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How to use macOS High Sierra to take screenshots and grab video from your Apple TV

Did you know you can use your Mac to take screenshots and grab video from an Apple TV? You can — if your Mac is running macOS High Sierra. Here’s how:

  • Turn on your Apple TV, open settings, and choose Network.
  • Look under Connection and note the Wi-Fi network name. 
  • Turn on your Mac, and make sure it’s connected to the same network. 
  • Launch QuickTime Player.
  • In the QuickTime menu bar, select File -> New Movie Recording. A new recording window will open.
  • Click the small down arrow to the right of the red record button and a dropdown menu will appear. 
  • Select Apple TV under both the Camera and Microphone sections.
  • On the Apple TV, a screen sharing permissions prompt will pop up. Use the Siri Remote and choose Allow.
  • Click the red button to start recording.

To take a screenshot on your Apple TV from your Mac, press Shift (⇧)-Command (⌘)-4 and the onscreen pointer changes to a crosshair.

  • Press the Space bar. The pointer changes to a camera.
  • Move the pointer over the QuickTime Player window, wait until the QuickTime menu and the overlay with playback controls have disappeared, then click the mouse or trackpad to take a screenshot of what’s shown on your Apple TV.

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Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.