MotionShineShort answer: Apple's Support page for screen recording says to click the Stop button in the menu bar, or press Command-Control-Esc. QuickTime Player then opens the recording automatically, so you can play, edit or share it. Checked on 23 October 2026 on Apple's page "How to record the screen on Mac", dated 14 September 2026.
This post is only about QuickTime Player. If you used another recorder, or the Shift-Command-5 toolbar, see how to stop a screen recording on Mac, which compares every app.
The two ways to stop
- Click Stop. While QuickTime records, a Stop button sits in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click it once.
- Press Command-Control-Esc. Hold Command and Control, then press Esc. This works without touching the mouse.
Do not press Command-Option-Esc. That one opens the Force Quit window.
What happens after you stop
Apple's page says QuickTime Player opens the recording by itself when you stop. You will see it in a normal QuickTime window, ready to play, edit or share.
Apple's page does not say where the file is kept until you save it, so do not close the window and hope. Choose File, then Save, name the clip and pick a folder. That way you know where it is. If you cannot find an older one, where screen recordings go on Mac lists the places to look.
Need an MP4 for a site or an email? Convert QuickTime to MP4 on Mac has the steps, and the free video trimmer cuts the start and end in your browser.
If you cannot see the Stop button
- Move the pointer to the top of the screen. In a full-screen app the menu bar hides until you do.
- Use the keyboard shortcut. Command-Control-Esc does not need the menu bar at all.
- Check that QuickTime is the app recording. If the Shift-Command-5 toolbar started it, the same two ways still stop it, per Apple's page.
If nothing responds, the app may be frozen. Press Command-Option-Esc, pick QuickTime Player and choose Force Quit. A force quit can lose the clip, so try the other steps first.
Pause the recording?
Apple's page describes Stop and Esc to cancel before you start. It does not describe a pause button for QuickTime, so plan on stopping and recording a second clip. Joining clips is easier in an editor with several lanes.
Keep QuickTime if
You want one quick clip with your voice, and you are fine with the screen exactly as it was. It costs nothing and needs no install.
If you want zooms on clicks, a smoother cursor and captions after the fact, MotionShine, by the maker of this blog, is a free Mac screen recorder with a full editor. Its free export goes up to 720p at 30 fps, with no watermark and no time limit. It is not a fit if you only need a throwaway clip.
FAQ
How do I stop a QuickTime screen recording?
Click the Stop button in the menu bar, or press Command-Control-Esc.
Where does the QuickTime recording go after I stop?
QuickTime Player opens it in a window. Apple's page does not give a default folder, so use File, then Save, and choose one.
Why can't I find the Stop button?
The menu bar hides in full-screen apps. Move the pointer to the top of the screen, or press Command-Control-Esc.
Can I pause a QuickTime screen recording?
Apple's page does not list a pause button. Stop the recording and start a new one.
Is Command-Control-Esc the same as Force Quit?
No. Force Quit is Command-Option-Esc. Command-Control-Esc stops the recording.
