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Zoom capturing screen while logged out of Zoom

barde14
Explorer
Explorer

 

Has anyone ever encountered the Zoom capturing your screen while not logged into Zoom?

 

On my Mac, I noticed a purple screen icon pop up in the menu bar at the top. When I left clicked, it said "zoom.us is capturing your screen." There was no way to exit I then logged into the Zoom app to check the settings, but I could not find anything relevant. I logged out of Zoom and the icon was still there. When I checked tried to Force Quit, Zoom was not found in the list for me to terminate. I ultimately shut down my computer, and when I turned it back on, the icon was gone.

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

hypnoticscott
Explorer
Explorer

*UPDATE* After over an hour chatting with the support reps, it appears this is some glitch caused by the new Sonoma update and Zoom not playing nice. The Screen Capture feature is a sub-function inside the chat sub-function that is only active during a meeting so it is most likely that the glitch is causing the notification to pop up after a meeting (like a false positive test) but not actually capturing the screen. You can completely kill the Screen Record function by going to System Settings > Privacy and Security > Screen recordings and disabling Zoom's Screen Recording function. If this is a function you use, you will need to remember to turn it back on prior to a meeting because you cannot toggle this while meetings are active.

Also, if you are having this issue REPORT IT TO SUPPORT!! Part of the problem is that Zoom had only one other trouble ticket when I reported it to them even though there are a dozen messages in this thread. They don't monitor these forums so we have to be proactive. We can't be mad at them for not fixing an issue they weren't told about. LOL

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35 REPLIES 35

LyssLynne
Newcomer
Newcomer

I am having the same issue except I turned my computer off and back on and it is there again. Anyone know how to fix this or what this icon means? 

I have Macbook Pro Sonoma 14.0. I shut down the computer and the icon went off. 

Same here.  But how do I know it is not capturing any more?  I was just upgraded to Zoom workplace Version: 6.0.11 (35001)

dregar
Newcomer
Newcomer

I am having the same issue on Mac Sonoma. I tried turning off Zoom to screen share in Privacy & Security (systems setting), but the purple icon still appears. No idea how to fix it. 

lml193
Newcomer
Newcomer

I just noticed zoom is capturing my screen even though I quit out of Zoom and do not have screening capturing active in my settings. Anyone know how to turn this off? It feels like an invasion of privacy. 

Yusf
Newcomer
Newcomer

I also have the same issue with Mac Sonoma. This is freaking my out hoonestly 

menotyou
Newcomer
Newcomer

Is anyone planning to answer this, or are they hoping we'll ignore it. . . Because we won't.

It's been almost a year since you posted and it's still an ongoing problem. I can't tell if this is just a bug that results in a visual distraction in the menu bar - or an ongoing privacy and security flaw. This community clearly can't fix this - it's a problem that Zoom must address. Hello Zoom Customer Service?

Polinet
Newcomer
Newcomer

Same here. Very unnerving.

I did click "screen capture" in chat trying to help someone on the call troubleshoot an issue. But closed out of it straight away. And have completely quit zoom now. I do think its a rogue icon more than zoom spying on our screens but still needs addressing.

pilotguy98561
Newcomer
Newcomer

Yes, same here. I'm not logged into the Zoom app on my desktop but the icon is showing. MacBook Air 15", Sonoma 14. 

Screenshot 2023-10-17 at 3.13.31 PM.png

rschildge
Newcomer
Newcomer

I'm experiencing the same thing. 

espressogoddess
Newcomer
Newcomer

same issue here!

jtlholly
Newcomer
Newcomer

Same issue here - although I didn't do any screen recording during the last two calls I was on. 

hypnoticscott
Explorer
Explorer

Same here. Just finished a call on someone else's account - no recording - and twenty minutes later I noticed that icon and message. Maybe it is some kink in the Sonoma update and Zoom? The OP is three weeks ago, they might want to address this....

WaqasMahroof
Newcomer
Newcomer

Same here. 

WaqasMahroof_0-1698136898367.png

hypnoticscott
Explorer
Explorer

*UPDATE* After over an hour chatting with the support reps, it appears this is some glitch caused by the new Sonoma update and Zoom not playing nice. The Screen Capture feature is a sub-function inside the chat sub-function that is only active during a meeting so it is most likely that the glitch is causing the notification to pop up after a meeting (like a false positive test) but not actually capturing the screen. You can completely kill the Screen Record function by going to System Settings > Privacy and Security > Screen recordings and disabling Zoom's Screen Recording function. If this is a function you use, you will need to remember to turn it back on prior to a meeting because you cannot toggle this while meetings are active.

Also, if you are having this issue REPORT IT TO SUPPORT!! Part of the problem is that Zoom had only one other trouble ticket when I reported it to them even though there are a dozen messages in this thread. They don't monitor these forums so we have to be proactive. We can't be mad at them for not fixing an issue they weren't told about. LOL

This is helpful, but not actually a solution. I've tried all these steps and cannot stop the "zoom.us is capturing your screen" icon and message. Persistent problem. 

hypnoiticsott

I love myself

WaqasMahroof
Newcomer
Newcomer

Thank you for sharing this detailed information about the issue you encountered with Zoom and the Sonoma update. Really appreciate it. 🙂  easiest thing to do is to lodge a ticket and rightfully said that it should be the first thing to be done. Usually we come to these platforms and look for a sol and rant to be honest. 🙂 

hypnoticscott
Explorer
Explorer

*UPDATE #2*

I just got an email that seems to read that this issue is due to an update in the Mac version of Zoom's software, they are aware of it but do not have a fix yet (aside from turning it off through System Settings):

"I judt got a respons from the backend team and the message showing on your meeting it is included in the new update that was release recently. And that is only for Mac users. Right now, we do not have a way for it turn it off. I apologize for the inconvenience."

crawfordna
Newcomer
Newcomer

Same issue here ... also happens when OBS is configured to capture a screen or application. Running Sonoma 14.1.

Fred7
Newcomer
Newcomer

It's creepy, buggy — and illegal???

100% dodgy! It's still happening and they're not doing anything about it! There's also a setting where they can scrape data from your meetings for AI.

Fred7
Newcomer
Newcomer

Since I don't see where / how to start a new thread, Zoom started up my camera (external) every night for years when I put it in sleep mode. Had to go into zoom, start a meeting, stop it, and exit zoom. But only for a few years. 

narb
Newcomer
Newcomer

SOLVED:  So first go to macOS System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording & System Audio

Then completely remove Zoom from the "allowed applications using the "-" button".

Then Quit Zoom.

Then Turn off your Mac completely and turn back on.

BOOM.  Gone !

What a pain.

Sak1012
Newcomer
Newcomer

Open your terminal and paste this command
`killall -m Control Center`
and hit enter, this will restart the control centre and it should be gone
(Or)
1. Open Activity Monitor
2. Search "Control Centre"
3. Double click and select Quit

This worked, easy, thanks!

Legend! Thanks

This is helpful! Thank you!

Firescribe
Explorer
Explorer

Here it is a year later and Zoom has not fixed this issue, which I find unacceptable. If I turn off screen recording and system audio in settings, will this prevent me from sharing my screen with audio during recorded meetings?

 

EDITED TO ADD: Yes, we need this enabled to share screens. So I guess I will have to toggle this off to disconnect it and then toggle it right back on so I don't forget it next time. We shouldn't have to do this.

Fred7
Newcomer
Newcomer

Yes. This is totally unacceptable. I seem to recall that I "solved" this problem last time by changing something in settings. (But now that the problem has returned I can't remember where in settings.) But when I "solved" it last time I forgot to go back to settings and change that and my screen sharing was disabled, until I remembered...  (I also have the recurring problem of zoom turning on my cam — randomly? I have to go back into zoom and open a meeting, turn off the video, and exit the program.  Is this just a shoddy product or are they actually looking in??)

justsomeuser
Newcomer
Newcomer

This is an ongoing annoying problem.

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