The fastest way: keyboard shortcuts

macOS comes with four screenshot shortcuts built in, and you do not need to read or install anything. Each one captures a different part of your screen and saves the file to your desktop by default.

Command + Shift + 3 captures your entire screen. Press the keys together, and the screenshot saves when ready as a PNG file named "Screenshot [date] at [time].png" on your desktop.

Command + Shift + 4 lets you select a rectangular area. After you press the keys, your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the part of the screen you want to capture, then release to save.

Command + Shift + 5 opens the screenshot toolbar, which gives you the most control. You can choose to capture the entire screen, a window, or a selected area. The toolbar also includes a timer option (to delay the screenshot by 5 or 10 seconds) and a button to record video instead of taking a still image.

Command + Shift + 6 captures only the active window. This is useful when you want to screenshot one app without the desktop or other windows showing.

Key Takeaways

  • Command + Shift + 3 captures your entire screen and saves it to your desktop as a PNG file automatically.
  • Command + Shift + 4 lets you drag a box around the part of the screen you want, then saves that selection.
  • Command + Shift + 5 opens a toolbar where you can choose what to capture, set a timer, or record video instead.
  • Command + Shift + 6 captures only the window you are currently using, leaving out everything else on your screen.
  • All screenshots save to your desktop by default, but you can change the save location in the screenshot toolbar options.

Changing where screenshots save

By default, every screenshot lands on your desktop. If you take many screenshots, your desktop can get crowded. You can change the save location without leaving your keyboard.

Press Command + Shift + 5 to open the toolbar. At the bottom right of the toolbar, you will see a button labeled "Options." Click it to see a menu with save location choices. You can save to your Documents folder, Downloads folder, a specific folder you create, or the clipboard (which copies the image instead of saving a file).

Once you pick a new location, that becomes the default for all future screenshots until you change it again. The setting sticks even after you restart your Mac.

Copying a screenshot to the clipboard instead of saving it

Sometimes you want to paste a screenshot directly into an email, document, or message without saving a file first. You can do this by holding the Control key while you press your screenshot shortcut.

Command + Control + Shift + 3 copies your entire screen to the clipboard. Command + Control + Shift + 4 lets you select an area and copy it. Command + Control + Shift + 5 opens the toolbar with clipboard as an option. Once the image is in your clipboard, you can paste it anywhere using Command + V.

This method is faster when you only need the screenshot once and do not want to clutter your desktop or folders.

Using the Screenshot app for more options

The keyboard shortcuts cover most needs, but macOS also includes a dedicated Screenshot app. You can find it by opening Spotlight (Command + Space), typing "screenshot," and pressing Enter.

The Screenshot app opens the same toolbar you get from Command + Shift + 5, but it stays open so you can take multiple screenshots without pressing the shortcut each time. You can also set it to open automatically when you start your Mac, which is useful if you take screenshots frequently for work.

The app also stores a history of recent screenshots in a sidebar, so you can see thumbnails of what you captured and click to open any of them. This is faster than digging through your desktop or folders if you need to find a screenshot you took earlier.

Taking screenshots of the Touch Bar

If your Mac has a Touch Bar (the row of buttons at the top of the keyboard), you can capture it separately from the rest of your screen. Press Command + Shift + 6 twice in quick succession, or open the Screenshot app and select "Touch Bar" from the capture options.

This is mainly useful if you are writing instructions for other Mac users or troubleshooting a problem with the Touch Bar itself.

Editing screenshots right after you take them

When you take a screenshot using Command + Shift + 3, 4, 5, or 6, a thumbnail appears in the bottom right corner of your screen for a few seconds. Click that thumbnail to open the screenshot in the markup editor, where you can draw, add text, crop, or rotate the image before you save it.

If you miss the thumbnail, you can also right-click the screenshot file on your desktop, select "Open With," and choose "Preview" or "Markup" to edit it later. The built-in markup tools let you add arrows, circles, boxes, and text without needing a separate app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do my screenshots go if I do not change the save location?

They save to your desktop by default. You will see them as PNG files with names like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM.png." You can move them to a folder later, or change the default save location in the Screenshot app options so new screenshots go somewhere else automatically.

Can I take a screenshot of just one window without the menu bar or other windows?

Yes. Press Command + Shift + 6, then press the spacebar. Your cursor changes to a camera icon. Click the window you want to capture, and it saves as a screenshot without the background or other windows showing.

What file format do Mac screenshots use?

PNG by default. PNG files are smaller than some other formats and preserve quality well, which is why macOS uses them. You cannot change the format using the built-in screenshot tools, but you can convert PNG files to JPG or other formats using Preview or other image apps if you need a different format.

Can I record my screen instead of taking a still screenshot?

Yes. Press Command + Shift + 5 to open the toolbar, then click the "Screen Recording" button instead of one of the screenshot buttons. A red recording indicator appears at the top of your screen. Press Command + Control + Esc to stop recording. The video saves to your desktop as an MP4 file.

Do I need to install anything to take screenshots on Mac?

No. The screenshot shortcuts and Screenshot app are built into macOS and ready to use. You do not need to read or install any software.