Screen Recording Didn't Save? Methods to Fix!

QuickTime Player is a reliable tool for screen recording and video editing on Mac, but it's not immune to issues. The screen recording capability may malfunction when you attempt to record your screen. 

Errors such as "screen recording didn't save due to: failed due to asset writer failing to save" and "QuickTime Player encountered an error while recording your screen" are displayed when screen recording fails. If you're facing these problems, don't worry - this guide will help you locate unsaved recordings and resolve the issue to save or export your QuickTime files successfully.

Why Screen Recording Failed to Save on Mac

Several factors can prevent QuickTime from saving your screen recording or edited video. Common causes include:

• Background processes or startup items interfering with QuickTime.
• The saving location is set to read-only.
• Disk errors or corrupted files.
• The screen recording was captured but not saved on your Mac (The most likely reason).

Thus, use the Command + S keys while creating a screen capture, or click File in the menu bar and select the "Save" option to save the screen capture to your Mac. Regardless of the cause, the solutions below will help you recover unsaved Quicktime recordings and fix the issue.

Solutions to Fix Screen Recording Failed to Save

If your Mac fails to save your screen recording or export a trimmed video, try the following methods:

✅1. Try Image/Video Recovery Software

When you find the screen recording didn't save and you haven't backed up your Mac, Don't be panic; you can restore screen captures without a backup. Third-party data recovery tools can be used to accomplish this.

You can recover unsaved files from your Mac using EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. I've been using EaseUS for a long time and highly recommend it.

Here are the steps:

Step 1. Scan for lost photos

Select the location where your valuable photos were lost and click the "Search for lost files" button.

Step 2. Select wanted photos

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will immediately start a scan on your selected disk volume. Meanwhile, the scanning results will be presented in the left pane. By Path and Type, you can quickly filter the photos you've lost earlier.

Step 3. Recover lost photos

Select the target photos and click the "Recover" button to get them back at once.

Many Mac users have proved the efficacy of the tool. If you want to resolve the Mac files recovery issue, share it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms!

2. Locate the Recording in the AutoSave Folder

When you click the Stop button, QuickTime should automatically save your recording. If the preview doesn't appear due to errors like "Cannot Open," the recording might still be in the AutoSave folder. This folder stores recordings that couldn't be saved due to unexpected issues, such as a Mac recovery after shutdown or closed computer lid during recording.

Steps to Find the Unsaved Recording:

• Open Finder and click "Go" > "Go to Folder".
• Copy and paste the following path into the box and press Enter:

• Look for files like "Unsaved QuickTime Player Document 2.qtpxcomposition."

• Right-click the file and select “Show Package Contents” to reveal the .mov file.
• Preview the .mov file to confirm it's your recording, then drag it to your desktop.
• If the recording isn't found, repeat the steps with this path:

How to Save Screen Recordings with Time Machine

Time Machine is a backup feature in macOS that automatically saves copies of your files. It creates incremental backups, allowing you to restore files from specific points in time.

1. Automatic Backup

If Time Machine is set up and running, your screen recordings and other files will automatically be backed up. No additional steps are needed.

2. Manual Backup

• Connect your Mac to your external hard disk.
• Select Time Machine after launching System Preferences.
• After plugging the external hard drive into your Mac, choose it and give it a name.
• Copy the screen recordings you want to manually back up to your external drive.

Conclusion

Despite being a potent tool, QuickTime Player occasionally has trouble saving recorded or altered videos. Following the abovementioned procedures, you can fix common problems and recover unsaved recordings. If the issue continues, update macOS, reinstall QuickTime, or use another screen recording program. 

How to Fix Screen Recording Failed to Save FAQs

If you still have some questions about screen recording file recovery, check the quick answers below to help yourself out:

1. Can I back up screen recordings to a network drive?

Yes, Time Machine supports network-attached storage (NAS) devices. Set up the NAS in Time Machine settings.

2. How often does Time Machine back up my files?

Time Machine backs up your files hourly, daily, and weekly, depending on the time elapsed since the last backup.

3. Can I recover screen recordings from a specific date?

Yes, Time Machine allows you to browse backups by date and restore files from a specific point in time.