The fastest way to screenshot on a Mac
On any Apple computer, press Shift + Command + 3 to capture your entire screen. The screenshot saves to your desktop as a PNG file with the date and time in the filename. You do not need to open any app or adjust settings first — the keyboard shortcut works when ready.
If you want to capture only part of the screen instead, press Shift + Command + 4. Your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the area you want, then release. The selected region saves to your desktop the same way.
To capture a single window — just the app you are looking at, not the background — press Shift + Command + 4, then press the spacebar. The cursor becomes a camera icon. Click the window you want to capture, and it saves to your desktop.
Key Takeaways
- Shift + Command + 3 captures your entire screen and saves it to your desktop as a PNG file.
- Shift + Command + 4 lets you drag a box around the part of the screen you want to capture.
- Shift + Command + 4, then spacebar, captures a single window or app without the background.
- The Screenshot app in your Applications folder offers more options, including recording video and setting a timer before the screenshot is taken.
- You can change where screenshots save by opening the Screenshot app and clicking Options.
Using the Screenshot app for more control
The keyboard shortcuts work for most situations, but the Screenshot app gives you more choices. Open Spotlight by pressing Command + spacebar, type "Screenshot", and press Enter. The app opens with a toolbar at the bottom of your screen.
The toolbar shows five buttons. The first captures your entire screen (same as Shift + Command + 3). The second captures a selected portion (same as Shift + Command + 4). The third captures a single window. The fourth records a video of your screen. The fifth records just a portion of your screen as a video.
After you click a button, you have a few seconds to position your screen before the capture happens. Click the Options button on the right side of the toolbar to set a delay (so you can open menus or move windows before the screenshot is taken), choose where to save the file, or decide whether to include the mouse pointer in the screenshot.
Changing where screenshots save
By default, screenshots save to your desktop, which can clutter the workspace if you take many. You can change this in the Screenshot app. Open Screenshot, click Options, and look for "Save to". You can choose Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Clipboard, Mail, Messages, Trash, or any folder you create.
If you choose Clipboard, the screenshot does not save as a file — instead it copies to your clipboard so you can paste it directly into an email, document, or message. This is useful if you want to send a screenshot without saving it first.
You can also change the file format from PNG to JPEG, TIFF, or PDF in the Options menu. PNG is the default because it keeps file sizes small while preserving quality.
Taking a screenshot of your Touch Bar
If your Mac has a Touch Bar (the row of buttons at the top of the keyboard), you can capture it separately. Press Shift + Command + 6 to take a screenshot of just the Touch Bar. This saves to your desktop like any other screenshot.
This is useful if you are writing instructions for someone or documenting a feature that only appears on the Touch Bar.
Pasting a screenshot directly into another app
After you take a screenshot with any method, a small thumbnail appears in the corner of your screen for a few seconds. Click the thumbnail to open it in the Screenshot app, where you can crop it, draw on it, or add text before saving.
If you want to paste the screenshot into another app without saving it first, press Command + V in that app (like a document, email, or message) within a few seconds of taking the screenshot. The image pastes directly. This works because the screenshot is still in your clipboard.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most common mistake is forgetting that Shift + Command + 3 captures the entire screen, including windows you do not want in the shot. If you only need part of the screen, use Shift + Command + 4 instead and drag a box around what you need.
Another mistake is taking a screenshot and then closing the window before saving it. If you use Shift + Command + 4 or Shift + Command + 5, the image saves automatically to your desktop within a second, so this is not usually a problem. But if you open the Screenshot app and take a screenshot, you have a few seconds to edit it in the thumbnail that appears — if you ignore the thumbnail and move on, the screenshot still saves, but you miss the chance to crop or annotate it.
If you want to capture a menu (like the File menu in an app), use Shift + Command + 4 and drag quickly, because menus close if you move the mouse away from them. Alternatively, open the Screenshot app, set a delay of 2 or 3 seconds in Options, click the button for the type of screenshot you want, then quickly open the menu before the delay runs out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do screenshots save if I do not change the settings?
Screenshots save to your desktop by default. You will see a new PNG file appear on your desktop within a second of taking the screenshot. The filename includes the date and time, like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM.png".
Can I take a screenshot without saving it to a file?
Yes. Open the Screenshot app, click Options, and choose "Clipboard" instead of a folder. The screenshot will copy to your clipboard instead of saving as a file. You can then paste it into an email, document, or message with Command + V.
How do I screenshot a menu or dropdown that closes quickly?
Open the Screenshot app, click Options, and set a delay of 2 to 3 seconds. Click the button for the type of screenshot you want, then you have a few seconds to open the menu before the screenshot is taken. This gives you time to position the menu without it closing.
What is the difference between PNG and JPEG for screenshots?
PNG files are smaller and preserve sharp text and lines, which is why they are the default for screenshots. JPEG files are better for photographs but can make text look blurry. For most screenshots, PNG is the better choice.
Can I edit a screenshot after I take it?
Yes. A thumbnail appears in the corner of your screen for a few seconds after you take a screenshot. Click it to open the image in the Screenshot app, where you can crop it, draw on it with different colors and shapes, add text, or magnify part of it before saving.