How to Screenshot on Mac: Easy Ways

You can use these keyboard shortcuts to take a screenshot on your Mac fast:

• Shift + Command + 3: Capture your screen.

• Shift + Command + 4: Select part of your screen.

• Shift + Command + 4, then Space: Screenshot a window.

• Shift + Command + 6: Screenshot the Touch Bar.

Screenshots save right to your desktop. Use these screenshot shortcuts for quick edits and easy sharing. This tutorial shows you ways to take a screenshot on macOS. Learning how to screenshot on Mac helps with taking a screenshot for any need.

Key Takeaways

• You can press Shift + Command + 3 to take a picture of your whole screen. Or, press Shift + Command + 4 to pick just part of the screen fast.

• Click the small picture that pops up to edit your screenshot right away. You can add words, cut parts out, or highlight things before you save or share it.

• Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the Screenshot app for more choices. You can set a timer, pick where to save, or record your screen.

How to Screenshot on Mac

Learning how to screenshot on Mac helps you capture anything you see on your screen. You can use a keyboard shortcut for each type of screenshot. Below, you will find step-by-step guides for each method.

Entire Screen

You can capture your entire screen with a simple keyboard shortcut. This is the fastest way to take a full-screen screenshot on Mac.

1. Press and hold Shift, Command, and 3 at the same time.

2. Release the keys. You will see a thumbnail in the corner of your screen. Click it if you want to edit the screenshot right away.

3. If you do nothing, your Mac saves the screenshot to your desktop automatically.

4. If you use more than one display, your Mac will capture screenshots of all screens at once.

Tip: Hold the Control key while pressing the shortcut to copy the screenshot to your clipboard instead of saving it as a file. You can then paste it into another app.

You can right-click the screenshot file on your desktop and select "Get Info" to check its resolution. The image matches your display’s resolution. This method lets you capture the whole screen in just a second.

Selected Portion

Sometimes, you only want to capture a portion of your screen. The keyboard shortcut for this is easy to remember.

1. Press and hold Shift, Command, and 4 together.

2. Your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want to capture.

3. Release the mouse or trackpad. A thumbnail appears in the corner. Click it to open Markup mode for editing.

4. In Markup, you can draw, add shapes, highlight, crop, or add text to your screenshot.

5. If you do nothing, your Mac saves the screenshot of selection to your desktop.

Tip: Hold the Control key with the shortcut to copy the screenshot to your clipboard. Paste it into documents or messages.

Capture Type	Keyboard Shortcut	Description
Selected portion of screen	Shift + Command + 4	Lets you capture a portion of your screen and saves it as a PNG on your desktop.
Copy selected portion	Shift + Command + Control + 4	Lets you capture a portion and copies it to your clipboard for pasting.

If the screenshot tool does not work, try restarting your Mac in Safe Mode. This can help fix problems caused by other software.

Window

You can capture a screenshot of single window without extra editing. This is helpful when you want to show just one app or dialog box.

1. Open the window you want to capture.

2. Press and hold Shift, Command, and 4, then press the Space bar. Your cursor turns into a camera icon.

3. Move the camera over the window you want to capture. The window will highlight.

4. Click the window. Your Mac saves the screenshot to your desktop.

5. To cancel, press the Esc key before clicking.

Tip: For a timed screenshot, press Shift + Command + 5 to open the Screenshot app. Click "Options" and set a timer for 5 or 10 seconds. This gives you time to set up your window before the screenshot is taken.

You can also hold Shift, Option, or Space to adjust the capture area for more precision.

Touch Bar

If you use a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar, you can capture screenshots of what appears on the Touch Bar.

1. Press Shift, Command, and 6 at the same time.

2. Your Mac saves an image of the Touch Bar to your desktop.

3. The screenshot has a unique shape. The Touch Bar is very wide and thin (2170x60 pixels).

4. You may want to crop the image using Preview or another editor.

Note: Only MacBook Pro models with a Touch Bar support this feature. Other Macs do not have this option.

General Tips

• All screenshots save to your desktop by default.

• You can change the save location or use the Screenshot app (Shift + Command + 5) for more options.

• Use keyboard shortcuts to capture screenshots quickly and easily.

  
  

Screenshot on Mac: Options

Screenshot App

You can open the Screenshot app on your Mac by pressing Shift + Command + 5. This tool gives you a simple interface with many options. You can take a screenshot of the entire screen, a selected window, or a specific area. The app also lets you record your screen, which is helpful for making tutorials or saving videos. In the Options menu, you can set a timer, choose where to save your screenshots, and even turn off the window shadow. The Screenshot app makes it easy to control how you save picture of screen and gives you more choices than just using shortcuts.

Tip: The Screenshot app also supports timed screenshots. You can set a 5 or 10-second delay to capture exactly what you want.

Clipboard

If you want to share a screenshot quickly, you can hold the Control key with your shortcut. This action copies the screenshot to your clipboard instead of saving it as a file. You can then paste it right into an email, chat, or document. This method keeps your desktop clean and helps you work faster, especially if you take a screenshot many times a day.

Save Location

By default, your Mac saves screenshots to the desktop. You can change this in the Screenshot app by clicking Options and picking a new folder. This helps you stay organized and find your screenshots easily. Some users also use third-party apps to manage where screenshots go or to add extra features.

Edit and Share

After you take a screenshot, a small thumbnail appears in the corner of your screen. Click it to open Markup tools. You can draw, add text, crop, or highlight parts of your screenshot. When you finish editing, you can share the image directly from the Markup window using Mail, Messages, or AirDrop. This makes it simple to send your screenshots to others without extra steps.

You can boost your productivity by using screenshot shortcuts on your Mac. These keyboard shortcut methods save time and help you capture your screen in seconds. Try different ways to take a screenshot and see which fits your workflow best:

• Practice each keyboard shortcut for screenshot tasks.

• Change file formats or save locations for better management.

• Combine screenshots with mockups for professional results.

Mastering how to screenshot on Mac helps you capture your entire screen, a portion, or a single window with ease.

FAQ

How do you change where screenshots save on Mac?

Open the Screenshot app using Shift + Command + 5. Click Options. Choose a new folder. Your Mac will now save picture of screen in that location.

Why is my screenshot not working on macOS?

Check your keyboard shortcut for screenshot. Restart your Mac. Make sure no other app blocks screenshot shortcuts. Try using the Screenshot app for other ways to take a screenshot.

Can I capture a portion of my screen and edit it right away?

Yes! Use Shift + Command + 4 to capture a portion of your screen. Click the thumbnail to open Markup. You can draw, crop, or add text before saving.