Troubleshooting

Start with the message shown in Shotomatic. The app preserves partial frames when it can, so check the current session before starting over.

The screen or window list is empty

1. Confirm that Shotomatic has Screen Recording permission in macOS System Settings.
2. Return to the permission dialog and select Refresh Status.
3. Reopen the source picker and select Refresh.
4. If the list remains empty, quit and reopen Shotomatic.

Automatic keypress does not work

1. Confirm that Accessibility permission is granted.
2. Clear the Key press field and record the key again.
3. Make sure the selected target window has focus.
4. If Shotomatic cannot focus it automatically, click the target window when the focus-failure toast appears after the countdown.

A shortcut registered globally by macOS or another app may not respond like a key sent to the target window. Try a simpler key when possible.

A capture is black or blank

Check Screen Recording permission, then select the source again. If you recently connected a display, disconnected one, or changed resolution or scaling, follow the Display Configuration Changed prompt.

Choose another display and continue when the source is still valid. Stop the session and start a new one if the stream cannot be restored.

Protected content can also prevent screenshots. Shotomatic cannot bypass restrictions imposed by the source app or service.

The Mac locked or went to sleep

Auto Capture pauses the capture stream when macOS locks or suspends the session. After unlock or wake, it attempts to restore the stream and resumes a run that was active before the interruption.

A session that you paused manually stays paused. If automatic recovery fails, Shotomatic shows Failed to restore capture stream after unlock. Press Resume to retry. Select Resume to try again.

The display configuration changed

For whole-screen capture, Shotomatic may select another available display and continue. For a Custom Area or a source that no longer exists, choose a new display in Display Configuration Changed, then select Continue with Selected Display.

Choose Stop Capture when the original area cannot be reproduced safely.

Capture stopped unexpectedly

If at least one frame was saved, Shotomatic keeps the partial screenshots and finalizes the session. Open the session from Capture History before starting another run.

If Auto Capture fails before the first frame, Shotomatic removes the empty session instead of keeping an empty history item.

Action Capture does not record clicks

1. Confirm that both Screen Recording and Accessibility are Granted.
2. Make sure recording is Capturing rather than Paused.
3. For Specific Window or Capture Area, click inside the selected target or enable Capture outside clicks.
4. Finish and reopen the saved Document if a partial run already contains usable steps.

At the Free 5-step limit, all five steps are saved and the run pauses. Choose Open Document or activate Pro to resume the same run.

Website Capture does not start

• Wait for the browser components to finish preparing on the first run.
• Make sure every row contains a valid HTTP or HTTPS URL.
• On the Free plan, keep the batch to three URLs or fewer.
• Lower Concurrent browsers if the Mac is short on memory.
• Retry a failed or cancelled URL as soon as its Retry control is enabled.

Cookie banner handling is best effort and may not match a custom consent system.

Export actions are unavailable or files are missing

Select at least one frame. Then check Settings > General > Export path and use Open Export Folder.

Some session actions remain locked while a capture is active. Stop or finish the run, then reopen the saved session.

Capture exports are available on Free and Pro. Images opens the PNG/JPG choices; ZIP, searchable PDF, and MP4 use their own export actions.

A Document does not save or export

• Wait for Saved before leaving the editor. If Save failed remains, keep the app open and retry after checking disk space.
• A Document with no Pages cannot be exported.
• PDF, PNG, JPG, WebP, and ZIP Document exports are available on Free and Pro.
• If an imported source disappeared, add the image or Capture History Frames again. Documents use owned copies after a successful import.

A license needs verification

Open Settings > License and select Restore license. A recent verification may continue from the local cache while offline. Use Manage my license when the order, key, or activation count must be corrected.

Shotomatic asks before quitting

When a capture is active, closing the app opens Auto capture in progress. Choose Keep Capturing to return to the session. Choose Quit Shotomatic only when it is safe to stop the current capture.