The fastest way to capture your screen
On a Mac, you take a screenshot by pressing Shift + Command + 3 to capture your entire screen, or Shift + Command + 4 to select just the part you want. The image saves to your desktop as a PNG file with a timestamp in the filename. You can open it immediately or find it later in your Finder.
If you need to capture a specific window instead of hunting for the right area, press Shift + Command + 4, then press the spacebar. Your cursor changes to a camera icon, and you can click any open window to capture just that window with its shadow.
All three of these keyboard shortcuts work the same way on any Mac running the current version of macOS. The file appears on your desktop within a second, and you can drag it into an email, document, or folder right away.
Key Takeaways
- Shift + Command + 3 captures your entire screen; Shift + Command + 4 lets you select the area you want.
- Press the spacebar after Shift + Command + 4 to switch to window capture mode and click a single window.
- Screenshots save to your desktop as PNG files with the date and time in the filename.
- You can open the screenshot immediately from the notification that appears in the corner, or find it on your desktop later.
- The Screenshot app in your Applications folder offers more options, including timed captures and recording video.
Selecting just the area you need
When you press Shift + Command + 4, your cursor becomes a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a rectangle around the part of your screen you want to capture. As you drag, you see the dimensions of your selection in pixels. Release the mouse button when you have the area you want, and the screenshot saves immediately.
If you start dragging and change your mind, press the Escape key before you release the mouse button. The screenshot will not save. This is useful if you realize you selected the wrong area or started in the wrong spot.
You can also hold the spacebar while dragging to move your selection without resizing it. This helps when you need to adjust where the rectangle is without starting over.
Capturing a single window
Press Shift + Command + 4, then immediately press the spacebar. Your cursor changes to a camera, and the window under your cursor highlights in blue. Click any window to capture just that window, including its title bar and shadow. This is faster than trying to select the exact edges of a window with the crosshair.
The window capture includes the drop shadow that appears around the window on your screen, which is usually what you want when sharing a screenshot. If you need the window without the shadow, you can crop it later in Preview or another image editor.
Finding and opening your screenshots
Every screenshot saves to your desktop with a filename like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM.png". You can see it immediately on your desktop, or look for it in Finder by clicking the Finder icon in your dock and then clicking Desktop in the sidebar.
When you take a screenshot, a small thumbnail appears in the bottom right corner of your screen for a few seconds. Click that thumbnail to open the screenshot in Preview, where you can crop it, draw on it, or save it in a different format. If you do not click the thumbnail, it disappears and you can still find the file on your desktop.
To move screenshots off your desktop and into a folder, drag them into any folder in Finder. Many people create a Screenshots folder in their Documents to keep them organized.
Using the Screenshot app for more control
For options beyond the basic keyboard shortcuts, open the Screenshot app. Press Shift + Command + 5 to open it, or find it in Applications > Utilities > Screenshot. The app shows buttons for capturing the entire screen, a selected area, or a specific window, plus options to record video of your screen.
In the Screenshot app, you can set a timer before the capture happens, choose where to save the file instead of the desktop, and decide whether to include the mouse pointer in the screenshot. Click Options to see these settings before you take the screenshot.
The Screenshot app also lets you record video of your screen, which is useful if you need to show someone how to do something rather than just show them a single moment. The recording saves as an MP4 file on your desktop.
Changing where screenshots save
By default, all screenshots save to your desktop. If you want them to go to a different folder instead, open the Screenshot app with Shift + Command + 5, click Options, and choose a different location from the "Save to" menu. You can pick a folder like Documents, Downloads, or any other folder you create.
This setting applies only to the Screenshot app. If you use the keyboard shortcuts (Shift + Command + 3 or 4), screenshots still save to your desktop. To change where those go, you need to use the Screenshot app or open Terminal and run a command to change the default location.
Copying a screenshot instead of saving it
If you want to paste a screenshot directly into an email or document without saving a file first, hold the Control key while you take the screenshot. Press Shift + Command + Control + 3 to copy your entire screen, or Shift + Command + Control + 4 to copy a selected area. The screenshot goes into your clipboard instead of saving to your desktop.
You can then paste it into any program by pressing Command + V. This is faster when you only need the screenshot in one place and do not want files piling up on your desktop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot of just my menu bar or dock?
Yes. Press Shift + Command + 4 to get the crosshair, then drag to select just the menu bar at the top or the dock at the bottom. You can select any rectangular area of your screen, no matter how small.
What format do screenshots save in?
Screenshots save as PNG files by default. PNG keeps the image quality high and works in any program. If you need a different format like JPG or PDF, open the screenshot in Preview, click File, then click Export and choose a different format.
How do I take a screenshot on an older Mac?
The keyboard shortcuts Shift + Command + 3 and Shift + Command + 4 work on all Macs. If your Mac is very old and does not have the Screenshot app, the keyboard shortcuts still work the same way and save to your desktop.
Can I edit a screenshot right after I take it?
Yes. A thumbnail appears in the bottom right corner for a few seconds after you take a screenshot. Click it to open the screenshot in Preview, where you can crop, draw, add text, or make other changes before saving.
Why is my screenshot blurry?
Screenshots on a Mac are usually sharp because they capture the actual pixels on your screen. If a screenshot looks blurry, the content itself may be blurry, or you may have zoomed in on the image too much. Try taking the screenshot again or checking the original content.