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Fix OneNote Cannot Capture Screenshots on Mac
Question details
The user needs to restore OneNote's ability to capture screenshots of other applications or browsers on macOS.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Trying to capture screenshots from other apps or browser tabs directly into OneNote after a macOS or OneNote application update.
- Observed behavior
- OneNote fails to capture the screen, often due to missing or revoked screen recording permissions in macOS.
Ensure that you have saved any active work in OneNote, as you will need to quit and restart the application to apply the system permission changes.
Enable Screen Recording Permissions for OneNote
Fix the issue by manually granting macOS Screen Recording permissions to Microsoft OneNote.
macOS has strict privacy settings that require explicit permission for any application to record or capture your screen. If this permission is lost during an update, OneNote's clipping and screenshot tools will stop working.
Quit Microsoft OneNote completely by pressing Cmd + Q or selecting Quit from the menu bar.
Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
Scroll down in the left sidebar and click on Privacy & Security, then find and select Screen Recording on the right panel.
Find OneNote in the application list and toggle the switch on. If it is already enabled, turn the toggle off, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on.
If macOS prompts you to Quit & Reopen the app, accept the request. Relaunch OneNote and test the screenshot feature.
Trigger the Permission Prompt Manually
Use this method if OneNote does not appear in the Screen Recording settings list.
Try WPS Office for a Seamless Document Experience
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- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the Free Download button for Mac.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did OneNote suddenly stop capturing screenshots on my Mac?
This usually happens after updating macOS or the OneNote application itself, which can cause system privacy permissions to reset. macOS requires explicit Screen Recording permissions for any app to capture content outside its own window.
Do I need to restart my Mac after changing the screen recording permissions?
In most cases, simply quitting and reopening OneNote is sufficient. However, if the screen capture feature still does not work after modifying the settings, restarting your Mac can force the system to apply the new permission state.
Can I capture screenshots in OneNote without granting screen recording permissions?
No. macOS privacy and security protocols strictly require the Screen Recording permission for any application to read or capture pixels from other active windows or the desktop.
