The ultimate guide to taking screenshots on your Mac

Screenshots: they’re a fantastic way to capture exactly what’s on your screen. Whether you need a quick reference of your settings, want to share a funny website goof with friends, or create detailed tutorials, knowing how to take screenshots on your Mac is a valuable skill. Luckily, macOS makes this process easy with several built-in tools and keyboard shortcuts. Plus, there’s always the option of using powerful third-party apps for extra features.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about taking screenshots on your Mac, including:

• Keyboard Shortcuts: The fastest and simplest method.
• The Screenshot App: A versatile built-in tool.
• Using Preview: Handy for screenshots from image and PDF files.
• Third-Party Apps: Going beyond the basics with added features.

Before You Start: Enable Keyboard Shortcuts

Let’s make sure those handy keyboard shortcuts are ready to use:

1. Open System Settings (the gear icon in your Dock or via Apple menu).
2. Click on Keyboard in the sidebar.
3. Select Keyboard Shortcuts and then the Screenshots tab.
4. Ensure all the boxes for your desired shortcuts are checked.

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are the quickest way to snap a screenshot on your Mac. Here are the essentials:

• Full Screen Screenshot:
  • Press Cmd + Shift + 3
  • You’ll hear a camera shutter sound, and a thumbnail will briefly appear in the corner of your screen. This is saved as a PNG file on your desktop.
• Partial Screen Screenshot:
  • Press Cmd + Shift + 4
  • Your cursor becomes a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want.
  • Tips:
    • Hold Shift to constrain proportions along one axis.
    • Hold Option to resize from the center.
    • Hold Space to move your selection without resizing.
    • Hit Esc to cancel before releasing your mouse/trackpad.
• App Window Screenshot:
  • Press Cmd + Shift + 4 then hit Space
  • The cursor changes to a camera. Click on the window you want to capture.

What Happens to Your Screenshot?

• Thumbnail: A small preview appears in the corner. Click it to edit or delete quickly.
• Auto-Save: If you do nothing, it’s saved to your desktop (usually as a PNG file).
• Clipboard Copy: For pasting directly into other apps without saving, add Controlto any shortcut (e.g., Control + Cmd + Shift + 4).

Method 2: The Screenshot App

Need more options or a slower, visual approach? This is where the Screenshot app shines:

1. Launch it from Finder > Applications > Utilities or press Cmd + Shift + 5.
2. A small toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen. Here’s what you can do with it:
   • Capture Entire Screen, Selected Window, or Selected Portion: These mimic the keyboard shortcuts.
   • Record Entire Screen or Selected Portion: Great for creating screen recordings.
   • Options:
     • Timer: Choose 5 or 10-second delays before your screenshot is taken.
     • Save To: Change the default desktop location
     • Show Thumbnail: Disable the preview after you take a screenshot.
     • Remember Last Selection: Ideal if you take many similar screenshots.
     • Show Mouse Pointer: Useful for visual instructions.

Method 3: Take Screenshots with Preview

Preview, the standard image/PDF viewer on macOS, can also take screenshots of files you open with it:

1. Open the image/PDF in Preview.
2. Go to File > Take Screenshot.
3. Choose between From Selection, From Window, or From Entire Screen.

Key Advantages of Preview:

• Editing: Instantly annotate your screenshot with text, shapes, etc.
• File Format Control: Change format (PNG, JPEG, etc.) with each screenshot.