Screen recording warning: Apple probably wants to disturb less often
Following user criticism for asking too many questions, Apple now apparently wants to be less harsh with privacy-related prompts in macOS 15 Sequoia.
Prompt for screen recording access in macOS 15 Beta 6.
(Image: Screenshot via 9to5Mac)
A new security-related function designed to prevent apps from making unwanted recordings of the Mac screen including computer audio is apparently being toned down by Apple. As 9to5Mac reports, citing developers who are using the latest Developer Beta 6 of macOS 15 Sequoia, a corresponding security prompt now only appears once a month instead of weekly as planned. Previously, users had to authorize access much more frequently.
One permission is not enough
Previously, permissions for such access were only granted once at the first start. For example, anyone who installs a screenshot or screen recording tool such as CleanShot X must authorize the app to record the screen. This always includes access to audio running on the computer - for unknown reasons, Apple does not separate the two rights. To prevent users from inadvertently granting such permissions and not deleting them later, macOS 15 should ask at regular intervals.
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As mentioned, this was done every week in previous betas – rather annoying for many professional users, especially as the corresponding dialog sometimes only appeared hidden or responded slowly to clicks. In macOS 15 Developer Beta 6, the prompt has now been redesigned. It looks different and has also been reformulated. When an initial access request appears, it now states that the permissions are granted "for one month". After that, the request appears at the aforementioned interval (although no one has seen it yet).
macOS becomes more "parental"
After all, Apple is said to be planning to introduce a new API or an entitlement for screen recording - apparently as part of the ScreenCaptureKit framework, which is supposed to make it easier to develop apps for this purpose. Not only pure screenshot or screen recording tools are affected by this issue, but also many communication apps such as Zoom, Slack or WebEx, which allow users to share their own screen.
Overall, macOS is becoming more "parental" with version 15 - and is thus aligning itself with iOS and iPadOS. Elsewhere, the company is making it more difficult for users to open apps that have not gone through Apple's approval process ("notarization") from the Finder. Instead of a simple right mouse click, it is now necessary to go to the system settings. This is accompanied by more warning dialogs. Apple wants to prevent malware from being spread, but at the same time this hinders developers who do not want to have their app notarized by Apple. This particularly affects open-source projects.
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