The fastest way: keyboard shortcuts

On a Mac, you take a screenshot by holding down keys at the same time. The keys you press depend on what you want to capture — your whole screen, one window, or just a portion of it.

To capture your entire screen: Press Shift + Command + 3. The screenshot saves to your desktop as a file named "Screenshot [date] at [time].png".

To capture one window: Press Shift + Command + 4, then press the spacebar. Your cursor changes to a camera icon. Click the window you want to capture. That window alone saves to your desktop.

To capture a portion of your screen: Press Shift + Command + 4. Your cursor becomes a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the area you want. When you release, that rectangle saves to your desktop.

Key Takeaways

  • Shift + Command + 3 captures your entire screen and saves it to your desktop automatically.
  • Shift + Command + 4 lets you select a specific area or window before capturing.
  • Screenshots save as PNG files with the date and time in the filename, making them straightforward to find later.
  • You can change where screenshots save and what format they use through System Settings if you want them somewhere other than your desktop.
  • The Touch Bar on newer Macs includes a screenshot tool you can access without memorizing keyboard combinations.

Using the Screenshot app for more control

If you want to set a timer before the screenshot captures, or if you want to edit the image right away, use the built-in Screenshot app instead of keyboard shortcuts. Press Shift + Command + 5 to open it.

The Screenshot app shows a toolbar at the bottom of your screen with five buttons. The first three let you choose what to capture: entire screen, window only, or a portion. The fourth button is a timer — click it to set a 5-second or 10-second delay before the screenshot takes. The fifth button opens options for where to save the file and whether to show a floating thumbnail after you capture.

After you take the screenshot, a small preview appears in the corner of your screen. Click it to open the image in a quick editor where you can draw, add text, or crop before you save. If you do nothing, the screenshot saves automatically to your desktop.

Changing where screenshots save

By default, all screenshots land on your desktop. If you want them in a folder instead, or if your desktop is already crowded, you can change the save location through System Settings.

Open System Settings, then go to General > Screenshots. A dropdown menu shows your current save location. Click it to choose Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Trash, or a specific folder you create. You can also choose to copy the screenshot to your clipboard instead of saving a file — useful if you want to paste it directly into an email or document without creating a separate file first.

Changing the file format

Screenshots normally save as PNG files, which preserve quality but create larger files. If you want smaller files, you can change the format to JPG or another option through the same Screenshot app menu.

Open the Screenshot app with Shift + Command + 5, then click Options in the toolbar. Look for the "Save as" dropdown — it usually shows "PNG". Click it to see other formats. JPG creates smaller files but loses some detail. TIFF and PDF are useful if you plan to edit the image in other programs. Your choice here applies to all future screenshots until you change it again.

Taking a screenshot of your Touch Bar

If you have a newer MacBook with a Touch Bar at the top of the keyboard, you can capture just that bar. Press Shift + Command + 6.

The Touch Bar screenshot saves to your desktop like any other screenshot. This is useful if you want to show someone which buttons appeared in an app, or if you are troubleshooting and need to document what the Touch Bar displayed.

Copying a screenshot to your clipboard instead of saving it

If you want to paste a screenshot directly into an email, message, or document without creating a file on your desktop first, hold down the Control key while you take the screenshot. Control + Shift + Command + 3 copies the entire screen to your clipboard. Control + Shift + Command + 4 lets you select a portion first, then copies it.

Once the screenshot is in your clipboard, you can paste it anywhere by pressing Command + V. The image does not save as a file unless you explicitly save it from the program you pasted it into.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do my screenshots go if I do not change the save location?

They save to your desktop by default. You will see them as files with names like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM.png". If your desktop is full, you can move them to a folder, or change the save location in System Settings so new screenshots go somewhere else automatically.

Can I take a screenshot without it saving to my desktop?

Yes. Hold Control while you press the screenshot keys — for example, Control + Shift + Command + 3 copies the screenshot to your clipboard instead of saving a file. You can then paste it into an email or document. If you want all future screenshots to go to a specific folder instead of your desktop, change the save location in System Settings.

What is the difference between PNG and JPG for screenshots?

PNG keeps all the detail and looks sharper, but creates larger files. JPG makes smaller files but loses some detail, especially if the screenshot contains text or sharp lines. For most screenshots of windows and text, PNG is the better choice. Use JPG only if file size matters more than perfect clarity.

Can I edit a screenshot right after I take it?

Yes, if you use the Screenshot app (Shift + Command + 5). A small preview appears in the corner of your screen after you capture. Click it to open a quick editor where you can draw, add text, crop, or magnify before you save. With keyboard shortcuts alone, the screenshot saves when ready without an editing step.

How do I take a screenshot of just one window?

Press Shift + Command + 4, then press the spacebar. Your cursor becomes a camera icon. Click the window you want to capture, and only that window saves as a screenshot. This is useful when you want to show one app without capturing everything else on your screen.