Taking a screenshot on a Mac is a simple yet powerful feature that allows you to capture what’s on your screen, whether it’s an important document, a funny meme, or a software bug you need to report. Apple provides several built-in methods to take screenshots, including capturing the entire screen, a specific window, or a selected portion of the screen. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you master the art of taking screenshots on your Mac.
1. Capture the entire screen
If you want to take a screenshot of your entire screen, follow these steps:
- Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 3 simultaneously.
- Your Mac will instantly capture the entire screen, and the screenshot will be saved as a file on your desktop by default. The file name will include the date and time of the screenshot.
2. Capture a selected portion of the screen
If you only need to capture a specific area of your screen, use this method:
- Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4.
- Your cursor will turn into a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want to capture.
- Release the mouse button or trackpad to take the screenshot. The image will be saved to your desktop.
Pro Tip: If you want to cancel the screenshot while selecting the area, press the Escape (Esc) key before releasing the mouse button.
3. Capture a specific window
To take a screenshot of a specific window or app, follow these steps:
- Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4, then press the Spacebar. The cursor will change to a camera icon.
- Move the camera icon over the window you want to capture. The window will be highlighted in blue.
- Click to take the screenshot. The image will be saved to your desktop.
4. Take a screenshot and copy it to the clipboard
If you don’t want to save the screenshot as a file but instead copy it to your clipboard for pasting into another app (like an email or document), you can use the following shortcuts:
- Entire screen: Command (⌘) + Control + Shift + 3
- Selected portion: Command (⌘) + Control + Shift + 4
- Specific window: Command (⌘) + Control + Shift + 4, then press Spacebar and click the window.
After using these shortcuts, the screenshot will be copied to your clipboard, and you can paste it directly into another application.
5. Use the screenshot toolbar (macOS Mojave and Later)
If you’re running macOS Mojave or later, you can use the built-in Screenshot toolbar for more control over your screenshots:
- Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 to open the Screenshot toolbar.
- The toolbar will appear at the bottom of your screen, offering options to capture the entire screen, a selected portion, or a specific window. You can also choose to record your screen.
- Click Options to customize where the screenshot is saved, set a timer, or show/hide the mouse pointer.
- Once you’ve selected your preferences, click Capture to take the screenshot.
Where are screenshots saved?
By default, screenshots are saved to your desktop as PNG files. However, you can change the save location:
- Open the Screenshot toolbar by pressing Command (⌘) + Shift + 5.
- Click Options and select a new location under Save to.
Bonus tips for taking screenshots on a Mac
- Preview App: You can also take screenshots using the Preview app. Open Preview, go to File > Take Screenshot, and choose from the options.
- Touch Bar (if available): If your Mac has a Touch Bar, you can customize it to include a screenshot button for quick access.
- File Formats: Screenshots are saved as PNG files by default, but you can change the format using third-party apps or Terminal commands.
Taking screenshots on a Mac is a breeze once you know the right shortcuts and tools. Whether you’re capturing your entire screen, a specific window, or a custom selection, these methods will help you get the job done quickly and efficiently. Happy screenshotting!
