Installation

Cap Desktop is available for macOS and Windows. This guide walks you through downloading, installing, and granting the necessary permissions so you can start recording right away.

Download

Head to Cap.so/download to grab the latest version of Cap Desktop for your platform. The download page automatically detects your operating system and offers the correct installer.

macOS

System Requirements

• macOS 13 (Ventura) or later
• Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) or Intel processor
• At least 4 GB of RAM
• 200 MB of available disk space

Installation Steps

1. Download the .dmg file from Cap.so/download.
2. Open the downloaded .dmg file.
3. Drag the Cap icon into the Applications folder.
4. Open Cap from your Applications folder or Spotlight search.
5. If macOS shows a warning that Cap was downloaded from the internet, click Open to proceed.

Granting Permissions

Cap needs a few system permissions to record your screen, camera, and microphone. macOS will prompt you for these when you first try to use each feature.

Screen Recording

1. When you first start a recording, macOS will ask you to grant Screen Recording permission.
2. Click Open System Settings when prompted.
3. Navigate to Privacy & Security > Screen Recording.
4. Toggle the switch next to Cap to enable it.
5. You may need to restart Cap for the change to take effect.

Microphone

1. When you first enable microphone recording, macOS will prompt for Microphone access.
2. Click Allow in the dialog.
3. You can manage this later in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone.

Camera

1. When you first enable the camera overlay, macOS will prompt for Camera access.
2. Click Allow in the dialog.
3. You can manage this later in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera.

Accessibility (Optional)

Some features, like global keyboard shortcuts, may require Accessibility access. If prompted:

1. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility.
2. Click the + button and add Cap from your Applications folder.

Windows

System Requirements

• Windows 10 (version 1903 or later) or Windows 11
• 64-bit processor
• At least 4 GB of RAM
• 200 MB of available disk space

Installation Steps

1. Download the .exe installer from Cap.so/download.
2. Run the downloaded installer.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
4. Cap will be added to your Start menu and optionally to your desktop.
5. Launch Cap from the Start menu or desktop shortcut.

Granting Permissions

Microphone and Camera

1. Windows will prompt you to allow microphone and camera access when you first use these features.
2. Click Yes or Allow when prompted.
3. You can manage these permissions in Settings > Privacy > Microphone and Camera.

Screen Recording

Windows does not require a separate screen recording permission. Cap uses native Windows APIs to capture your screen without additional setup.

Auto-Updates

Cap Desktop automatically checks for updates and will notify you when a new version is available. When an update is ready:

1. You will see a notification in the Cap app.
2. Click to download and install the update.
3. Cap will restart with the latest version.

Updates include new features, performance improvements, and bug fixes. We recommend keeping Cap up to date to get the best experience.

Verifying Your Installation

After installing Cap, verify everything is working:

1. Open Cap Desktop.
2. Sign in with your Cap account or create a new one.
3. Click the record button and select a screen or window.
4. Record a few seconds and stop the recording.
5. If the recording plays back successfully, you are all set.

If you run into issues, check the permissions sections above or visit the Cap community Discord for help.

Uninstalling

macOS: Drag Cap from the Applications folder to the Trash. To remove preferences and data, also delete ~/Library/Application Support/so.cap.desktop.

Windows: Open Settings > Apps > Installed Apps, find Cap, and click Uninstall. Follow the prompts to remove it.