What is OS-level capture exclusion?
OS-level capture exclusion is an operating system control that lets an application ask for one of its windows to be left out of screen capture while it stays visible to the local user. Sharing tools that honor the control omit the window from the stream they send.
How does ClawPad implement capture exclusion on macOS?
ClawPad requests a window sharing type of none and window-server capture exclusion. Apple treats the sharing-type setting as legacy and advises against relying on it to omit a window from capture. An applied setting does not prove what a capture client transmits. ClawPad uses ScreenCaptureKit separately for its own screenshots of a practice question.
How does ClawPad implement capture exclusion on Windows?
On Windows 10 (version 2004 and newer) and Windows 11, ClawPad sets the window display affinity flag WDA_EXCLUDEFROMCAPTURE, which asks the Desktop Window Manager to leave the overlay out of capture. Microsoft documents that this is not a security guarantee.
Does capture exclusion hide the app from Task Manager or Activity Monitor?
No. Capture exclusion affects only what capture APIs see. ClawPad does not hide its running process from system monitoring tools such as Task Manager or Activity Monitor, and it does not bypass assessment rules.
How can I test whether capture exclusion works on my system?
Open Prepare for interview in ClawPad, which runs the Device readiness check. Capture exclusion depends on the OS, capture client, and sharing mode. Verify the received recording on a second device before a permitted session. Use method v1 below. Inspect the received recording separately from the live receiver view. A readiness pass does not verify either output. Check each path during launch, show/hide, resize, and normal interaction. ClawPad does not claim to detect when sharing starts; the Show or Hide Overlay shortcut is the manual fallback.
Does a passed live share test also cover meeting recordings?
No. Record live sharing, a recording of the receiving device, a meeting local recording, a meeting cloud recording, and each third-party recorder as separate outcomes. A path you did not inspect is Not tested. One passing mode or client version does not qualify another.
Does capture exclusion guarantee privacy in every setup?
No. Capture exclusion concerns captured window content, and support varies with the operating system and capture path. It does not hide a running process, stop someone photographing the display, guarantee that interactions never change focus, or authorize prohibited assistance. Use only where assistance is explicitly permitted.
When should I repeat the test?
Repeat after changing ClawPad, the operating system, meeting client, browser, recorder, sharing mode, capture settings, permissions, or display layout and scaling. Include show/hide, resize, monitor moves and sleep/wake again. A release date or readiness pass is not a new compatibility result.