Taking a screenshot on a Mac is a fundamental skill, whether you need to capture your entire screen, a specific window, or just a selected portion. macOS offers several built-in tools and keyboard shortcuts to make screen capturing quick and easy. This guide will walk you through various methods to screenshot on your Mac, ensuring you can capture exactly what you need, every time.
Capture the Entire Screen
The quickest way to capture everything visible on your Mac screen is with a simple keyboard shortcut.
-
To take a screenshot of your entire display, press and release these three keys simultaneously: Shift, Command (⌘), and 3.
-
After taking the screenshot, a thumbnail will briefly appear in the corner of your screen. Click on this thumbnail to immediately edit your screenshot. If you miss it, don’t worry – the screenshot is automatically saved to your desktop.
Capture a Portion of the Screen
Sometimes you only need to capture a specific area of your screen. macOS provides a tool that allows you to select exactly what you want to screenshot.
- Press and release these three keys together: Shift, Command (⌘), and 4. Your mouse pointer will transform into a crosshair.
Alt text: Keyboard shortcut diagram showing Shift, Command, and 4 keys to capture a portion of the screen on a Mac.
-
To define the area you want to capture, click and hold your mouse or trackpad button. Drag the crosshair to select the desired portion of your screen. Then, take one of the following actions:
- To take the screenshot: Release the mouse or trackpad button. The selected area will be captured.
- To cancel: Press the Esc (Escape) key before releasing the mouse button.
- To move the selection: If you need to adjust the position of your selected area without changing its size, press and hold the Space bar while dragging the selection.
Alt text: Screenshot of a portion of the Safari browser window on macOS Big Sur, demonstrating capturing a selected area on Mac.
- Similar to capturing the entire screen, a thumbnail of your partial screenshot will appear in the corner of your screen for quick editing. Otherwise, the screenshot will be saved to your desktop.
Capture a Window or Menu
If you need to capture a specific application window or a menu, macOS offers a convenient method to do just that.
-
First, open the window or menu that you intend to capture. Ensure it is displayed exactly as you want it in the screenshot.
-
Press and release these three keys together: Shift, Command (⌘), and 4. Immediately after, press and release the Space bar. The pointer will change from a crosshair to a camera icon.
Alt text: Camera icon representing the pointer when capturing a specific window or menu screenshot on macOS.
* **To cancel**: Press the **Esc (Escape)** key.
* **To take the screenshot**: Click on the window or menu you wish to capture. For a clean screenshot without the window's shadow, press and hold the **Option (⌥)** key while you click.Alt text: Screenshot of a Safari browser window on macOS Big Sur, illustrating capturing a specific application window on Mac.
- Again, a thumbnail will appear for immediate editing, and the screenshot is saved to your desktop by default.
Record a Video of Your Screen
Beyond screenshots, macOS also allows you to record videos of your screen. You can use either the built-in Screenshot app or QuickTime Player for screen recording.
For detailed instructions, refer to Apple’s guide on how to record the screen on your Mac.
Find Your Screenshots and Recordings
By default, all screenshots and screen recordings are saved to your desktop. Screenshots are named in the format ”Screen Shot [date] at [time].png”, and screen recordings as “Screen Recording [date] at [time].mov.”
If you can’t immediately see your screenshot, it might be hidden behind other windows. A simple way to locate them is to view your desktop in a Finder window. In the Finder menu bar, click Go and then select Desktop, or simply click Desktop in the Finder sidebar.
Advanced Screenshot Tips
- Save to Clipboard: To save a screenshot directly to your clipboard instead of your desktop, hold down the Control key while using any of the screenshot shortcuts (e.g., Control-Shift-Command-3 for the entire screen). You can also Control-click the thumbnail and choose Save to Clipboard.
- Screenshot App (macOS Mojave and later): For more advanced options like setting a timer, choosing save locations, and initiating screen recordings, use the Screenshot app. Press Shift-Command-5 to open it, or find it in the Utilities folder within your Applications. Learn more about this app in Apple’s guide to the Screenshot app.
- Thumbnail Behavior: The screenshot thumbnail will remain visible as long as your mouse pointer hovers over it, giving you time to interact with it before it disappears.
- App Restrictions: Be aware that some applications, such as video streaming services like the Apple TV app, may prevent screenshots of their content due to copyright protection.
Mastering screenshots on your Mac is straightforward and enhances your productivity. Experiment with these methods to find the quickest ways to capture and share information from your screen.
