.
4. Find **codus** in the list and turn its switch on. If codus is not listed, use **Open the permission prompt** in the recorder first (it adds codus to this list), then come back here.
5. **Quit codus completely.** Click the **codus** menu at the very top-left, then **Quit codus**. Closing the window is not enough, because that leaves codus running. See [Closing codus is not the same as quitting it](i-was-given-a-pack-but-cant-see-its-tab.md) if you are not sure of the difference.
6. Open codus again.

macOS may ask you to quit and reopen codus for you with a **Quit & Reopen** button when you flip the switch. That button does the same job as steps 5 and 6.

## If it still says not permitted

- **You closed the window instead of quitting.** codus has to be fully quit and reopened, not only closed. Use the **codus** menu, then **Quit codus**.
- **You switched on the wrong app.** The row you want is named **codus**. A code editor or terminal you also use is a different row.

## What about the microphone and camera?

Those are separate macOS permissions in the same place.

- **No sound from your voice.** codus asks for the microphone the first time you record with one. If you said no, turn it back on under **System Settings**, **Privacy & Security**, **Microphone**, then reopen codus. The recorder always captures your computer's own audio regardless, as it notes with "System audio is always captured".
- **Recording a camera take fails with "camera access was denied".** Turn the camera on under **System Settings**, **Privacy & Security**, **Camera**, then reopen codus.

## How do I know it worked?

The red **Screen recording is not permitted** box is gone, and **Start recording** is a normal, clickable button instead of a greyed-out one. Pick what to capture and record as usual.

## Still stuck

Recording needs the [Video module](../modules/what-are-the-modules.md) on your account, and it is macOS only. If the **rec** button is not in the top bar at all, that is a different situation: see [Why can't I see the video tab?](../video/why-cant-i-see-the-video-tab.md). If the permission is on, codus has been reopened, and it still will not record, tell us your macOS version and what the recorder shows.