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Allow microphone, camera and screen recording on a Mac

See when macOS asks to let PlexiDesk use your microphone, camera or screen, how to allow it and how to change your answer later.

All plansUpdated

macOS keeps you in charge of which apps can use your microphone, camera and screen. PlexiDesk does not ask for any of them when you install it. Instead, macOS asks the first time you use a feature that needs one, and remembers your answer.

This article is for Macs. For the separate permission that lets SpeedDeck buttons press keys in other apps, see Allow keyboard control on a Mac.

What each permission is for

Microphone. PlexiDesk uses it when you:

  • record a voice note or a video note (Voice note widget)
  • record notes or a meeting, or take part in a meeting (Meetings Coming soon)
  • make a call (Calls and knock Coming soon)
  • record a voice note in a chat message (Write messages Coming soon)
  • talk to Plexii (Talk to Plexii Coming soon)
  • use the Transcribe widget on your Home dashboard (Transcribe)
  • body double in any mode except Silent (Body doubling Coming soon)

Camera. PlexiDesk uses it when you:

  • record a video note
  • join a meeting or make a video call
  • body double. Your camera is used in every body doubling mode, including Silent.

Screen recording. PlexiDesk uses it when you choose Share your screen in a meeting. Body doubling never shares your screen.

When macOS asks

The first time you use one of these features, macOS shows its own message asking whether to let PlexiDesk use the microphone or camera. Allow it, and the feature starts. macOS remembers your choice, so you are asked only once.

If you decline, the feature cannot use that device until you turn access on in System Settings, as described below.

Turn access on or off later

  1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings.
  2. Click Privacy & Security in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.
  3. Click Microphone, Camera or Screen & System Audio Recording.
  4. Turn PlexiDesk on to allow access, or off to stop it.
  5. If macOS asks you to quit and reopen PlexiDesk, do so.
  6. Go back to what you were doing and try again. In a meeting, leave and rejoin so the change takes effect.

Share your screen in a meeting

  1. In a meeting, choose Share your screen in the meeting controls.
  2. On macOS 15 and later, macOS shows its own picker so you can choose a whole screen or a single window. On earlier versions, PlexiDesk shares your main screen.
  3. If macOS asks for permission to record your screen, follow the steps above for Screen & System Audio Recording, then share again.
  4. To stop, choose Stop sharing your screen.

If you cancel the picker or macOS does not allow it, the meeting says Screen share was cancelled or not permitted. and nothing is shared. See In a meeting Coming soon for everything else you can do during a meeting.

If your microphone or camera is not picked up

PlexiDesk tells you when a recording cannot hear you, and gives you a shortcut to the right settings page:

  • A meeting recording shows "No sound is reaching Plexii". Choose Microphone settings, turn PlexiDesk on, then try again.
  • The record dialog says Plexii is not allowed to use the microphone. Choose Open microphone settings, turn PlexiDesk on, then try again.
  • A voice or video note says access was denied or unavailable. Check that PlexiDesk is on in the Microphone list, and for video notes in the Camera list too.
  • Your video tile stays black in a meeting. Check that PlexiDesk is on in the Camera list, then leave and rejoin the meeting.
  • PlexiDesk is allowed but hears the wrong microphone. PlexiDesk uses the input your Mac is set to. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Sound, then click Input and pick the microphone you want.

Things PlexiDesk does not need

PlexiDesk does not ask for Input Monitoring or Full Disk Access. If you set up SpeedDeck buttons that press keys, type text or control media in other apps, those buttons need Accessibility permission. See Allow keyboard control on a Mac.

Still need help? Contact support at [email protected].