Your screenshots go to the Desktop by default, but you can change that

When you take a screenshot on Mac using Command-Shift-3, Command-Shift-4, or Command-Shift-5, the image file lands on your Desktop by default. You'll see a thumbnail appear in the corner of your screen for a few seconds — that's your signal the screenshot was captured. If you don't move or rename it, the file stays on your Desktop with a name like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 9.41.23 AM.png".

The Desktop is convenient for quick access, but if you take screenshots regularly, your Desktop can get cluttered fast. Mac gives you the option to send screenshots somewhere else instead — a dedicated folder, your Documents, or even iCloud Drive — so they're organized and out of the way.

Key Takeaways

  • Screenshots save to your Desktop by default with a filename that includes the date and time you took them.
  • You can change where screenshots go by opening Screenshot app settings and choosing a different location from the Options menu.
  • The Finder's search function lets you find old screenshots by name, date, or file type if you've moved them around.
  • Screenshots taken with Command-Shift-5 can be edited before you save them, which lets you crop or annotate right away.
  • If you delete a screenshot by accident, check your Trash folder — you have time to recover it before you empty Trash.

Find screenshots already on your Desktop

Open Finder and click Desktop in the sidebar on the left. You'll see all files on your Desktop, including any screenshots you've taken. They're usually at the top or bottom of the list depending on how you've sorted the view. Look for filenames that start with "Screenshot" followed by a date.

If you have a lot of files on your Desktop, you can sort by date to see your newest screenshots first. Click the View menu at the top, then click Sort By, then Date Modified. Your most recent screenshots will appear at the top of the list.

Change where new screenshots save

Open the Screenshot app — press Command-Shift-5 to launch it. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a row of buttons for capture options (Capture Entire Screen, Capture Selected Window, and Capture Selected Portion). To the right of those buttons, click Options.

A menu will drop down showing where your screenshots currently save. You'll see Desktop is checked. Click any other location you want instead: Documents, Downloads, Pictures, or Other Location. If you choose Other Location, a Finder window opens and you can navigate to any folder on your Mac or even create a new folder for screenshots.

Once you pick a new location, all future screenshots will save there automatically. Your old screenshots on the Desktop stay where they are — changing the setting only affects new ones.

Search for screenshots you can't remember where you put

If you've taken screenshots over time and moved them to different places, use Finder's search to locate them. Open Finder, click the search box in the top right corner, and type "screenshot". Finder will show every file with that word in the name.

You can narrow the search further by clicking Kind in the search options and selecting Image. This filters out any documents or folders that happen to have "screenshot" in the name and shows only image files. You can also search by date — click the plus sign next to the search box to add a date range, then set it to find screenshots from a specific week or month.

Recover screenshots you deleted by mistake

If you deleted a screenshot and want it back, open Finder and click Trash in the sidebar. Look for your screenshot file in the list. Right-click it and select Put Back — it will return to wherever it was before you deleted it.

Once you empty the Trash, the file is much harder to recover. If you've already emptied Trash, you can try third-party recovery software, but there's no may provide it will work. The best protection is to not empty Trash immediately after deleting something — wait a few days to make sure you don't need it.

Edit screenshots before saving them

When you press Command-Shift-5, a floating toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen with three capture options. After you take a screenshot, a thumbnail appears in the corner for a few seconds. Click that thumbnail to open the editing window.

In the editing window, you can crop the image, draw on it with a pen or highlighter, add text, or add a signature. Once you're done editing, click Done. The edited version saves to your chosen location — the original unsaved version is discarded.

If you don't click the thumbnail within a few seconds, it disappears and the screenshot saves as-is without editing. You can still edit it later by opening the file in Preview or another image editor, but doing it right away in the Screenshot app is faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I save screenshots to iCloud Drive automatically?

Yes. Open Screenshot app, press Command-Shift-5, click Options, and look for iCloud Drive in the menu. If you don't see it, click Other Location and navigate to iCloud Drive in the Finder window. Once you select it, new screenshots will save there and sync across your devices.

Why do my old screenshots have weird names instead of "Screenshot"?

If you took them with an older version of macOS, the naming format was different — they might be called "Screen Shot" with a space instead of "Screenshot". The content is the same; the name just reflects when they were taken. You can rename them in Finder if you want them to match your newer screenshots.

What format are Mac screenshots saved in?

By default, Mac saves screenshots as PNG files, which is a lossless format that keeps the image quality high. You can change this to JPEG, PDF, or other formats using the Screenshot app's Options menu, though PNG is usually the best choice for clarity.

Can I take a screenshot and have it go straight to the clipboard instead of saving a file?

Yes. Press Command-Control-Shift-3 to capture the entire screen to clipboard, or Command-Control-Shift-4 to capture a selection. The image won't save as a file — it goes into your clipboard so you can paste it directly into an email, document, or message. You can also hold the Control key while using the regular screenshot shortcuts.

Where do screenshots go if I use third-party screenshot tools?

Third-party apps like Snagit, Skitch, or Cleanshot have their own settings for where files save. Check each app's preferences or settings menu to see where it's configured to store screenshots. Most let you choose a custom folder just like the built-in Screenshot app does.