How to Take a Screenshot on a Mac Using Keyboard Shortcuts and Apps

In the digital age, the ability to capture screen content has become crucial for many Mac users. Whether for work, education, or just sharing something interesting, knowing how to take a screenshot on a Mac is a handy skill.

In this article, we will show you how to use the built-in keyboard shortcuts and apps to take screenshots on your Mac, as well as some tips and tricks to make the most of your screenshots.

How to Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Take Screenshots on a Mac

The simplest way to take a screenshot on a Mac is to use the keyboard shortcuts that are built into the operating system. Depending on what you want to capture, you can use different combinations of keys to take screenshots of the entire screen, a window, or a portion of the screen.

How to Take a Screenshot of the Entire Screen on a Mac

To take a screenshot of the entire screen on your Mac, press Shift + Command + 3. This will save an image of your entire desktop to your desktop folder. If you have more than one screen connected to your Mac, it will save separate images for each screen.

How to Take a Screenshot of a Window or the Menu Bar on a Mac

To take a screenshot of a specific window or the menu bar on your Mac, press Shift + Command + 4, then press the Space bar. The pointer will change to a camera icon, and you can move it over the window or menu bar that you want to capture. Click the mouse or trackpad button to take the screenshot. This will also save the image to your desktop folder.

How to Take a Screenshot of a Portion of the Screen on a Mac

To take a screenshot of a portion of the screen on your Mac, press Shift + Command + 4. The pointer will change to a crosshair, and you can drag it over the area that you want to capture. Release the mouse or trackpad button to take the screenshot. This will also save the image to your desktop folder.

How to Use the Screenshot App to Take Screenshots and Screen Recordings on a Mac

If you want more options and control over your screenshots and screen recordings, you can use the Screenshot app that comes with macOS Big Sur and later versions. You can access this app by pressing Shift + Command + 5, or by using Launchpad.

The Screenshot app provides a panel of tools that let you choose what you want to capture or record. You can also set a timer delay, show or hide the mouse pointer or clicks, and choose where to save or share your screenshots or recordings.

How to Capture the Entire Screen Using the Screenshot App

To capture the entire screen using the Screenshot app, click the Capture Entire Screen button in the panel. This will take a screenshot of your entire desktop and save it to the location that you specified in the Options menu.

How to Capture a Window Using the Screenshot App

To capture a window using the Screenshot app, click the Capture Selected Window button in the panel. This will change the pointer to a camera icon, and you can move it over the window that you want to capture. Click the mouse or trackpad button to take the screenshot. This will also save it to the location that you specified in the Options menu.

How to Capture a Portion of the Screen Using the Screenshot App

To capture a portion of the screen using the Screenshot app, click the Capture Selected Portion button in the panel. This will show a frame that you can drag and resize over the area that you want to capture. Click Capture in the panel or press Return on your keyboard to take the screenshot. This will also save it to the location that you specified in the Options menu.

How to Record the Entire Screen Using the Screenshot App

To record the entire screen using the Screenshot app, click the Record Entire Screen button in the panel. This will start recording your entire desktop and show a Stop button in the menu bar. To stop recording, click the Stop button or press Command + Control + Esc on your keyboard. This will save the recording as an MOV file to the location that you specified in the Options menu.

How to Record a Portion of the Screen Using the Screenshot App

To record a portion of the screen using the Screenshot app, click the Record Selected Portion button in the panel. This will show a frame that you can drag and resize over the area that you want to record. Click Record in the panel or press Return on your keyboard to start recording. This will also show a Stop button in the menu bar. To stop recording, click the Stop button or press Command + Control + Esc on your keyboard. This will save the recording as an MOV file to the location that you specified in the Options menu.

How to Use Third-Party Apps to Take Screenshots on a Mac

If you want even more features and functionality for taking screenshots on your Mac, you can use third-party apps that offer additional options, such as easy annotation and cloud storage. Here are some of the popular apps that you can try:

Lightshot

Lightshot is a free and lightweight app that lets you take screenshots of any selected area on your Mac. You can also edit, annotate, and share your screenshots online. Lightshot is compatible with macOS 10.7 or later.

Snagit

Snagit is a powerful and versatile app that lets you take screenshots and screen recordings of anything on your Mac. You can also edit, annotate, and organize your screenshots and recordings with advanced tools. Snagit costs $49.95 for a single license and is compatible with macOS 10.14 or later.

Skitch

Skitch is a free and simple app that lets you take screenshots and annotate them with arrows, shapes, text, and more. You can also share your screenshots online or sync them with Evernote. Skitch is compatible with macOS 10.14 or later.

CleanShot X

CleanShot X is a premium app that lets you take screenshots and screen recordings of any area on your Mac. You can also edit, annotate, and share your screenshots and recordings with ease. CleanShot X costs $29 for a single license and is compatible with macOS 10.15 or later.

How to Change the File Format, Name, or Location of Your Screenshots on a Mac

By default, screenshots taken on a Mac are saved as PNG files with the name “Screen Shot [date] at [time]” to your desktop folder. However, you can change these settings to suit your preferences.

How to Change the File Format of Your Screenshots on a Mac

To change the file format of your screenshots on a Mac, you can use the Terminal app to enter a command that modifies the default setting. Here are the steps:

• Open the Terminal app from the Applications > Utilities folder or by using Spotlight.
• Type or paste the following command: defaults write com.apple.screencapture type [format]
• Replace [format] with the file format that you want to use, such as jpg, tiff, gif, or pdf.
• Press Return on your keyboard to execute the command.
• Type or paste the following command: killall SystemUIServer
• Press Return on your keyboard to apply the changes.

How to Change the Name of Your Screenshots on a Mac

To change the name of your screenshots on a Mac, you can use the Terminal app to enter a command that modifies the default setting. Here are the steps:

• Open the Terminal app from the Applications > Utilities folder or by using Spotlight.
• Type or paste the following command: defaults write com.apple.screencapture name “[name]”
• Replace [name] with the name that you want to use for your screenshots, such as “Screenshot” or “My Screen Shot”.
• Press Return on your keyboard to execute the command.
• Type or paste the following command: killall SystemUIServer
• Press Return on your keyboard to apply the changes.

How to Change the Location of Your Screenshots on a Mac

To change the location of your screenshots on a Mac, you can use the Screenshot app or the Terminal app to modify the default setting. Here are the steps:

Using the Screenshot app:

• Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the Screenshot app.
• Click Options in the panel.
• Under Save to, choose a location where you want to save your screenshots, such as Documents, Desktop, or Clipboard. You can also choose Other Location… to select a custom folder.

Using the Terminal app:

• Open the Terminal app from the Applications > Utilities folder or by using Spotlight.
• Type or paste the following command: defaults write com.apple.screencapture location [path]
• Replace [path] with the path of the folder where you want to save your screenshots, such as /Users/username/Pictures/Screenshots. You can also drag and drop a folder into the Terminal window to automatically fill in the path.
• Press Return on your keyboard to execute the command.
• Type or paste the following command: killall SystemUIServer
• Press Return on your keyboard to apply the changes.

How to Use Keyboard Modifiers to Adjust the Selection Area of Your Screenshots on a Mac

When you use Shift + Command + 4 or Shift + Command + 5 to take a screenshot of a portion of the screen on your Mac, you can use keyboard modifiers to adjust the selection area more precisely. Here are some of the modifiers that you can use:

How to Use Quick Look or Markup to Preview or Edit Your Screenshots on a Mac

When you take a screenshot on your Mac, you can use Quick Look or Markup to preview or edit it before saving it. Here are some of the things you can do with these features:

How to Use Quick Look to Preview Your Screenshots on a Mac

Quick Look lets you preview your screenshots without opening them in an app. You can use Quick Look in two ways:

• If you have the Show Floating Thumbnail option enabled in the Screenshot app, you can click the thumbnail in the bottom-right corner of the screen to open Quick Look.
• If you have saved your screenshots to a folder, you can select one or more screenshots and press the Space bar to open Quick Look.

In Quick Look, you can do the following:

• Press the Left or Right arrow keys to browse through multiple screenshots.
• Press the Return key to open the screenshot in the default app, such as Preview.
• Press Command + R to rotate the screenshot clockwise by 90 degrees.
• Press Command + I to show or hide information about the screenshot, such as file name, size, and dimensions.
• Click the Share button to share the screenshot via AirDrop, Mail, Messages, or other apps.
• Click the Markup button to edit the screenshot with Markup tools.

How to Use Markup to Edit Your Screenshots on a Mac

Markup lets you edit your screenshots with various tools, such as drawing, cropping, adding text, and more. You can use Markup in two ways:

• If you have opened Quick Look for your screenshot, you can click the Markup button in the toolbar.
• If you have opened your screenshot in an app that supports Markup, such as Preview or Mail, you can click the Markup button in the toolbar or choose Tools > Annotate > Show Markup Toolbar.

In Markup, you can do the following:

• Use the Sketch tool to draw freehand shapes with your mouse or trackpad. You can also use your finger or Apple Pencil if your Mac supports Sidecar.
• Use the Shapes tool to insert shapes, such as rectangles, circles, arrows, and lines. You can also use Smart Annotations to add comments or feedback to your screenshot.
• Use the Text tool to add text boxes with different fonts, colors, and styles. You can also use Text Replacement to insert symbols or emoji.
• Use the Signature tool to add your signature using your mouse, trackpad, camera, or iPhone or iPad.
• Use the Loupe tool to magnify a part of your screenshot. You can adjust the size and zoom level of the loupe.
• Use the Crop tool to trim unwanted parts of your screenshot. You can also rotate or flip your screenshot using the handles around the crop area.
• Use the Color Adjust tool to change the brightness, contrast, saturation, or temperature of your screenshot. You can also apply filters such as Sepia, Black & White, or Vintage.
• Use the Border tool to add a border around your screenshot. You can choose the color, thickness, and style of the border.

The Final Word

There you have it – the essential guide on how to take a screenshot on a Mac using keyboard shortcuts and apps. From understanding the basic Mac screenshot shortcut keys to using third-party tools, there’s a method to suit everyone’s needs. Remember, as with all things tech, practice makes perfect, so don’t be afraid to experiment and find the screenshot solution that works best for you.