How to take screenshots and make screen recordings of your Apple TV

This step-by-step guide shows you how to take screenshots and video recordings of your Apple TV running any of the latest versions of tvOS. Other than your TV, all you need is a little help from your Mac.

How to take screenshots on Apple TV

1) Turn on your Apple TV and go to its settings.

2) Scroll down and select Network. Here you will see the name of the Wi-Fi network your Apple TV is connected to. Do not exit this screen until you go to step 6.

3) Now connect your Mac to the same network. If you’re at home, chances are it’s already connected to the same home Wi-Fi network.

4) Open the built-in QuickTime Player on your Mac and from the top menu bar, click File > New Video Recording.

5) Click the tiny arrow next to the white and red record button and select your Apple TV under the Display heading.

6) The first time you do this for the first time, a pop-up will appear on your Mac saying “Enter the AirPlay code for ‘Your Apple TV Name’”. At the same time, you will see a four-digit code on the Apple TV screen. Enter this code on your Mac to authenticate the connection between your Mac and Apple TV.

7) Right after that, the Apple TV screen will appear in QuickTime on your Mac. You’ll also see a red border on your TV screen, which means your Apple TV’s screen is being used elsewhere—in this case, your Mac.

8) Use Siri Remote to navigate to the Apple TV screen you want to take a screenshot of.

9) Now click once on the QuickTime Player to hide the control window. If you don’t, they will appear on your TV screenshot.

10) Finally, follow the usual steps to take a screenshot of your Mac window: Press the Command + Shift + 4 keys on your Mac keyboard at the same time. Then press the enter key, hover over the QuickTime Player (which shows the Apple TV screen) and click to take a screenshot of your Apple TV.

How to Record Your Apple TV Screen

1) Make sure your Apple TV and Mac are on the same Wi-Fi network.

2) Open QuickTime Player on Mac and click File > New Video Recording.

3) Click the arrow button next to the tiny red and white QuickTime record button and select your Apple TV under the Display and Sound headings.

4) Drag the tiny speaker icon to the right to turn it on. If you don’t do this, the screen recording will not be accompanied by TV sound.

5) Now press the white and red record button and it will record everything that is on the screen of your Apple TV.

6) When you’re done, stop recording in QuickTime using the stop button.

7) Finally, click the red close button on the top left corner of the QuickTime window to save this Apple TV screen recording to your Mac.

How to take screenshots on older Apple TVs

If you can’t complete the steps above on your old Apple TV, follow these steps instead:

1) Connect your Apple TV to your Mac with a USB-C cable. There is a USB-C cable on the back of the Apple TV HD.

2) Connect your Apple TV to your screen with an HDMI cable.

3) Launch Xcode on your Mac.

4) In Xcode, click Window > Devices in the menu bar.

5) Select your Apple TV and click the “Take Screenshot”button.

FAQ

Where are Apple TV screenshots and screen recordings saved?

Apple TV screenshots are saved in the same location as your Mac screenshots. In most cases, this is your Mac’s desktop, unless you’ve moved it somewhere else before.

What is the format of Apple TV screenshots and screen recordings?

Since you are taking screenshots or screen recording on Mac, the format of both files is the same as Mac: PNG for screenshots and MOV for screen recording.

Can I record movies and TV shows with Apple TV?

Many apps like YouTube don’t block screen recording. However, if an app (like Apple TV+) restricts screenshots and screen recording, then when you record your Apple TV screen on Mac and try to play a movie or TV show, it will show up as a black box (most likely with a processing icon). The video may not play until you stop recording your Apple TV screen.

Apple TV not showing up in QuickTime Player on Mac?

If you don’t see your Apple TV in QuickTime Player as a potential screen or sound input option, make sure your Apple TV and Mac are on the same network and have the same Apple ID. If the problem persists, force quit QuickTime Player and reopen it. Then try again. If all else fails, restart your Apple TV and Mac and this will fix the issue.

Are you using HomePods as your default audio output on your Apple TV?

If one or more HomePods are set as the default audio output on your Apple TV, you won’t be able to take screenshots or record your screen using the above method until you adjust the settings. The reason this doesn’t work is because your Apple TV can’t use AirPlay for QuickTime because the AirPlay connection is already in use with your HomePods. Go to your Apple TV settings to temporarily set the default sound output as the TV speaker. The Apple TV will then display in QuickTime so you can take a screenshot. After that, you can set HomePods as the default outlet again.