wxShot questions answered
Short, direct answers. If something is missing, write to [email protected].
WeChat and the shortcut
Why can't the WeChat screenshot work when I am not logged in?
The screenshot is a feature of the WeChat app and it only works while WeChat is running and signed in. When WeChat is closed, on the login screen or signed out, nothing is listening for its shortcut. wxShot is a separate app that listens for ⌥A itself, so it works in those situations.
What is the screenshot shortcut on Mac?
wxShot uses ⌥A (Option+A) by default, the same key many people use for the WeChat screenshot. You can change it in wxShot Settings. The macOS built-in screenshot keys are ⌘⇧3, ⌘⇧4 and ⌘⇧5.
Does wxShot conflict with WeChat?
By default, no. When WeChat is signed in, wxShot hands the shortcut back to WeChat. The only conflict is if you choose “always use wxShot” while both use the same shortcut: two screenshots can open. Change one of the shortcuts to avoid it.
How does wxShot know whether WeChat is signed in?
It only checks whether the WeChat app is running and whether its main window exists. It reads no WeChat data.
Is wxShot affiliated with Tencent?
No. wxShot is an independent product from NTFSTool. “WeChat” and “微信” are Tencent trademarks, used here only to describe compatibility.
Privacy, price and permissions
Does wxShot upload my screenshots?
No. No screenshot, extracted text or file leaves your Mac. The only traffic is optional anonymous “still in use” pings (install id, version, system, language and whether WeChat is running) at a few checkpoints in the first month. Switch them off in Settings.
Is wxShot free?
Yes, free and open source under the MIT license. The source is on GitHub.
Which macOS versions are supported?
macOS 14 or later, on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
How do I grant Screen Recording permission?
Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording (on newer macOS it may be called Screen & System Audio Recording) and switch wxShot on. macOS may ask you to quit and reopen the app. The welcome window and Settings also have a button that opens the right pane. wxShot does not need Accessibility.
Why does a screenshot app need Screen Recording?
macOS requires that permission for every app that captures the screen. wxShot only looks at the area you select.
Using and removing it
I installed it but see no icon. Where is it?
That is normal. wxShot runs in the background with no Dock icon and no menu bar icon by default. Press ⌥A to capture, or open the app again to reach Settings, where you can show a menu bar icon.
How do I copy, save or cancel a screenshot?
Double-click or press Return to copy. Use the save button on the toolbar to save a file. Press Esc to cancel.
Can it record the screen or upload to the cloud?
No. Recording, GIF, cloud upload and history were removed on purpose to keep the app small and private.
How do I uninstall wxShot?
Quit it (use Activity Monitor if it is running in the background), then drag wxShot from Applications to the Trash. If you want to stop the anonymous pings first, switch them off in Settings.
Can I get it from Homebrew or the Mac App Store?
Not yet. A Homebrew cask is planned, and there is no Mac App Store version. Download the DMG from this site or the GitHub releases page.