How to Take a Screenshot on a Mac

Taking a screenshot on a Mac is a handy way to save what you see on your screen. You might want to keep a receipt, share an error message with someone helping you, or save a detail from a website. If you have been wondering how to screenshot on Mac, the good news is that you do not need to install an app.

Your Mac has built-in screenshot shortcuts. Once you know which keys to press, you can capture the whole screen, choose just one area, or take a picture of a single window. We will go through each option at a comfortable pace.

What you’ll need

• A Mac with a working keyboard.
• A little space to save the screenshot, such as your Desktop or Documents folder.

Step 1: Take a screenshot of your whole screen

This is the simplest option. It captures everything visible on your Mac’s display.

1. Hold down Shift and Command together.
2. While holding them, press 3.
3. Release all three keys. Your Mac takes the screenshot.
4. Look for the small preview that may appear briefly in a corner of the screen. You can click it to open simple editing tools, or wait for it to disappear.

By default, a screenshot is usually saved as an image file on your Desktop. The file name begins with “Screenshot” and includes the date and time.

Tip: If your Mac is connected to more than one display, the shortcut may capture each display separately. Check your Desktop for the resulting image files.

Step 2: Capture just part of the screen

You do not have to include everything in a screenshot. You can select only the part you want, such as a paragraph, a picture, or an error message.

1. Hold down Shift and Command.
2. Press 4 while continuing to hold the other two keys.
3. Your pointer changes into a crosshair. Click and hold the mouse or trackpad button, then drag to draw a box around the area you want.
4. Let go of the mouse or trackpad button. Your Mac captures the selected area.
5. Find the new image on your Desktop, unless you have changed the save location.

If you start selecting the wrong area, press Escape before releasing the mouse or trackpad button. This cancels the selection so you can try again.

Good to know: After pressing Shift-Command-4, you can press and hold the Space bar to move the selection box without changing its size. Release the Space bar when the box is in the right place, then release the mouse or trackpad button to take the screenshot.

Step 3: Take a screenshot of one window

A window screenshot is useful when you want to show an app or document without including the rest of your Desktop.

1. Press Shift-Command-4.
2. Press the Space bar once. Your pointer changes into a camera icon.
3. Move the camera pointer over the window you want to capture. The window will usually be highlighted.
4. Click the mouse or trackpad button. Your Mac saves a screenshot of that window.

The capture may include a small shadow around the window. That is normal.

Careful: Make sure the correct window is highlighted before you click. If you capture a window containing private information, check the image before sharing it.

Step 4: Open the screenshot toolbar for more choices

If you would rather choose from a small set of on-screen controls, use the screenshot toolbar. It brings the main capture options together in one place.

1. Press Shift-Command-5.
2. A toolbar appears near the bottom of your screen. The buttons let you capture the entire screen, a selected window, or a selected portion.
3. Choose the capture option you want, then follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Select Options if you want to change where screenshots are saved, set a timer, or adjust other available settings.
5. Choose Capture to take the screenshot.

The toolbar also includes screen-recording controls. A screen recording is a video of what happens on your display, rather than a still picture.

In Options, you can usually choose a save location such as Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, or Other Location. You may also see settings for a timer, the floating thumbnail, and whether the pointer appears in the capture. The choices shown can vary slightly by macOS version.

Tip: Choose Clipboard if you want to paste the screenshot straight into a message or document. After taking it, click where you want the image to go and press Command-V.

Step 5: Find and use your screenshot

Once you have taken a screenshot, you may want to look at it, rename it, or send it to someone.

1. If you used the default setting, click the Desktop to see the saved screenshot. If you chose another location, open that folder in Finder.
2. Double-click the image file to open it. Preview is the Mac app that opens many image files.
3. To change the file name, click the file once and press Return. Type the new name, then press Return again.
4. To attach it to an email or message, use the attachment control in that app and select the screenshot file. You can also drag the file into many email or messaging windows.

If you clicked the small floating thumbnail immediately after capturing the image, you may be able to crop it, draw on it, or add a note before saving. The available editing controls depend on your macOS version.

Troubleshooting: If your Mac screenshot does not work

Nothing happens when I press the keys. Make sure you are pressing Shift, Command, and the number key together. On some keyboards, the Command key has the ⌘ symbol. If you use an external keyboard, its key labels may look a little different.

I cannot find the screenshot. Check your Desktop first. If it is not there, press Shift-Command-5, choose Options, and look at the selected save location. Your screenshot may be going to Documents, another folder, or the Clipboard.

The shortcut seems to have changed. You can check the screenshot keyboard shortcuts in System Settings. Open Keyboard, choose Keyboard Shortcuts, and look for Screenshots in the list. The wording or layout can vary slightly between macOS versions.

The screenshot includes something I did not want to share. Open the image and check it before sending it. If necessary, take a new screenshot using the selection shortcut in Step 2 so you include only the relevant area.

You’re ready to take screenshots

You now know how to screenshot on Mac in three useful ways: the whole screen, a selected area, or one window. Try the shortcut that suits what you need, and remember that Shift-Command-5 is there whenever you want the on-screen controls.