Watchdog Support

Get in touch

Email hello@markstudios.com with the version of Watchdog you are running (Preferences → General), your macOS version, and what you expected to happen. We read every message and usually reply within two business days.

Watchdog can't see the camera

Watchdog needs one permission and one only: camera access. It does not need Accessibility, Screen Recording, Full Disk Access, or Input Monitoring, and it will never ask for them.

• Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera and make sure Watchdog is switched on.
• Quit and reopen Watchdog after changing the setting — macOS only applies it to a fresh launch.
• Close any other app using the camera. macOS lets several apps share a camera, but a video call that has taken exclusive control can block it.
• If you have more than one camera, check that the right one is selected in Preferences → Camera.

Monitoring won't start

The first time you start monitoring, Watchdog shows a notice explaining what it records and that lawful use is your responsibility. Monitoring will not begin until you tick the acknowledgement and choose Continue. You can reread that notice any time from Preferences → General → "Review What Watchdog Records".

Captures aren't appearing

• Check the capture folder shown in Preferences → Storage. If you pointed Watchdog at a folder on an external drive or network share that is no longer mounted, it cannot write there.
• In Motion mode, try lowering the sensitivity threshold — a high threshold needs a lot of movement before it fires.
• If you set a schedule, captures only happen inside the windows you defined. Scheduling is a Pro feature; if a subscription lapsed, schedules no longer apply.
• On the free tier, captures older than three days are deleted automatically. That is working as intended, not a bug.

The green camera light stays on

That is macOS, and it is correct: the light is on because the camera really is in use while monitoring is active. No app can turn it off, and Watchdog does not try. To turn it off, stop monitoring from the menu bar icon.

Subscriptions

Watchdog Pro is US$3.99 per month or US$29.99 per year, with a 7-day free trial on the annual plan for Apple Accounts that haven't used one before. Full terms are on the Terms of Use page.

• Manage or cancel: System Settings → Apple Account → Media & Purchases → Subscriptions. Deleting the app does not cancel a subscription.
• Bought Pro but the app still shows Free: open the upgrade screen and choose Restore Purchases. Make sure you are signed in with the same Apple Account that made the purchase.
• Refunds are handled by Apple, not by us. Request one at reportaproblem.apple.com.
• Before you cancel: the free tier keeps only three days of captures, so anything older is permanently deleted the next time Watchdog runs. Export what you want to keep first.

Deleting your captures

Preferences → Storage → Delete All Captures erases every image and clip. You can also delete individual captures from the capture browser, or open the capture folder in Finder and delete files yourself. Nothing is ever uploaded, so there is no account to close and nothing for us to delete on your behalf.

Requirements

macOS 13 Ventura or later, on Apple silicon or Intel, with a built-in or connected camera.

Privacy and legal

The Privacy Policy covers what Watchdog records and where it goes (nowhere — it stays on your Mac). The Terms of Use cover subscriptions, acceptable use, and your responsibility for recording other people.