The fastest way to capture your screen
On an Apple computer, the quickest way to take a screenshot is to press Shift + Command + 3 to capture your entire screen, or Shift + Command + 4 to select just the part you want. The image saves automatically to your desktop as a PNG file with a timestamp in the filename. You do not need to open any other program or adjust settings first.
If you want to capture a single window instead of the whole screen or a selection, press Shift + Command + 4, then press the spacebar. Your cursor will change to a camera icon, and you can click the window you want to capture. This method is useful when you need to show just one process without the background clutter.
Key Takeaways
- Press Shift + Command + 3 to capture your entire screen in one keystroke, with the image saved automatically to your desktop.
- Press Shift + Command + 4 to select a specific rectangular area of your screen before capturing it.
- Press Shift + Command + 4, then the spacebar, to capture a single window or process without the rest of your screen.
- Screenshots save as PNG files on your desktop by default, but you can change where they save using the Screenshot app in macOS Monterey and later.
- The Touch Bar on newer MacBook models includes a screenshot button you can add for one-click access.
Using the Screenshot app for more control
If you are running macOS Monterey (released in 2021) or later, you have access to the Screenshot app, which gives you more options than the keyboard shortcuts alone. Open it by pressing Shift + Command + 5. A toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen with five capture modes: capture entire screen, capture selected window, capture selected portion, capture video of entire screen, or capture video of selected portion.
The Screenshot app also lets you set a timer before the capture happens, which is useful if you need to set up something on your screen and then step away. Click the Options menu in the toolbar to choose where your screenshots save (desktop, documents, clipboard, mail, messages, notes, or reminders), whether to show the floating thumbnail after capture, and whether to include the mouse pointer in the image.
After you take a screenshot with the app, a small preview thumbnail appears in the corner of your screen for a few seconds. Click it to open the image in a preview window where you can crop, annotate, or make other quick edits before saving.
Changing where screenshots save
By default, all screenshots save to your desktop, which can clutter your workspace if you take many. To change this, open the Screenshot app (Shift + Command + 5) and click Options in the toolbar. You will see a list of locations: Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, Mail, Messages, Notes, or Reminders. Select whichever location makes sense for your workflow.
If you choose Clipboard, the screenshot does not save as a file at all — instead it copies to your clipboard so you can paste it directly into an email, document, or messaging app. This is the fastest route if you plan to share the image when ready and do not need to keep a copy on your computer.
For older versions of macOS (before Monterey), you can change the default save location using the Terminal app, but the Screenshot app method is simpler and does not require typing commands.
Capturing video of your screen
If you need to record what happens on your screen rather than capture a still image, the Screenshot app includes a video mode. Press Shift + Command + 5, then click the Capture video of entire screen or Capture video of selected portion button. A red recording indicator appears, and your video saves as an MP4 file to your chosen location (or clipboard, if you selected that option).
To stop recording, click the Stop button in the menu bar at the top of your screen, or press Command + Control + Esc. The video file appears in the same location as your screenshots, and you can open it with QuickTime Player or any other video app on your Mac.
Using the Touch Bar for quick access
If you have a MacBook with a Touch Bar (the row of touch-sensitive buttons at the top of the keyboard), you can add a screenshot button for one-click access. Open System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs), click Keyboard, then click Customize Control Strip. Drag the Screenshot button from the available controls into your Touch Bar, then click Done.
Once added, tapping the screenshot button on your Touch Bar opens the Screenshot app when ready, saving you the step of remembering the keyboard shortcut. You can customize which capture mode the button opens by default in the Screenshot app's options.
Pasting screenshots directly into documents
After you take a screenshot, you can paste it into almost any document, email, or message without saving it as a separate file first. Take your screenshot using any method (keyboard shortcut or Screenshot app), then open the document where you want it to appear. Press Command + V to paste the image directly.
This works in Mail, Messages, Notes, Word, Google Docs, Slack, and most other applications. If you used the Screenshot app and selected Clipboard as your save location, the image is already copied and ready to paste. If you used a keyboard shortcut, the image is also automatically copied to your clipboard in addition to being saved to your desktop.
Troubleshooting common screenshot problems
If your screenshots are not appearing on your desktop, check that you have not changed the save location in the Screenshot app options. Open the app (Shift + Command + 5), click Options, and verify the location is set to Desktop. If it is set to Clipboard, the image is still captured but not saved as a file — you must paste it somewhere to keep it.
If the keyboard shortcuts do not work, check that you are not in a full-screen process or game that may be intercepting the commands. Exit full-screen mode and try again. If you have remapped your keyboard or are using a non-standard keyboard layout, the key combinations may be different — check your keyboard settings in System Preferences or System Settings.
If you need to include the mouse pointer in your screenshot, open the Screenshot app (Shift + Command + 5), click Options, and check the box next to Show mouse pointer. This is useful when you are writing instructions for someone else and need to show where to click.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot of just the menu bar or a specific menu?
Yes, use Shift + Command + 4 to open the selection tool, then click and drag to select just the menu bar or open menu. You can also use Shift + Command + 4 followed by the spacebar to capture a single window, which will include its menu bar if it is part of that window.
Where do I find my screenshots if I forgot where I saved them?
Open Spotlight by pressing Command + spacebar, type the filename (which usually starts with "Screenshot" and includes the date), and press Enter. If you saved to Desktop, Documents, or another standard location, you can also open Finder and navigate there directly. If you saved to Clipboard, the image is only in memory and must be pasted somewhere to be kept.
Can I edit a screenshot right after I take it?
Yes, if you are using macOS Monterey or later with the Screenshot app. A thumbnail appears in the corner of your screen for a few seconds after capture — click it to open a preview window where you can crop, draw, add text, magnify, or make other edits before saving.
How do I take a screenshot on an older Mac that does not have the Screenshot app?
Use the keyboard shortcuts: Shift + Command + 3 for the entire screen, or Shift + Command + 4 to select an area. These shortcuts work on all Macs. You can also open Grab from your Applications > Utilities folder, though the keyboard shortcuts are faster and more reliable.
Can I change the file format of my screenshots from PNG to something else?
The Screenshot app saves as PNG by default, and there is no built-in option to change this in the app itself. If you need a different format, you can open the PNG file in Preview, click File, then Export As, and choose a different format like JPEG or PDF.