Take a screenshot on your Mac - Apple Support (2024)

You can capture the entire screen, a window, or just a portion of the screen.

How to take a screenshot on your Mac

Take a screenshot on your Mac - Apple Support (1)

  1. To take a screenshot, press and hold these three keys together: Shift, Command, and 3.

  2. If you see a thumbnail in the corner of your screen, click it to edit the screenshot. Or wait for the screenshot to save to your desktop.

How to capture a portion of the screen

Take a screenshot on your Mac - Apple Support (2)

  1. Press and hold these three keys together: Shift, Command, and 4.

  2. Drag the crosshairTake a screenshot on your Mac - Apple Support (3) to select the area of the screen to capture. To move the selection, press and hold Space bar while dragging. To cancel taking the screenshot, press the Esc (Escape) key.

    Take a screenshot on your Mac - Apple Support (4)
  3. To take the screenshot, release your mouse or trackpad button.

  4. If you see a thumbnail in the corner of your screen, click it to edit the screenshot. Or wait for the screenshot to save to your desktop.

How to capture a window or menu

Take a screenshot on your Mac - Apple Support (5)

  1. Open the window or menu that you want to capture.

  2. Press and hold these keys together: Shift, Command, 4, and Space bar. The pointer changes to a camera iconTake a screenshot on your Mac - Apple Support (6). To cancel taking the screenshot, press the Esc (Escape) key.

    Take a screenshot on your Mac - Apple Support (7)
  3. Click the window or menu to capture it. To exclude the window's shadow from the screenshot, press and hold the Option key while you click.

  4. If you see a thumbnail in the corner of your screen, click it to edit the screenshot. Or wait for the screenshot to save to your desktop.

Where to find screenshots

By default, screenshots save to your desktop with the name ”Screen Shot [date] at [time].png.”

In macOS Mojave or later, you can change the default location of saved screenshots from the Options menu in the Screenshot app. You can also drag the thumbnail to a folder or document.

Learn more

  • In macOS Mojave or later, you can also set a timer and choose where screenshots are saved with the Screenshot app. To open the app, press and hold these three keys together: Shift, Command, and 5. Learn more about the Screenshot app.

  • Some apps, such as the Apple TV app, might not let you take screenshots of their windows.

  • To copy a screenshot to the Clipboard, press and hold the Control key while you take the screenshot. You can then paste the screenshot somewhere else. Or use Universal Clipboard to paste it on another Apple device.

Published Date:

Take a screenshot on your Mac - Apple Support (2024)

FAQs

Take a screenshot on your Mac - Apple Support? ›

Press Shift-Command-4, then move the crosshair pointer to where you want to start the screenshot. Press the mouse or trackpad button, drag over the area you want to capture, then release the mouse or trackpad button. Press Shift-Command-4, then press the Space bar.

What is the alternative way to take a screenshot on a Mac? ›

Press Shift-Command-4, then move the crosshair pointer to where you want to start the screenshot. Press the mouse or trackpad button, drag over the area you want to capture, then release the mouse or trackpad button. Press Shift-Command-4, then press the Space bar.

Why is command Shift 4 not working on Mac? ›

Fix 1: Re-activate Command Shift 4 for screen captures

You might have not enabled the Command Shift 4 key combination for screen capture on your Mac. So, when you press the keys together, you can't screenshot on your Mac. You need to re-activate Command - Shift - 4 for screenshots on your Mac in keyboard preferences.

How to take a screenshot in Mac? ›

How to take a screenshot on your Mac. To take a screenshot, press and hold these three keys together: Shift, Command and 3. If you see a thumbnail in the corner of your screen, click it to edit the screenshot.

Why can't I take a screenshot on my MacBook? ›

1. Check your shortcut settings. From the main Apple menu, select System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Screenshots. Make sure all the options in the list are checked.

What is the program to take a screenshot on a Mac? ›

4 Top-Notch Apps for Taking Screenshots on Your Mac
  1. Screenshot.app.
  2. Skitch.
  3. Snagit.
  4. CleanShot X.
Jan 16, 2024

What is the shortcut to enable screenshot on Mac? ›

How do I re-enable my Mac screenshot hotkeys?
  1. Click Apple Menu > System Preferences.
  2. Click Keyboard in the System Preferences window. ...
  3. Click the Shortcuts tab in the Keyboard window.
  4. Click Screen Shots in the list on the left of the Shortcuts tab.
  5. Check the boxes for all shortcuts you wish to re-enable.
  6. Close the window.

How to screenshot on Mac with a different keyboard? ›

Yes, it is absolutely possible to use keyboard shortcuts from a Windows keyboard to take screenshots on a Macbook pro, or any computer running a Mac Operating System (OS). If you're using a Windows keyboard but a Mac OS, then simultaneously press Windows, Shift, and 3 to capture the screen shot.

How do you take a screenshot on a Mac with the touch bar? ›

Simply press Command-Shift-6 and an image of the current state of the Touch Bar will be saved to your desktop. Bear in mind that the screenshot may look unusually thin and wide, but that's because the Touch Bar's resolution is 2170x60 pixels.

What does Command 4 do on a Mac? ›

Command-2: View the items in a Finder window as a list. Command-3: View the items in a Finder window in columns. Command-4: View the items in a Finder window in a gallery.

Where do screenshots go on a Mac? ›

By default, screenshots save to your desktop with the name ”Screen Shot [date] at [time].png.” In macOS Mojave or later, you can change the default location of saved screenshots from the Options menu in the Screenshot app. You can also drag the thumbnail to a folder or document.

What does Shift 4 do on a Mac? ›

To capture a portion of the screen, press Command-Shift-4. A cross-hair cursor will appear and you can click and drag to select the area you wish to capture.

What is the command for screen capture on Apple? ›

Press and hold these three keys together: Shift, Command, and 4. to select the area of the screen to capture. To move the selection, press and hold Space bar while dragging. To cancel taking the screenshot, press the Esc (Escape) key.

What is the shortcut key for screenshot? ›

Depending on your hardware, you may use the Windows Logo Key + PrtScn button as a shortcut for print screen. If your device does not have the PrtScn button, you may use Fn + Windows logo key + Space Bar to take a screenshot, which can then be printed.

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