Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting ZoomArc

Most ZoomArc problems are fixed by updating to the latest version, updating Windows, and updating your graphics driver. Specific fixes are below.

"Your system can't currently exclude the cursor from screen recordings"

ZoomArc needs Windows Graphics Capture with cursor exclusion, available from Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041).

1. Update Windows (Settings → Windows Update).
2. Update your graphics driver from Intel, NVIDIA or AMD.
3. Make sure you're on ZoomArc 0.11.1 or newer — 0.11.0's packaged build had a bug that caused this message on every machine.

Windows SmartScreen blocks the installer

ZoomArc isn't code-signed yet. Click More info → Run anyway. Only download from the official Releases page.

A monitor is missing from the recorder

Click Refresh sources. ZoomArc 0.12.0+ lists every monitor directly from Windows, including those on a different GPU on hybrid (Intel + NVIDIA/AMD) laptops — update if you're on an older version.

The recording looks choppy

• Make sure you're on 0.12.0 or newer (true 60 fps native recording).
• On laptops, plug in power — battery saver can throttle the GPU.
• Lower capture quality to High or Standard on older hardware.
• Note that a still screen produces fewer frames by design; motion is captured at 60 fps.

The cursor doesn't line up with the screen

Recordings made with 0.12.0+ use a shared hardware clock for cursor and video and are exact. Takes recorded with older versions keep their original timing. Check that Cursor → Smoothing is at 0% for exact motion.

My transparent export isn't transparent

• Make sure Background → Transparent is selected — a transparent format only keeps transparency the background already has. The preview shows a checkerboard when it's set.
• Use a transparent format: MOV, WebM (transparent), MKV or PNG sequence. MP4 and regular WebM turn the background black.
• If a MOV looks black in Windows' video player, the file is still transparent — check it in DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, After Effects or OBS, or export WebM (transparent) and open it in Chrome.
• Update to 0.12.1 or newer for the Make transparent button, automatic format switching, the checkerboard preview and transparent WebM.

The exported video shows a different cursor

Update to 0.12.0 or newer — older versions exported the built-in arrow instead of your custom cursor image.

Nothing happens when I press Ctrl+Shift+2

Another app may have claimed that hotkey. Use the Stop recording button instead (restore ZoomArc from the taskbar).

No microphone or camera listed

Allow access in Settings → Privacy & security → Camera / Microphone (including "Let desktop apps access…"), then reopen ZoomArc.

Still stuck?

Open an issue on GitHub Issues with your Windows version, ZoomArc version and what you were doing.