The Three Ways to Capture Your Screen
On an Apple computer, you can take a screenshot using the keyboard shortcuts built into macOS. The method you choose depends on what you want to capture: your entire screen, a specific window, or just a portion of the display. All three use the Shift key combined with Command and a number key.
macOS also includes a Screenshot app that gives you more control over where your image saves and what you do with it after capture. This app opens automatically the first time you use one of the keyboard shortcuts, or you can open it manually from your Applications folder.
Key Takeaways
- Press Shift + Command + 3 to capture your entire screen at once.
- Press Shift + Command + 4 to select and capture only a portion of your screen by dragging a rectangle.
- Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the Screenshot app, which lets you choose between full screen, window, or portion capture before you take the image.
- By default, screenshots save to your Desktop, but you can change the save location in the Screenshot app's Options menu.
- Hold the Space bar while using Shift + Command + 4 to switch from selecting a rectangle to capturing a single window.
Capturing Your Entire Screen
To take a screenshot of everything on your display, press Shift + Command + 3. Your screen will flash briefly, and you will hear a camera shutter sound (unless you have muted your Mac). The image saves to your Desktop as a file named "Screenshot [date] at [time].png".
This method is fastest when you need the whole screen and do not need to adjust anything before saving. If you change your mind when ready after pressing the keys, you can click the thumbnail that appears in the corner of your screen to edit or delete the screenshot before it saves permanently.
Capturing Part of Your Screen
To capture only a portion of your screen, press Shift + Command + 4. Your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a rectangle around the area you want to capture, then release the mouse button. The screenshot saves to your Desktop.
If you want to capture a single window instead of a rectangle, hold the Space bar while the crosshair is active. The cursor will change to a camera icon, and you can click any window to capture just that window with its shadow. This is useful when you want to show one process without the clutter of your entire desktop.
Using the Screenshot App for More Control
Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the Screenshot app. A toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen with five buttons: Capture Entire Screen, Capture Selected Window, Capture Selected Portion, Capture Video of Entire Screen, and Capture Video of Selected Portion. Click the button for what you want to capture, then click the Capture button.
The Screenshot app also shows an Options menu where you can choose where to save your screenshot. Instead of Desktop, you can save to Documents, Downloads, Clipboard, Mail, Messages, Notes, or Reminders. You can also set a timer so the screenshot captures after a delay—useful if you need time to open a menu or set up what you want to show.
Where Screenshots Save and How to Find Them
By default, all screenshots save to your Desktop as PNG files. The filename includes the date and time, so multiple screenshots will not overwrite each other. You can see them when ready on your Desktop, or open Finder and click Desktop in the sidebar.
If you want screenshots to save somewhere else, open the Screenshot app (Shift + Command + 5), click Options, and choose a different location from the "Save to" menu. You can also choose to save to your Clipboard instead, which copies the image so you can paste it directly into an email, document, or message without saving a file first.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The most common mistake is forgetting to hold Command along with Shift and the number key. If you press only Shift + 3 or Shift + 4, nothing happens. Always use all three keys: Shift, Command, and the number.
Another frequent issue is not realizing the screenshot has been taken. The flash and shutter sound are subtle, especially if your Mac is in a quiet room or you have the volume low. Check your Desktop or the corner of your screen for the thumbnail to confirm the capture worked.
If you drag a rectangle with Shift + Command + 4 and then change your mind, press Escape before releasing the mouse button to cancel. Once you release, the screenshot saves, though you can still delete it from your Desktop afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot without saving it to a file?
Yes. Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the Screenshot app, click Options, and choose "Clipboard" from the "Save to" menu. Then take your screenshot. It will copy to your clipboard instead of saving to your Desktop, and you can paste it directly into an email, document, or message.
How do I screenshot just the menu bar or a specific window?
Press Shift + Command + 4, then hold the Space bar. Your cursor will change to a camera icon. Click the window or menu bar you want to capture, and it will screenshot just that element with its shadow included.
What if I want to wait a few seconds before the screenshot captures?
Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the Screenshot app. Click Options and choose a delay time (5 or 10 seconds). Then select what you want to capture and click the Capture button. The timer will count down before the screenshot is taken, giving you time to set up your screen.
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's editing window, where you can crop, draw, add text, or make other changes before saving.
Why is my screenshot blurry or low quality?
Screenshots capture at your screen's native resolution, so they should be sharp. If an image looks blurry, it may be because you were zoomed in on your Mac when you captured it, or the content itself (like a video or low-resolution image) was blurry. Try zooming back to 100% and taking the screenshot again.