# Capturing On-Screen Content

> Also capture what people show on screen, not just what they say.

Source: https://groupthink.com/docs/on_screen_content_capture/
Last updated: 2026-09-16

When you record a meeting privately with the Groupthink desktop app, it captures
what people say. On-screen content capture adds what people _show_, the figure on
a dashboard, the number on a slide, the line item in a spreadsheet, so those
details land in your notes and your relationships instead of disappearing when the call ends.

It runs entirely on your Mac. Groupthink reads the text off the window you choose,
and only that text is sent to Groupthink. Images of your screen never leave your
computer and are never stored.

## What gets captured, and what doesn't

- You pick one window to capture. Groupthink reads only that window, not your full
  screen, and not any other app.
- Groupthink extracts the **text** visible in that window and adds it to your
  meeting. The screenshots themselves stay on your computer and are discarded once
  the text has been read.
- Captured content is saved with the meeting and shown under a **Shown on screen**
  section in the recap. It's private by default, the same as the rest of your private
  recording.

## Before you start

On-screen content capture is available in the **Groupthink desktop app for macOS**.
The first time you use it, you'll grant Screen Recording permission (steps below).

## Capturing a window

1. Start a private recording from a meeting in the desktop app, the way you normally do.
2. In the meeting header, find the capture control labeled
   **"Also capture a window, text only, stays on device"** and click it.
3. Choose the window you want to capture. Each option shows a thumbnail so you can
   confirm you've picked the right one. If you'd rather record audio only, choose
   **Skip** for audio only.
4. Groupthink starts reading text from that window and adds it to the meeting as the
   content changes. The control updates to **"Capturing: [window name]."**
5. To stop capturing the window without ending your recording, click the **X** on the
   capturing label. Your audio keeps recording.

![Groupthink desktop meeting header with the capture control before a window is selected](/on-screen-content-capture-control.png)

_The capture control sits in the meeting header, next to the Private and Local capture labels._

![The Choose a window to capture dialog showing a grid of open windows to pick from](/on-screen-content-capture-picker.png)

_Pick the one window to read text from. Each option shows a thumbnail so you can confirm the right one._

![The meeting header showing the active Capturing state for the selected window](/on-screen-content-capture-capturing.png)

_Once capturing, the control shows the window name and an X to stop reading it without ending your recording._

## Granting Screen Recording permission (macOS)

The first time you capture a window, macOS asks for Screen Recording permission:

1. If the window list is empty or shows a permission message, click **Open System Settings**.
2. Under **Privacy & Security > Screen Recording**, turn on Groupthink.
3. Back in Groupthink, click **Refresh** to load your windows.

If your windows still don't appear, quit and reopen Groupthink so the permission takes
effect, then start capturing again. To quit, press ⌘Q and click **Quit** when Groupthink
asks, or choose **Quit Groupthink Completely** from the menu bar. Closing the window with
the red button is not enough: that leaves the app running in the menu bar. See
[Closing and quitting](/docs/desktop#closing-and-quitting-mac).

macOS sometimes resets this permission after an app update, so if your window list is
suddenly empty, re-check this setting.

## Where captured content shows up

Text read from the window is added to the meeting alongside the transcript. In the recap,
it appears under a **Shown on screen** section, labeled with the window it came from so
you can tell it apart from what was said out loud. After the meeting, it also flows into
your relationships with the people on the call. A shared dashboard or slide often
holds the most concrete detail in a meeting, so this is usually where the specific numbers
and names end up.

## Availability

- macOS desktop app only. It isn't on the web app or the Windows desktop app yet.
- Full-screen capture isn't offered. Capture is scoped to a single window on purpose,
  so you stay in control of exactly what's read.

## Related

- [Groupthink Desktop App](desktop)
- [Troubleshooting Private Meeting Recording](troubleshooting_private_desktop_recording)