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Newcomer
October 3, 2023
Solved

Zoom capturing screen while logged out of Zoom

  • October 3, 2023
  • 25 replies
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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.

Best answer by hypnoticscott

*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

25 replies

Newcomer
September 24, 2024

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.

Newcomer
September 26, 2024

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??)

Newcomer
September 30, 2024

This is an ongoing annoying problem.

Newcomer
November 6, 2024

I'm having the same issue now. Earlier today, I had a meeting where I was sharing my screen, but that ended hours ago. I just now noticed that the purple rectangle is at the top of my screen! Tried updating Zoom software to no avail. PLEASE fix this! It's downright creepy. 

MGSR
Community Manager
Community Manager
November 12, 2024

Welcome to the Zoom Community, @laurenhildreth! We're sorry for the inconvenience. If the solutions provided by other users in this thread did not work for you, please submit a ticket to our technical team for further assistance.

Newcomer
February 25, 2025

Privacy - Screen Recording, take the zoom out with  "-". Restart your computer. 

Newcomer
April 30, 2025

Yes this turn the recording off.  But it also makes it so that I cannot Share Screen within Zoom unless I turn it back on again AND restart Zoom.  AWFUL!  I am going to have to perform this procedure for every meeting in which I need to Share Screen??!!  FYI I just finally updated to Apple Sequoia yesterday, and this is a major problem for me.

Newcomer
August 26, 2025

I recently updated my Sequoia OS on my Mac and Zoom had an update, too. Now I can't share my screen (or just a document on it) like I used to--Zoom directs me to my computer's privacy settings and the only option that allows screen sharing or document sharing is to agree to let Zoom record my screen. Not good. Is there a solution so I can share just a particular document without giving Zoom unrestricted access?