The fastest way to screenshot on Mac

Press Shift + Command + 3 to capture your entire screen. The screenshot saves to your desktop as a file named "Screenshot [date] at [time].png". You will hear a camera shutter sound, and a thumbnail appears briefly in the corner of your screen — click it to edit or delete the screenshot before it saves.

If you want to capture only part of your screen instead, press Shift + Command + 4. Your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the area you want to capture, then release. The screenshot saves to your desktop the same way.

Both methods work on any Mac running macOS 10.14 or later. The keyboard shortcuts are the same whether you use an Intel Mac or an Apple Silicon Mac (M1, M2, M3, or newer).

Key Takeaways

  • Shift + Command + 3 captures your entire screen; Shift + Command + 4 lets you select just the part you want.
  • Screenshots save to your desktop as PNG files by default, but you can change the save location in Screenshot app settings.
  • The thumbnail that appears in the corner lets you edit, delete, or change where the screenshot saves before it becomes permanent.
  • The Screenshot app (built into macOS) opens automatically when you use keyboard shortcuts and gives you options to capture windows, menus, or the Touch Bar.

Using the Screenshot app for more control

Open the Screenshot app by pressing Shift + Command + 5. A toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen with five capture options: capture entire screen, capture selected window, capture selected portion, capture video of entire screen, or capture video of selected portion.

Click the option you want, then click "Capture" or drag to select the area. Before the screenshot saves, a thumbnail appears in the corner — click it to open the editing window. You can draw, add text, magnify part of the image, or add a signature. Click "Done" to save your changes.

The Screenshot app also lets you change where screenshots save. Click "Options" in the toolbar and choose "Other Location" to pick a folder, or select a specific folder like Documents or Downloads. You can also change the file format from PNG to JPEG, TIFF, GIF, or PDF.

Capturing just a window or menu

Press Shift + Command + 4, then press the spacebar. Your cursor changes to a camera icon. Move it over any open window or menu — the window highlights in blue when you hover over it. Click to capture just that window, without the desktop background.

This method works for application windows, menu dropdowns, dialog boxes, and the Dock. The screenshot captures only the selected element and saves to your desktop. If you change your mind before clicking, press Escape to cancel.

Capturing the Touch Bar

If you have a MacBook with a Touch Bar, press Shift + Command + 6 to capture it. The screenshot saves to your desktop as a PNG file. This is useful if you want to show someone which buttons or controls you are seeing on your Touch Bar, or if you need to document a specific Touch Bar layout for troubleshooting.

The Touch Bar screenshot captures only the thin strip at the top of your keyboard, not your entire screen. The file saves with the same naming format as other screenshots: "Screenshot [date] at [time].png".

Recording your screen instead of taking a still image

Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the Screenshot app toolbar. Click the "Record entire screen" or "Record selected portion" button. If you choose "Record selected portion", drag to select the area you want to record.

Click the "Record" button (or the red circle that appears). A three-second countdown starts, then recording begins. To stop recording, click the stop button in the menu bar at the top of your screen, or press Control + Command + Esc. A thumbnail appears in the corner — click it to preview, edit, or delete the video before it saves.

Screen recordings save as MOV files to your desktop by default. You can trim the video, add captions, or change the save location using the same options in the Screenshot app that you use for still images.

Changing where screenshots save and what format they use

By default, all screenshots save to your desktop. To change this, open the Screenshot app (Shift + Command + 5), click "Options" in the toolbar, and select a different location: Documents, Downloads, Desktop, Clipboard, Mail, Messages, or Other Location. If you choose "Other Location", navigate to any folder on your Mac.

You can also change the file format. In the same "Options" menu, look for "Format" and choose PNG, JPEG, TIFF, GIF, or PDF. PNG is the default and works best for most purposes — it preserves image quality without making the file too large. JPEG makes smaller files but loses some detail. PDF is useful if you want to annotate or print the screenshot later.

If you select "Clipboard" as the save location, the screenshot copies to your clipboard instead of saving to a file. You can then paste it directly into an email, document, or messaging app by pressing Command + V.

What to do if your screenshot does not save

If you press the keyboard shortcut and nothing happens, check that you are not in a full-screen application or a game that intercepts keyboard input. Exit full-screen mode or the application, then try again.

If the screenshot saves but you cannot find it, check your desktop first — sometimes the file appears off-screen if your desktop is cluttered. Open Finder, click "Desktop" in the sidebar, and look for files named "Screenshot". If you changed the save location in Screenshot app settings, check that folder instead.

If the thumbnail does not appear in the corner after taking a screenshot, your Mac may have notifications turned off. The screenshot still saved — check your desktop or the folder you selected in Screenshot app settings. You can also press Command + Space to open Spotlight search, type "Screenshot", and look for recent files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a screenshot of my entire screen including multiple monitors?

Shift + Command + 3 captures only the primary monitor. To capture a second monitor, use Shift + Command + 4 and drag across both screens, or open the Screenshot app and select "Capture Entire Screen", which shows all connected monitors — click the dropdown menu to choose which one to capture.

How do I screenshot without the cursor showing up?

The cursor does not appear in screenshots taken with Shift + Command + 3 or Shift + Command + 4. If you are using the Screenshot app and the cursor appears, open Screenshot app settings (in the menu bar), click "Options", and uncheck "Show Floating Thumbnail".

Can I edit a screenshot after it saves to my desktop?

Yes. Right-click the screenshot file on your desktop and select "Open With" > "Preview". In Preview, click the markup toolbar icon (looks like a pen in a circle) to draw, add text, or make other changes. Press Command + S to save your edits.

What is the difference between PNG and JPEG for screenshots?

PNG keeps all the detail and is better for screenshots of text or windows. JPEG makes the file smaller but can make text look blurry. For most screenshots, PNG is the better choice. Use JPEG only if file size matters and you do not need sharp text.

Can I take a screenshot on Mac without using the keyboard?

Yes. Open the Screenshot app from Applications > Utilities, or press Shift + Command + 5. Use the buttons in the toolbar to select what you want to capture, then click "Capture". This method is slower than keyboard shortcuts but works if your keyboard is not responding.