Issue
Loom temporarily saves your recording files to your computer’s disk space while you record. If your device doesn’t have enough free disk space, Loom may not be able to record reliably, which could lead to crashes or lost recordings. To prevent this, Loom checks your available disk space before starting a recording.
What is Disk Space?
Disk space refers to the amount of storage on your computer’s hard drive or solid-state drive (SSD). This space is used to save all your files, applications, and system data. You can check how to check your available disk space on both macOS and Windows, as well as free up disk space here.
'Low on disk space' Error
Mac: Less than 16GB of disk space free with SCK enabled, or less than 2GB of disk space free with SCK disabled (you can see more about SCK here).
Windows: Less than 1GB free.
"Cannot start recording' Error
Mac: Less than 2GB free with SCK enabled, or less than 1GB free with SCK disabled (you can see more about SCK here).
Windows: No hard limit, but you may see warnings if space is very low.
What is SCK? (Mac only)
SCK stands for Screen Capture Kit. When enabled, SCK allows you to: hide Loom’s recording controls in your final video and use speaker notes during your recording.
Disabling SCK means that Loom needs less disk space available to be able to record. You can try disabling the SCK screen capture option in the Loom desktop app if you’re seeing either of these errors.
How to Disable SCK:
Open the Loom desktop app on your Mac.
Click the three-dot menu.
Go to Settings.
Go to the Video & audio tab.
Scroll down to the Enable SCK screen capture option.
Toggle it off.
👉 Disabling SCK lowers the minimum disk space required to start a recording, but you’ll lose access to features like hiding recording controls and using speaker notes.
Here's how to fix this:
Keeping enough free disk space ensures your computer and applications run smoothly, and helps prevent issues like crashes or lost recordings with the Loom desktop app.
Before recording with Loom, it’s helpful to know how much free disk space you have. Here’s how to check on both Mac and Windows:
On Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
Select System Settings.
Go to the General > Storage tab.
You’ll see a breakdown of your disk usage and the amount of free space available.
Tip: macOS may show “purgeable space” as part of your available storage. Loom considers this space to be unavailable when checking if you have enough room to record.
💡 How to free up Disk Space:
Empty the Trash.
Delete large or unused files (such as those in Downloads, Movies, or Documents).
Move files to an external drive or cloud storage to free up local space.
Uninstall unused applications from your Applications folder.
Review and manage Time Machine backups:
Time Machine local snapshots can take up significant space. You can view and manage these using the Terminal.Use “Manage Storage”:
Go to Apple Menu > System Settings > General > Storage > Manage to see recommendations and tools for freeing up space.Clear cache files and old backups.
On Windows
Open File Explorer (you can press Windows key + E).
Click on This PC in the left sidebar.
Under “Devices and drives,” you’ll see your drives listed. The amount of free space is displayed below each drive (usually your main drive is labeled “C:”).
Tip: If you need more details, right-click your main drive and select Properties to see a pie chart of used and free space.
💡How to free up Disk Space:
Empty the Recycle Bin.
Delete large or unused files (Downloads, Videos, etc.).
Move files to an external drive or cloud storage.
Uninstall unused programs.
Use Disk Cleanup (search for it in the Start menu).
Clear temporary files and old system restore points.
Still seeing errors?
If you’ve freed up space and still see errors, restart your computer to make sure the system recognizes the newly available space. If the issue persists, contact Loom Support for further assistance.
Questions, comments, concerns? Contact us here.
Happy recording!