Timed Recording Pause

What Is a Timed Pause?

Sometimes you need to step away from recording entirely. Not just for a specific app, but for everything. Timed Pause lets you suspend all screen capture for a set duration, with automatic resumption when the timer expires.

This is useful for:

• Sensitive meetings or presentations
• Personal time where you'd prefer no history
• Screen sharing sessions
• Situations where you want complete privacy

Starting a Timed Pause

1. Open the Retrace timeline
2. Right-click the Record Button (red circle in the bottom control bar)
3. Select Pause for...
4. Choose your duration:
   • 15 minutes
   • 30 minutes
   • 1 hour
   • 2 hours
   • Custom...

Once activated, recording stops immediately and the timer begins.

Custom Duration

Need a specific time window? Select Custom... to enter any number of minutes. The input field validates your entry and only positive numbers are accepted.

Visual Feedback During a Pause

While a Timed Pause is active:

• Menu bar icon: Dims to 50% opacity to indicate recording is suspended
• Countdown: Shows the remaining time beside the Record control in the timeline, such as "23m"

5-Minute Warning

For pauses longer than 30 minutes, Retrace shows a warning popover 5 minutes before recording resumes. This gives you a chance to:

• Extend: Add more time to your pause
• Stop Now: Resume recording early
• Do nothing: Let the timer expire naturally

When the Timer Expires

When your Timed Pause ends, Retrace:

1. Automatically resumes recording
2. Brightens the menu bar icon back to full
3. Lets you know that recording has resumed

Manually Resuming Early

Changed your mind? You can resume recording at any time:

1. Open the Retrace timeline
2. Click the Record control, then choose Resume

You can also click the × beside the countdown, or choose Stop Nowfrom the Record control's right-click menu or the 5-minute warning.

What Happens If You Quit Retrace?

Timed Pauses are persistent. If you quit and reopen Retrace:

• Timer not expired: The pause continues with the remaining time
• Timer already expired: Recording resumes immediately when you reopen Retrace

This also applies to system restarts and wake-from-sleep events.

Timed Pause vs. Manual Stop

Next Steps

• Set up App Exclusions for app-specific privacy
• Learn keyboard shortcuts for quick pause/resume