Recovering lost screen recording on Mac after canceling AirDrop

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Recovering lost screen recording on Mac after canceling AirDrop

Hello Apple Community. I just took a screen recording of an interview i was having. When done with the screenrecordning it popped up in the bottom and i clicked it. I then clicked Airdrop but realised it would be easier to send it over mail. When i clicked "cancel" on the airdrop the screenrecording just stopped existing. I've checked every folder on my computer and even the /private/var/folders to check if it was there. But no it just stopped existing. Is there any way to recover this recording? I would really like to get it back for my documentary.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Lost screenrecording

Posted on Sep 26, 2025 7:01 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 26, 2025 9:02 AM in response to Llamasylle

Unfortunately, there is not. When the option to Show Floating Thumbnail is enabled (in Command-Shift-5, Options), if you interact with that floating thumbnail but abort that action (i.e. do anything other than click Done or complete a transfer), that capture is never actually saved. If you select the Share function, then after the transfer the file is NOT saved locally (unless as an attachment to an outgoing email or in a Messages conversation).

Sorry not to have better news.

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