The fastest way: keyboard shortcuts built into macOS
macOS comes with screenshot tools already installed. You do not need to download anything or open an app first. The keyboard shortcuts work from anywhere on your Mac — your desktop, inside an email, in a web browser, anywhere.
To capture your entire screen: Press Shift + Command + 3. Your Mac takes a screenshot and saves it to your desktop as a file named "Screenshot [date] at [time].png". You will hear a camera shutter sound (unless you have muted your Mac).
To capture part of your screen: Press Shift + Command + 4. Your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a rectangle around the part you want to capture, then release. The screenshot saves to your desktop the same way.
To capture a specific window: Press Shift + Command + 4, then press the spacebar. Your cursor changes to a camera icon. Click the window you want to capture — it highlights in blue — and your Mac takes a screenshot of just that window.
Key Takeaways
- Shift + Command + 3 captures your entire screen and saves it to your desktop automatically.
- Shift + Command + 4 lets you drag to select only the part of the screen you need.
- Shift + Command + 4, then spacebar, captures a single window without the background.
- The Screenshot app (in Applications > Utilities) gives you more control, including a timer and the option to copy instead of saving.
- You can change where screenshots save and what format they use through System Settings.
Using the Screenshot app for more options
If you want more control than keyboard shortcuts offer, open the Screenshot app. Go to Applications > Utilities > Screenshot, or press Shift + Command + 5 (this opens Screenshot directly on newer Macs).
The Screenshot app window shows five buttons across the top: capture entire screen, capture selected window, capture selected portion, record entire screen, and record selected portion. Click the one you need, then follow the on-screen prompts. A thumbnail appears in the corner of your screen after you capture — click it to edit, or let it disappear and your screenshot saves automatically.
The Screenshot app also has a timer option (useful if you need to set up something before capturing) and a dropdown menu to choose where to save your screenshot — your desktop, Documents folder, clipboard, Mail, Messages, or Notes.
Copying a screenshot to your clipboard instead of saving it
Sometimes you want to paste a screenshot directly into an email or document instead of saving a file first. Hold down the Control key while you use any screenshot shortcut, and your Mac copies the image to your clipboard instead of saving it to your desktop.
For example: Shift + Command + Control + 3 captures your entire screen and copies it. You can then paste it immediately into an email, document, or message by pressing Command + V. The screenshot does not appear on your desktop.
This is useful when you are troubleshooting something and need to send a screenshot to someone quickly, or when you want to keep your desktop clean.
Changing where screenshots save and what format they use
By default, screenshots save to your desktop as PNG files. You can change both of these settings through System Settings.
Open System Settings, then go to General > Screenshots. You will see a dropdown menu showing where new screenshots are saved — Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, or a specific folder you choose. Below that is another dropdown for file format: PNG, JPEG, GIF, or PDF. PNG is the default and works well for most purposes; JPEG makes smaller files if you are sending screenshots over email or uploading them online.
If you choose Clipboard from the save location dropdown, screenshots copy to your clipboard automatically without saving a file — the same effect as holding Control, but now it is your default behavior.
Taking a timed screenshot
If you need time to set something up before the screenshot is taken — for example, to open a menu or hover over something — use the timer feature in the Screenshot app.
Open Screenshot (Shift + Command + 5), click the dropdown menu that says "Options", and select a timer: 5 seconds or 10 seconds. Choose which type of capture you want (entire screen, window, or portion), then click the Capture button. Your Mac counts down and takes the screenshot automatically when the timer reaches zero. This gives you time to position your cursor, open a menu, or arrange something on screen.
Editing a screenshot right after you take it
When you capture a screenshot, a thumbnail appears in the bottom right corner of your screen for a few seconds. Click that thumbnail to open the screenshot in a quick editing window. You can draw on it, add text, magnify part of it, or add a shape — useful if you are marking something for someone else to look at.
Click Done when you are finished editing, and your Mac saves the edited version. If you do not click the thumbnail, the screenshot saves as-is and the thumbnail disappears.
Recording your screen instead of taking a still screenshot
If you need to show movement or a sequence of actions, you can record your screen as a video instead of taking a screenshot. Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the Screenshot app, then click the "Record entire screen" or "Record selected portion" button.
A red recording indicator appears on your screen. Click the Start Recording button (or press the spacebar), perform the actions you want to record, then press Command + Control + Escape to stop. Your Mac saves the video as an MP4 file to the location you chose in System Settings. Recording uses more storage than screenshots, so delete old recordings if you run low on space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do my screenshots go if I do not change the save location?
They save to your desktop by default. You will see them as image files with names like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM.png". If your desktop is cluttered, change the save location in System Settings > General > Screenshots to Documents or another folder.
Can I take a screenshot of my entire screen if it is larger than my monitor?
Shift + Command + 3 captures only what is visible on your monitor, not content that is scrolled off-screen. If you need to capture a long webpage or document, use your browser's built-in screenshot tool (most have one in the address bar) or a third-party app designed for scrolling screenshots.
Why is my screenshot blurry or low quality?
PNG files are lossless, so blurriness usually means the original content on your screen is small or low-resolution. JPEG format compresses the image and can also reduce quality. Try PNG format first; if you need smaller file sizes, JPEG is the trade-off.
Can I take a screenshot of something that is not currently on my screen?
No, screenshots capture only what is visible. If you need to capture something off-screen, scroll it into view first, then take the screenshot. For long documents or webpages, use a scrolling screenshot tool or your browser's built-in capture feature.
What is the difference between saving a screenshot and copying it to my clipboard?
Saving creates a file on your Mac that stays there until you delete it. Copying to clipboard puts it in temporary memory — you can paste it once or a few times, but it disappears when you restart your Mac or copy something else. Use clipboard for quick sharing; use files if you need to keep the screenshot.