How To Make Apple Tv Screenshots And Video Captures Without Using Xcode

At some point in the future, creating pixel-sharp screenshots, UI videos, and game recordings from your Apple TV may be as easy as hitting a button or two on the Siri Remote, but right now, the only obvious technique is a workaround. Thankfully, the workaround doesn’t require the use of Apple’s Xcode or another developer tool — all you’ll need is OS X’s built-in app QuickTime Player and a USB-C cable of your choice…

The process is the same for screenshots and videos. Load QuickTime Player on your Mac using Spotlight or the Applications folder. Connect your Apple TV — still plugged into the wall and your HDTV — to your Mac using the USB-C to USB cable you’ve purchased.

Go to the File menu and choose New Movie Recording. Next to the gray and red record button, click on the “v” shaped arrow to see a list of choices. Pick Apple TV for both Camera and Microphone. At that point, you’ll see the Apple TV’s current video feed on your screen. Hit the gray and red record button to start recording video. To make a screenshot, hit Command-Shift-4, then hit the space bar. Your cursor will turn into a camera icon. Hover over the window until the title bar and recording interface disappear, then click your trackpad or mouse on the window to make a screenshot.

Unless the video content you’re playing back through the Apple TV is protected against recording, this technique will let you create videos and screenshots effortlessly. A more complex and expensive solution with live streaming software and more video options is Elgato’s Game Capture HD60, reviewed here, but the USB-C cable will do the trick for most people at a lower price.