How to Screenshot on Mac
Learn the three essential methods to capture screenshots on your Mac computer
Capture Entire Screen
Captures everything visible on your screen and saves it as a file on your desktop.
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Capture a Portion of the Screen
Drag the crosshair cursor to select a specific area of your screen to capture.
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Capture a Window
Select and capture a single application window with a clean background.
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💡 Pro Tip
All screenshots are automatically saved to your Desktop by default. You can change this location in Screenshot app preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is my Screenshot?
By default, all screenshots are automatically saved to your Desktop as PNG files. The files are named with the current date and time (e.g., "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM.png"). You can change the default save location in System Preferences → Screenshot → Save to.
How can I have a screenshot in the clipboard instead?
To copy a screenshot directly to your clipboard instead of saving it as a file, add the Control key to any screenshot shortcut. For example:
+++copies entire screen to clipboard+++copies selected portion to clipboardThis is useful for quickly pasting screenshots into documents or messages.
How can I paste it into a document or something?
Once you have a screenshot in your clipboard (using Control + Command + Shift shortcuts), you can paste it anywhere that accepts images. Simply use:
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in any applicationYou can paste into applications like Pages, Word, Messages, Mail, or even in design tools like Photoshop or Figma. The screenshot will be inserted as an image wherever your cursor is positioned.
Is there specific software for capturing screenshots?
Yes! macOS includes a built-in Screenshot app that you can access by pressing:
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This app provides a toolbar with options to capture the entire screen, selected window, or selected portion. It also offers features like recording screen videos, setting a timer, and choosing where to save your captures. The Screenshot app gives you more control and options than the basic keyboard shortcuts.
Is it possible to change the default screenshot format from PNG to other file types like JPG or GIF?
Unfortunately, macOS does not provide a built-in option to change the default screenshot format from PNG to other formats like JPG or GIF. Screenshots are always saved as PNG files by default. However, you can convert PNG screenshots to other formats using Preview app, or use third-party screenshot tools like Snagit, Skitch, or Lightshot that offer format selection options. PNG format is preferred for screenshots as it provides lossless compression and better quality for text and graphics.
How can I take a screen recording?
You can record your screen using the built-in Screenshot app. Open it by pressing:
++In the Screenshot toolbar, you'll see options to record the entire screen or a selected portion. You can also record audio from your microphone during the recording. The recordings are saved as MP4 files. Alternatively, you can use QuickTime Player (Applications → Utilities → QuickTime Player) and select File → New Screen Recording for more advanced recording options.
What's the method for taking screenshots of the Touch Bar display on my MacBook Pro?
To capture the Touch Bar on MacBook Pro models that have it, use this keyboard shortcut:
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This will capture only the Touch Bar area and save it as a PNG file to your Desktop. Note that this shortcut only works on MacBook Pro models equipped with the Touch Bar. If you don't have a Touch Bar, this shortcut won't do anything.
How to change the default screenshot save location?
To change where your screenshots are saved, open the Screenshot app by pressing:
++Then click on "Options" in the toolbar. From the dropdown menu, select "Save to" and choose your preferred location such as Documents, Downloads, or a custom folder. You can also select "Other Location" to browse and choose a specific folder. This setting will apply to all future screenshots taken with keyboard shortcuts or the Screenshot app.