> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://withbeckon.app/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Permissions

> What Accessibility and Screen Recording are for, and how to allow them.

Beckon asks for two permissions. Both are optional: without either, the ring still switches apps.

| Permission | What Beckon uses it for | Without it |
| - | - | - |
| **Accessibility** | Listing each app's windows and their titles, bringing up the window you pick, reading an app's own commands (like New Window) for the right-click menu, and keeping the middle click from reaching the app under the pointer. | The ring switches apps, but can't list or raise windows. The right-click menu has no windows or app commands. The middle click also reaches the app underneath. |
| **Screen Recording** | Window thumbnails, if you turn them on. | Windows show as icons and titles. |

Beckon never sends your windows, their titles or thumbnails anywhere. Thumbnails are kept in
memory only. See the [privacy policy](https://withbeckon.app/privacy).

## Allow them

![The welcome guide's Permissions step, with Accessibility and Screen Recording allowed](https://mintcdn.com/beckon/ZZ3Mx-oqja_BgUg6/images/welcome-3.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=ZZ3Mx-oqja_BgUg6\&q=85\&s=3eb86bc0eb83b0e105179a082b85030d)

The welcome guide's **Permissions** step and **Settings → Windows** each have an **Allow…** button
that opens the right place in System Settings. Or go there yourself:

**1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security**

Then **Accessibility** or **Screen & System Audio Recording** (called **Screen Recording** on
older macOS).

**2. Turn Beckon on**

If Beckon isn't in the list, click **+** and choose it from Applications.

**3. For Screen Recording, quit and reopen Beckon**

macOS only applies it after a restart. The welcome guide has a **Restart Beckon** button
that does this and brings you back to the same step.

> [!NOTE]
>
> macOS may ask now and then whether Beckon can keep recording your screen. That's macOS
> checking in on every app that captures the screen. Allow it to keep thumbnails.

## If a permission is on but doesn't work

Sometimes, after an update, System Settings shows Beckon as allowed but it behaves as if it isn't.
Remove it and add it again, once:

1. In System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility (or Screen Recording), select Beckon
   and click **−**.
2. Click **+**, choose Beckon from Applications, and turn it on.
3. Quit and reopen Beckon.


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.