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cormiertyshawn895 committed Mar 8, 2023
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59 changes: 12 additions & 47 deletions README.md
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<a href="https://github.com/cormiertyshawn895/RecordingIndicatorUtility/releases/download/1.3/RecordingIndicatorUtility.1.3.zip" alt="Download Recording Indicator Utility"><img src="RecordingIndicatorUtility/Screenshots/icon.png" width="150" alt="Recording Indicator Utility App icon" align="left"/></a>
<a href="https://github.com/cormiertyshawn895/RecordingIndicatorUtility/releases/download/2.0/RecordingIndicatorUtility.2.0.zip" alt="Download Recording Indicator Utility"><img src="RecordingIndicatorUtility/Screenshots/icon.png" width="150" alt="Recording Indicator Utility App icon" align="left"/></a>

<div>
<h2>Recording Indicator Utility</h2>
<p>Recording Indicator Utility lets you turn off the <a href="https://twitter.com/applesupport/status/1454202118336811015">orange microphone recording indicator light</a>, making it ideal for professionals who <a href="https://cdm.link/2021/12/apple-added-an-orange-dot-thats-a-showstopper-for-live-visuals-and-it-needs-a-fix/">run live events</a>, <a href="https://telestreamforum.forumbee.com/t/x2hgw5f/orange-dot-on-imac-screen-when-screenflow-is-recording">record screencasts</a>, or use a <a href="https://www.globaldelight.com/faq/boom3dmac">system-wide volume equalizer</a>.</p>

<p>Recording Indicator Utility supports <a href="https://support.apple.com/macos/upgrade">macOS Monterey</a> and <a href="https://www.apple.com/macos/macos-ventura-preview/">macOS Ventura</a>.</p>
<p>Recording Indicator Utility supports <a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/macos-ventura/id1638787999">macOS Ventura</a> and <a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/macos-monterey/id1576738294">macOS Monterey</a>.</p>

</div>

<p align="center">
<a href="https://github.com/cormiertyshawn895/RecordingIndicatorUtility/releases/download/1.3/RecordingIndicatorUtility.1.3.zip" alt="Download Recording Indicator Utility"><img width="362" src="RecordingIndicatorUtility/Screenshots/resources/download-button.png" alt="Download Recording Indicator Utility"></a>
<a href="https://github.com/cormiertyshawn895/RecordingIndicatorUtility/releases/download/2.0/RecordingIndicatorUtility.2.0.zip" alt="Download Recording Indicator Utility"><img width="362" src="RecordingIndicatorUtility/Screenshots/resources/download-button.png" alt="Download Recording Indicator Utility"></a>
<p>
<p align="center">
<a href="https://github.com/cormiertyshawn895/RecordingIndicatorUtility/releases" alt="View Release Page"><img width="160" src="RecordingIndicatorUtility/Screenshots/resources/release-button.png" alt="View Release Page"></a>
Expand All @@ -35,14 +35,10 @@ Recording Indicator Utility will not harm your Mac. This alert shows up because

### Using Recording Indicator Utility

By default, the recording indicator light shows you when an app has access to your microphone. Click the blue toggle to turn off the recording indicator light across all apps. You can also click “Per-App Settings” to see more options.
By default, the recording indicator light shows you when an app has access to your microphone. Click the blue toggle to turn off the recording indicator light across all apps.

![](RecordingIndicatorUtility/Screenshots/screenshot-enabled.jpg)

By customizing per-app settings, you can choose to hide the recording indicator of your favorite apps or in full-screen apps. Click “+” to add an app currently using your microphone, or click “Choose App…” and pick one in Finder.

![](RecordingIndicatorUtility/Screenshots/screenshot-per-app-settings.jpg)

When the “Recording Indicator” toggle is off, the recording indicator light is hidden at all times, making it ideal for professionals who [run live events](https://cdm.link/2021/12/apple-added-an-orange-dot-thats-a-showstopper-for-live-visuals-and-it-needs-a-fix/), [record screencasts](https://telestreamforum.forumbee.com/t/x2hgw5f/orange-dot-on-imac-screen-when-screenflow-is-recording), or use a [system-wide volume equalizer](https://www.globaldelight.com/faq/boom3dmac).

![](RecordingIndicatorUtility/Screenshots/screenshot-disabled.jpg)
Expand All @@ -53,57 +49,36 @@ When the “Recording Indicator” toggle is off, the recording indicator light

![](RecordingIndicatorUtility/Screenshots/screenshot-prerequisite.jpg)

#### Why is Recording Indicator Utility guiding me to adjust my security settings?
To configure the recording indicator, Recording Indicator Utility needs to modify two system components, [WindowServer](https://setapp.com/how-to/windowserver-mac) and [Control Center](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/control-center-mchl50f94f8f). Both components are protected by [System Integrity Protection](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204899) and [covered by the seal of the signed system volume](https://support.apple.com/guide/security/signed-system-volume-security-secd698747c9/web).

In order to modify [WindowServer](https://setapp.com/how-to/windowserver-mac) and [Control Center](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/control-center-mchl50f94f8f), Recording Indicator Utility guides you to adjust your security settings to the appropriate level.
#### Why is Recording Indicator Utility guiding me to disable System Integrity Protection?
To turn off the recording indicator, Recording Indicator Utility needs to reconfigure system components protected by [System Integrity Protection](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204899).

#### Why is Recording Indicator Utility asking me to scan a QR code to view instructions?
Adjusting your security settings requires starting up in macOS Recovery. Because Recording Indicator Utility can’t show instructions in macOS Recovery, it is easier to follow along on another device by scanning a QR code. You can also preview the instructions on your Mac.
To disable System Integrity Protection, you need to start up in macOS Recovery. Because Recording Indicator Utility can’t show instructions in macOS Recovery, it is easier to follow along on another device by scanning a QR code. You can also preview the instructions on your Mac.

- [Instruction for Mac computers with Apple Silicon](https://cormiertyshawn895.github.io/instruction/?arch=as-lowering)
- [Instruction for Intel-based Mac](https://cormiertyshawn895.github.io/instruction/?arch=intel-lowering)
- [Instruction for Mac computers with Apple Silicon](https://cormiertyshawn895.github.io/instruction/?arch=riu-as-lowering)
- [Instruction for Intel-based Mac](https://cormiertyshawn895.github.io/instruction/?arch=riu-intel-lowering)

#### Is it easier for my Mac to be attacked after adjusting security settings?
Because very few Mac users turn off System Integrity Protection or allow booting from non-sealed system snapshots, there’s little incentive or payoff for attackers to target these configurations.

#### Why is Recording Indicator Utility guiding me to turn off FileVault?
[When FileVault is on, macOS doesn’t permit booting from non-sealed system snapshots](https://support.apple.com/guide/security/signed-system-volume-security-secd698747c9/web#sec32d46902a), therefore you need to [turn off FileVault first](https://support.apple.com/HT204837#turnoff).
Because very few Mac users turn off System Integrity Protection, there’s little incentive or payoff for attackers to target these configurations.

#### How do I raise security settings back to their defaults?
Open Recording Indicator Utility, turn on the recording indicator, then click “Raise Security Settings.” Recording Indicator Utility will [restore the last sealed system volume snapshot](https://keith.github.io/xcode-man-pages/bless.8.html#last-sealed-snapshot) and show you step-by-step instructions to raise security settings.
Open Recording Indicator Utility, turn on the recording indicator, then click “Raise Security Settings.” Recording Indicator Utility will restore the default security settings.

#### Can someone use Recording Indicator Utility to monitor me without my knowledge?
No. Your admin password is required before Recording Indicator Utility can make any changes. Recording Indicator Utility is designed to support professionals who [run live events](https://cdm.link/2021/12/apple-added-an-orange-dot-thats-a-showstopper-for-live-visuals-and-it-needs-a-fix/), [record screencasts](https://telestreamforum.forumbee.com/t/x2hgw5f/orange-dot-on-imac-screen-when-screenflow-is-recording), or use a [system-wide volume equalizer](https://www.globaldelight.com/faq/boom3dmac).

#### Why is Recording Indicator Utility asking me to access the microphone?
The microphone recording indicator only updates when you pause an existing audio recording or start a new audio recording. For changes to the recording indicator to immediately take effect, Recording Indicator Utility requests access to the microphone to make a zero (0) second long audio recording.

The temporary recording is only used to refresh the microphone recording indicator and will be automatically discarded by macOS.

#### How does Recording Indicator Utility differ from undot and YellowDot?
Recording Indicator Utility supports the latest version of [macOS Monterey](https://support.apple.com/macos/upgrade) and [macOS Ventura](https://www.apple.com/macos/macos-ventura-preview/), allows you to turn off the recording indicator in any app, and requires adjusting security settings.
Recording Indicator Utility supports the latest version of [macOS Ventura](https://apps.apple.com/app/macos-ventura/id1638787999) and [macOS Monterey](https://apps.apple.com/app/macos-monterey/id1576738294). It requires adjusting security settings.

[undot](https://github.com/s4y/undot) and [YellowDot](https://lowtechguys.com/yellowdot/) only support macOS 12.1 and earlier, allow you to turn off the recording indicator in full-screen apps, and do not require adjusting security settings.

#### What happens if I update macOS?
After updating macOS, changes to the microphone recording indicator will be automatically reset. You can open Recording Indicator Utility and turn it back off.

#### Can I use Recording Indicator Utility with multiple copies of macOS?
Yes. Changes you made in Recording Indicator Utility only affect the current Startup Disk. After restarting to a different Startup Disk, you can run Recording Indicator Utility again to apply changes to that Startup Disk.

Recording Indicator Utility may be unreliable if you share the same volume name across multiple volumes. To resolve this, rename these volumes so that each of them has a different name.

---

### Troubleshooting Tips

#### What if my Mac no longer starts up?
Your Mac will no longer start up if you [press Option-Command-P-R to reset NVRAM](https://support.apple.com/HT204063) or [manually raise security settings in macOS Recovery](https://support.apple.com/guide/security/startup-disk-security-policy-control-sec7d92dc49f/web) without turning on the recording indicator and clicking “Raise Security Settings” in Recording Indicator Utility first. To resolve this, start up from macOS Recovery, then turn off System Integrity Protection and allow booting from non-sealed system snapshots.

- [Instruction for Mac computers with Apple Silicon](https://cormiertyshawn895.github.io/instruction/?arch=as-lowering)
- [Instruction for Intel-based Mac](https://cormiertyshawn895.github.io/instruction/?arch=intel-lowering)

#### Why has Apple Pay been disabled?
Apple Pay is disabled when security settings are modified. You can still authorize Apple Pay payments on the web with your iPhone. To use Apple Pay on your Mac, open Recording Indicator Utility, turn on the recording indicator, then click “Raise Security Settings” and proceed with the instructions.

Expand All @@ -114,13 +89,3 @@ To open iPhone and iPad apps downloaded from the App Store, open Recording Indic

#### Why does Netflix and Apple TV+ stream video in HD instead of 4K?
When System Integrity Protection is turned off, certain premium video providers such as [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com) and [Apple TV+](http://tv.apple.com) limit video quality to HD. This does not affect most video streaming websites such as [YouTube](https://youtube.com) and [Twitch](https://www.twitch.tv), nor does it affect [local video playback](https://support.apple.com/guide/quicktime-player/welcome/mac) or [editing](https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/).

#### Why does it take longer to download macOS updates?
After Recording Indicator Utility modifies [WindowServer](https://setapp.com/how-to/windowserver-mac) and [Control Center](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/control-center-mchl50f94f8f), [Software Update](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/change-software-update-preferences-on-mac-mchla7037245) needs to download the full macOS installer instead of a smaller update.

If your network connection is metered, you can open Recording Indicator Utility, turn on the recording indicator, then click “Raise Security Settings” and proceed with the instructions. This will [apply the last sealed system snapshot](https://keith.github.io/xcode-man-pages/bless.8.html#last-sealed-snapshot), allowing macOS to download a smaller update.

#### What if my Mac misbehaves after raising security settings?
Before raising the security setting of your Mac, Recording Indicator Utility must apply [the last sealed system snapshot](https://keith.github.io/xcode-man-pages/bless.8.html#last-sealed-snapshot). This only affects the macOS system volume and does not affect your apps or data.

If your Mac misbehaves after Recording Indicator Utility applies [the last sealed system snapshot](https://keith.github.io/xcode-man-pages/bless.8.html#last-sealed-snapshot), choose Apple menu > Restart or force restart your Mac. Once your Mac starts up, open Recording Indicator Utility and click “Raise Security Settings” again.
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