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Reference · 9 minute read

# Troubleshooting and shortcuts

Start with the signal that is missing: discovery, picture, phone audio, recording readiness, or safe finalization.

Fast diagnosis Complete shortcut list

## The iPhone wired source does not appear

1. Confirm Start 4K Broadcast is active on the iPhone.
2. Use a data-capable cable rather than a charge-only cable.
3. Unlock the iPhone and confirm it trusts the Mac.
4. Press `⌘R` in Viewfinder.
5. Reconnect the cable after correcting any of the above.

The wired source is After2AM Capture’s clean rear-camera stream. It is not the iPhone screen source shown by QuickTime.

## Android shows only a wireless source with USB attached

This is expected in the current release. The cable may charge the phone or carry MTP/ADB, but After2AM does not use an ordinary USB connection or Android USB tethering as a camera transport. There is no Android setting that enables a wired Viewfinder source.

## The wireless source does not appear

1. Confirm the broadcast is active.
2. Put both devices on the same non-isolated local network.
3. Allow Local Network access for both apps.
4. Press `⌘R`.
5. Fully quit and reopen the installed app if privacy state appears stale.

Guest Wi-Fi and networks with client isolation can permit internet access while blocking device-to-device discovery and streaming.

## A source appears but never connects

Discovery and the direct TCP stream are separate Local Network operations. macOS can list a Bonjour source while still blocking its connection, especially after an older or differently signed copy of Viewfinder has been replaced.

1. Fully quit every copy of After2AM Viewfinder.
2. Keep only the installed copy in Applications open for this test.
3. Open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Local Network.
4. Turn After2AM Viewfinder off and back on, even if it was already enabled.
5. Reopen Viewfinder and press `⌘R`.

The visible switch can refer to stale identity data from an older copy. A non-isolated local network is still required.

## Viewfinder does not switch transports

Automatic fallback requires both routes to be discoverable. Keep both devices on Wi-Fi for USB-to-Wi-Fi fallback; use a trusted data cable and an unlocked iPhone for the return to USB.

A manually selected transport is intentionally sticky while it remains available. Choose the other source explicitly, or disconnect the selected route to resume automatic selection.

## A phone is marked in use

Another Viewfinder window owns that companion connection. Select another broadcasting phone, or close or change the window using it. The USB and Wi-Fi entries from one iPhone are alternate routes to the same stream and cannot be selected in two windows.

## The source connects but Record is disabled

Viewfinder waits for real phone-audio frames before enabling a take. Check Microphone permission, confirm the active input in After2AM Capture, and look for VU movement. Restart the broadcast after correcting the phone route.

## ARMED remains visible

The recorder is waiting for a clean HEVC keyframe. This normally takes only a moment. If it persists, stop the attempt, restart Start 4K Broadcast, confirm a stable preview, and try again.

## The VU meter moves but the take sounds wrong

Read the input name beside MIC. Verify that the intended receiver is connected to the phone, then record a short spoken test close to that microphone and play the finished MOV.

If a two-channel wireless receiver is attached, confirm whether it is set to mono, separate transmitters, or a main/safety pair. Android reports the effective recorded layout: MONO is centered into one channel, while STEREO can be either a left/right pair or a main/safety pair. Change modes before a take, speak briefly, and wait for the badge and VU meter to settle. If they do not update, stop and restart the phone broadcast.

## Recording stops with an error

Read the complete alert. Check that the destination is mounted, writable, and has free space. On Wi-Fi, also confirm that the local network remains stable. Viewfinder stops deliberately when continuing could produce a damaged or badly synchronized take.

## Keyboard shortcuts

Action | Shortcut
--- | ---
Open another Viewfinder window | `⌘N`
Choose USB or Wi-Fi source | `⌘1`
Rediscover transports | `⌘R`
Mirror horizontally | `M`
Mirror vertically | `⇧M`
Toggle rule-of-thirds grid | `G`
Toggle camera level | `L`
Calibrate current level | `⇧L`
Toggle phone-audio VU | `V`
Open or edit teleprompter | `P`
Cancel teleprompter editing | `Esc`
Choose recording folder | `⇧⌘O`
Start or stop recording | `⇧⌘R`
Reveal last completed take | `⌥⌘R`
Open Local Network settings | `⌥⌘,`
Enter or leave full screen | `⌃⌘F`
Open this user manual | `⇧⌘/`

### While the prompt is visible

Action | Shortcut
--- | ---
Roll or pause | `Space`
Scroll manually | `↑` / `↓`
Restart at the beginning | `Home`
Edit script | `E`
Open appearance controls | `A`
Reset appearance | `⌘0`
Hide prompt | `Esc`
Clear script in editor | `⌥⌘⌫`
Show script from editor | `⌘↩`

Tooltips and VoiceOver hints repeat shortcuts for the control under focus.