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How to Fix OneNote Screen Clipping Not Working on Mac
Question details
The user is unable to use the screen clipping feature in Microsoft OneNote on a Mac due to permission errors or application freezing.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to take a screen clipping directly into a OneNote notebook.
- Observed behavior
- The screen clipping shortcut fails to capture the screen, does nothing, or the application freezes during the clipping process or while checking for updates.
Ensure you have your macOS administrator password or Touch ID ready, as modifying privacy and system permissions requires administrative privileges.
Grant Screen Recording and Accessibility Permissions
macOS strictly controls which applications can record the screen. OneNote must be explicitly granted these permissions in System Settings to capture clippings.
Apple's privacy protocols require users to manually approve screen recording for third-party apps. Without these permissions, the OneNote clipper will be blocked by macOS.
Press Command+Q or right-click the OneNote icon in the Dock and select 'Quit' to completely close the application before changing system permissions.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'System Settings' (or 'System Preferences' on older macOS versions).
Scroll down the left sidebar, click on 'Privacy & Security', and select 'Screen Recording'. Toggle the switch next to Microsoft OneNote to the ON position.
Go back to the 'Privacy & Security' menu and click on 'Accessibility'. Toggle Microsoft OneNote ON. If it is not listed, click the '+' button, authenticate with your password, and select OneNote from your Applications folder.
Open OneNote again and attempt to use the screen clipping shortcut. The feature should now successfully capture your screen.
Update or Reinstall Microsoft OneNote
Outdated software or corrupted update files can cause the screen clipping feature to fail or the app to freeze.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is OneNote missing from my Mac's Accessibility permissions list?
If OneNote doesn't automatically request accessibility permissions, it won't appear in the list. You can add it manually by going to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility, clicking the '+' icon at the bottom, and selecting Microsoft OneNote from your Applications folder.
Can I use macOS built-in screenshot tools instead of OneNote's screen clipper?
Yes. You can bypass the OneNote clipper entirely by pressing Command + Shift + 4 to use the native macOS screenshot tool. The captured image will be saved to your desktop, and you can easily drag and drop or paste it into your OneNote page.
Why does OneNote freeze when I check for updates on my Mac?
This usually occurs if the Microsoft AutoUpdate background tool is outdated or corrupted. To resolve this, you can download the latest version of Microsoft AutoUpdate directly from Microsoft's website, or simply uninstall OneNote and download the latest release fresh from the Mac App Store.
