How to take a screenshot on a Mac: shortcuts and tips

Taking a screenshot on a Mac: easy with keyboard shortcuts

macOS has excellent built-in screenshot features that work without any extra software. Whether you want to capture the whole screen, part of it, or a specific window, the right shortcut gets it done within a second.

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Method 1: Cmd + Shift + 3 (full screen)

The fastest way to take a screenshot of your entire screen:

1. Press Command + Shift + 3 at the same time
2. You hear a camera shutter sound
3. A preview thumbnail appears in the bottom right corner
4. The screenshot is saved to your desktop automatically

Tip: Click the preview to edit it right away before it is saved.

Method 2: Cmd + Shift + 4 (selection)

For a screenshot of a specific part of your screen:

1. Press Command + Shift + 4
2. Your cursor changes into a crosshair
3. Click and drag to select the area you want
4. Release to take the screenshot

Extra options while selecting:

• Press the Space bar: Switch to window mode (click a window)
• Hold Shift: Lock horizontally or vertically
• Hold Option: Select from the center
• Escape: Cancel the screenshot

Method 3: Cmd + Shift + 5 (screenshot toolbar)

macOS Mojave and later have an extended screenshot toolbar:

1. Press Command + Shift + 5
2. A toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen with options:
   • Capture Entire Screen
   • Capture Selected Window
   • Capture Selected Portion
   • Record Entire Screen (video)
   • Record Selected Portion (video)
3. Click Options for extra settings:
   • Change the save location
   • Set a timer (5 or 10 seconds)
   • Show or hide the mouse pointer
4. Click Capture or press Enter

Editing and saving a screenshot

Default save location: By default, screenshots are saved to the Desktop with the name: "Screenshot [date] at [time].png"

Changing the save location:

1. Open the screenshot toolbar (Cmd + Shift + 5)
2. Click Options
3. Choose a new location under "Save to"

Copying straight to the clipboard: Add Control to any shortcut to copy to the clipboard instead of saving:

• Cmd + Control + Shift + 3 = Full screen to clipboard
• Cmd + Control + Shift + 4 = Selection to clipboard

Editing with Preview:

1. Open the screenshot in Preview (double-click)
2. Click the pen icon for markup
3. Add text, shapes, arrows or highlights
4. Save via File > Export

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Where do I find my screenshots? By default, screenshots are saved to your Desktop. You can change this via Cmd + Shift + 5 > Options > Save to.

Can I turn off the screenshot sound? Yes, mute your Mac with the volume key or turn off system sounds in System Settings > Sound.

How do I take a screenshot of the Touch Bar? Press Cmd + Shift + 6 to take a screenshot of the Touch Bar (only on MacBooks with a Touch Bar).

Shortcut overview