The Save Hotkey

The save hotkey

ShadePlay guide › Using ShadePlay

The key that saves a clip: why it is F10, how to choose another one, and what to do when another program takes it.

F10 by default

ShadePlay saves a clip when you press F10 alone. One key is quick to hit in the middle of a game, and graphics drivers' own recorders and overlays often use Alt with an F key, so a plain F10 is less likely to be taken.

• On a compact or laptop keyboard, F10 may need the Fn key, or you can choose another key.
• The key works everywhere, in games and on the desktop, while ShadePlay runs.
• Holding the key down, or pressing it twice within 0.75 seconds, saves one clip.

Choosing another key

1. Open the settings and click the Save hotkey box. It says Press the keys now. Esc cancels, Backspace restores F10. While you hold modifier keys it shows them, for example Ctrl+Alt+….
2. Press the key or the combination you want. It appears in the box and is saved by itself a moment later (there is no Apply button).

While the box is waiting for keys, your current hotkey is switched off, so pressing it there saves nothing.

Keys you can use:

• F1 to F24, alone or with Ctrl, Alt, Shift or Win;
• letters, digits, Space, Tab and the number pad's digits, but only together with Ctrl, Alt or Win (alone, or with only Shift, they would stop working for typing in every other app);
• Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, Insert, Delete, Pause, Scroll Lock and Print Screen, alone or with modifiers.

What the box refuses, with the reason under it:

• Not that key: use a function key, or Ctrl, Alt or Win with a letter. for keys it can't use (Enter, the arrow keys and similar; Esc cancels the change);
• “Alt+F4” is used by Windows. Pick another combination. for Windows' own shortcuts: Alt+F4, Alt+Tab, Alt+Shift+Tab, Alt+Space, Alt+Esc, Ctrl+Esc, Ctrl+Alt+Delete, Win+L, Win+D, Win+E, Win+R, Win+X and Win+Tab;
• “A” would stop typing in other apps. Add Ctrl, Alt or Win. for a letter or digit without a modifier.

Mouse buttons can't be the hotkey, only keyboard keys. Mouse or keyboard software that can send a key such as F13 to F24 from a button works: pick that key.

When the new key is saved

ShadePlay registers the new key before it saves it. If another program already has it, the old key stays, the picker shows the reason in red and the banner says, for example, Not saved: F9 is already used by another program. Choose another hotkey. Your other changes are still saved.

Once it works, a notification Test your save hotkey asks: Press F9 now to check that it reaches ShadePlay. Pressing it then only tests the key (you get Hotkey works), it doesn't save. This check needs notifications to be on.

When the hotkey does not work

The tray menu shows a warning line, and a notification explains it once per session:

Warning in the tray menu	What happened	Fix
⚠ F10 is used by another app – choose another hotkey in Settings	Another program registered the key first, so Windows won't give it to ShadePlay. ShadePlay tries again every 30 seconds.	Close that program or free the key there, or choose another hotkey.
⚠ F10 is taken by another app – choose another hotkey in Settings	You pressed the key during the check, but ShadePlay never received it: another program swallows it (often a graphics card overlay or another recorder). The notification says Your hotkey didn't reach ShadePlay.	Unbind the key in that program, or choose another hotkey.
⚠ The saved hotkey doesn't work, so F10 is used	The hotkey in the settings file isn't a valid key.	Choose a hotkey in the settings.

In advanced mode the same warnings read Hotkey F10 is taken by another app (retrying), F10 is intercepted by another app and Invalid hotkey in settings (using F10).

In the settings file

The hotkey is the hotkey key in config.json, written like F10, Alt+F10, Ctrl+Shift+S or Win+Alt+R (modifiers in any order, any case). See Settings file, logs and command line.

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Next: Quality, frame rate and buffer length

See also: Your first clip · Troubleshooting · The tray menu and notifications